The Nine auspicious days of Shardiya Navratri are dedicated to venerating the nine forms of Maa Durga. After a nine-day aggressive war, Maa Parvati freed the world from injustice and evil by killing Mahishasura. We Indians celebrate this festival with so much grace. During the nine holy days of Navratri, the nine manifestations of the Goddess are venerated with great devotion, often including fasting and various other rituals. Shardiya Navratri in 2024 will start from 3rd October.

These holy and divine days are celebrated to worship the Shakti form of Maa Durga. After the completion of these nine days, the festival is celebrated on the tenth day as Vijayadashami or Dussehra. Paras Parivaar Charitable Trust wishes you all a very Happy Shardiya Navratri.

Maa Brahmacharini:

The Brahmacharini incarnation of the Goddess is worshiped on the next day of the worship of Goddess Shailputri. This form of Brahmacharini is a symbol of penance, detachment, and worship. It is also believed that worshiping this incarnation of Goddess Durga increases virtue, restraint, and the spirit of sacrifice in the devotees. If we divide the name of Maa Brahmacharini into two parts, then we will be able to understand the meaning of this name correctly. Brahma means penance, and Charini means the one who holds. That is, Brahmacharini means the one who holds penance. The time of Shardiya Navratri is a very pleasant time for the devotees of Maa Durga. Devotees of Maa chant her name as "Jai Mata Di." These nine days symbolize the nine forms of Maa, each day has its significance.

A story of the tough life of Maa Brahmacharini is also popular, according to many old scriptures and Mahant Shri Paras Bhai Ji, Goddess Brahmacharini was the daughter of Himalaya in her previous birth. It is believed that when Goddess Sati saw her husband, Lord Shiva, being insulted at her father's house, she threw herself into the sacrificial fire. In anger, Mahadev then destroyed the Yagya. After Sati's death, Mahadev started immersing himself in penance etc. Seeing Mahadev in this condition, the Gods encouraged the new incarnation of Maa Sati, who was born as the daughter of Himalaya, to do ‘tapa’ and get Mahadev as her husband.

After listening to Narad ji, Maa Brahmacharini did severe penance. Maa Brahmacharini did hard penance for a thousand years, during which she ate nothing except flowers and leaves, and lived on the ground for many years. After this, she ate only vine leaves for three thousand years and worshiped Mahadev. After this, she did complete waterless fasting. Due to these difficult penances, Maa Brahmacharini also came to be known as Arpana. After this difficult penance, the body of Maa Brahmacharini became very weak and turned black. Seeing this severe and difficult penance of the Goddess, all the Siddhas and Deva said that in this world only you can do such a difficult penance.

According to Paras bhai ji, Brahmacharini Maa is very simple. She holds a rosary (japa mala) in her right hand and a Kamandal in another hand, and wears a white Sari that is defining her look more gracefully.

Maa Brahmacharini: Provider of strength and faith

Devotees who worship the second form of Maa Durga, develop patience and perseverance, spiritual knowledge and wisdom in life. On the second day of Navratri, devotees pay tribute to Goddess Brahmacharini by fasting for the entire day, reflecting on her essence, and engaging in her storytelling. On all these days, after worshiping Goddess Durga for nine days, the devotees perform Puja in their homes with full rituals and complete their fast by offering Prasad to eight Kanjakas on Ashtami and to nine Kanjakas on Navami. After receiving blessings from all the forms of Goddess Durga, they undertake auspicious endeavors in life.