#brahmacharini
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjpcc1nsODU
चैत्र नवरात्रि का दूसरा दिन - जय ब्रह्मचारिणी माँ
11 hours ago ... चैत्र नवरात्रि का दूसरा दिन - जय ब्रह्मचारिणी माँ - #Maa #Brahmacharini #Aarti - #Navratri 2nd
10 April, 2024 Wednesday Dwitiya #Yellow #Brahmacharini Puja
#Mantra
Om Dadhana Karapadmabhyamakshamala Kamandalu
Devi Prasidatu Mayi Brahmacharinyanuttama
Om Devi Brahmacharinyai Namah ॥
Significance
It is believed that the individuals who worship Maa Brahmacharini are granted peace and happiness. She is said to control Lord Mangal, the controller of fortunes, and provides her followers with wisdom and happiness.
Maa Brahmacharini is worshipped on the Second day of Navaratri. Maa Brahmacharini performed strict ‘Tapa’ (penance). In Sanskrit, “Brahma” means Universal Self Spirit, Absolute Reality often used in connection to tapa or tapasya (penance) and “Charini” means performer. Brahmacharini means “Goddess who practices devout austerity”. In the magnificent embodiment of Goddess Durga, She enlightens us with divine knowledge and grace. Brahmacharini Mata is also known by other names such as “Devi Yogini”, “Uma”, “Parvati”, “Tapascharini” and “Aparna”. According to Vedic texts, Brahmacharini is a feminine version of a Devi who performs sacred religious practices.
Maa Brahmacharini bestows the boon of love, loyalty, wisdom, and knowledge to Her devotees. Those who worship Her with utmost devotion, are blessed with calmness and happiness in their life. It is believed that she governs Planet Mars (Mangal). She is worshipped to remove Mangal Dosh and the problems resulting from unfavorable position of Mangal in the horoscope. Worshipping Maa Brahmacharini bestows devotees with values of devotion, virtues, nobility and solitude.
Brahmacharini Maa Vrat Katha
Maa Brahmacharini was born as Devi Parvati to Lord Himavan and Devi Menavati in the Himalayas. She blossomed in a beautiful princess, full of wisdom and grace.
There are many versions of legendary tales, but as mentioned in the Holy Puranas, Devrishi Narad influenced Devi Parvati with thoughts to marry Lord Shiva as Her divine consort. Devrishi Narad also guided Devi Parvati that the path to her reunion with Lord Shiva is not an easy one. She will have to practise tough tapasya (penance) to marry Supreme God – Shiva. Upon knowing Her predestined conjugal bliss with Lord Shiva, Devi Parvati’s desire to reunite with Lord Shiva became even stronger. Her divine being in the Manavatar (Human life) was devoted to win the heart of Lord Shiva. Based on the advice of Sage Narada, Devi Parvati took up intense tapasya (penance) for one thousand years. It is the due to this tough and arduous penance that She got the name of “Tapascharini”.
According to the Puranas, in the meanwhile Tarkasur – the demon king performed hard penance and pleased Lord Shiva. Tarkasur cunningly gained boon from Lord Shiva to be killed by only Lord Shiva’s son. Pleased by Tarksur’s penance, kind-hearted and benevolent Shiva granted him the boon. All the Gods and Goddesses were unhappy because Tarkasur was an evil demon and due to Bholenath’s boon (Bholenath meaning -Innocent One, name of Lord Shiva), Tarkasur became more powerful and performed malevolent acts in Heaven and on Earth. Gods and Goddesses got worried that Lord Shiva is a hermit and so its only after His marriage, that Lord Shiva’s child would kill Tarkasur. In order to invoke desire of love in Shiva for Devi Parvati, Gods and Goddesses took the help of Kamadeva (Hindu God of desire, love and attraction). When Lord Shiva was in deep meditation, Kamadev, arrives Mount Kailash and shoots arrows of love and desire on Mahadev. Due to Kamadev’s disrespectful intervention, Lord Shiva opens His third eye in anger and burns Kamadev into ashes.
With complete devotion, Devi Parvati begins her austerity and tapasya. Despite the reluctance from Her parents (Lord Himavan and Devi Menavati), She pursues the path to ascetic life. She begins to live in the mountains, and like Lord Shiva, She engages in the same activities of asceticism – yogin and tapasya.
Devi Parvati, endures tough weather conditions during Her penance – changes of seasons, scorching heat, rain, cold, winter, storms none of the extreme conditions discouraged Her from continuing her tapasya. She embarked upon extremely difficult regime. For thousand years, She ate only fruits and flowers. Thereafter, as described in the puranas, for another 100 years, She ate only vegetables followed by another three thousand years, She ate only fallen leaves – Bilva leaves. She later stopped eating Bilva leaves too and merely lived on air. Due to such severe penance, She is called as “Aparna” (meaning “leafless” in Sanskrit). Devi Parvati continued severe penance and pushed her austerities to extremes for thousand of years, her body became extremely weak and fragile.
All the gods, goddesses, sages, rishis and munis venerated Devi Parvati’s extremely tough penance. Lord Brahma was captivated by Devi’s devotion and meditation. At this stage of Her tapasya, Lord Brahma blessed her and granted a boon that Devi Parvati in her unmarried form during Her tapasya stage will be known as “Brahmacharini”.
Her ascetic life and arduous penance drew attention of Lord #Shiva. Lord Shiva disguises Himself as a sage and tries to discourage Her. Devi Parvati, refuses to listen and continues with Her resolve. As Devi Parvati, continues Her penance, a demon named Prakandasura with an army of million asuras tries to attack Devi Parvati and break Her tapasya. Since Devi Parvati cannot breach the tapasya, Devi Mahalakshmi and Devi Saraswati, come to Her rescue to save Her from demon Prakandasura and his army. But they were unable to defeat so many demons. According to the legends, the battle continued for many days. Then the water in Devi Parvati’s kamandal fell and washed away all the demons. Prakandasura continued his rampage. Devi Parvati opened Her eyes, the intense energy in the form of fire burned the demon into ashes.
All the celestial gods, goddesses, ganas, rishis, munis were impressed by Devi Parvati’s immense tapasya. Lord Shiva was pleased with Devi Parvati’s tapasya in the form of Devi Brahmacharini. Lord Shiva agrees to marry Devi Parvati.
Appearance Of Devi Brahmacharini
Devi Brahmacharini is #Devi #Parvati’s early phase before Her marriage. Devi Brahmacharini wears white saree which symbolizes purity. She carries Jaap mala (rosary) in Her right hand and Kamandal in Her left hand. Jaap mala represents devout meditation and concentration. Kamandal represents acceptance and water in the kamandal represents pure thoughts. She is depicted walking bare feet. Maa Brahmacharini wears lotus flowers in her neck and wrists. Lotus symbolizes knowledge. The flower grows from the mud of “ignorance” to seek the light of knowledge. Lotus grows above the water level, which depicts the spiritual growth of person. Such is the beautiful depiction of Lotus on Maa Brahmacharini. She adorns a prominent crown just like Goddess Durga. Despite her simplicity, She shares her magnificent knowledge. She has a pleasing smile and a radiant face full of grace.
#Goddess Of #Svadhisthana #Chakra
Svadhisthan chakra is the second chakra. It is the sacral chakra which is centre of pleasure, emotions, sexuality and sensations. Maa Brahmacharini represents one who practices devout austerity. Maa Brahmacharini symbolizes svadhisthan chakra in spiritual practice. One who meditates on Svadhishthana is believed to obtain siddhis like freedom from enemies, honesty and self-discipline, eloquence and clarity, knowledge, and words flowing like nectar in well narrated discourse along with awareness of astral entities.
Sadhaks and yogis keep their mind on svadhisthan chakra to maintain their dedication and devotion in steady phase. Concentrating on this chakra helps the spiritual aspirant move upwards in spiritual journey.
Worshipping Maa Brahmacharini
Maa Brahmacharini is worshipped on second day of Navratri. The pooja vidhi involves offering flowers, rice and sandalwood in Kalash that is established on first day of Navaratri during Ghatasthapana. If diety is worshipped in idol, She is given abhishekam with milk, curd and honey. If worshipped in image, she is garlanded with fresh flowers. Aarti is performed. Devotees offer prasad and chant mantra and stuti to offer obeisance to Devi Brahmacharini.
As the nine nights represent the nine planets, we will be having a planetary celebration of Navaratri with an account of one of the planets for each of the nine nights. The second planet is The #Moon. The colour for the second day of #Navaratri is #WHITE, so we shall scribe in white with an added background so that white may be easily read for this second day’s observance of Navaratri
Today is the second day of the Navaratri celebrations which are held for nine days (Nava Rathrulu). All festivals are meant to remind mankind that they should cultivate noble qualities by engaging themselves in activities beneficial to one’s own self and society. Sai Baba made reference to Navaratri and the Nine Planets:
As part of Navaratri celebrations, people worship different forms of divinity. You should develop sacred feelings and experience divinity. What is the inner meaning of Navaratri celebrations? These nine nights represent nine planets. Each planet has its own significance. However, these planets are not outside, they are within. If your feelings are impure and unsacred, the result also will be the same. You are responsible for the good and bad you think and experience.
The Moon
#Chandra, (lit. “shining one”) The Moon is one of the Gods and a most important planet in Vedic Astrology. He is described as young, beautiful, fair; two-armed and having in his hands a club and a lotus. He rides his chariot (the moon) across the sky every night, pulled by ten white horses or an antelope. Although the antelope is the animal most commonly depicted with Him in iconography, the rabbit is also particularly sacred to him and all rabbits are under his protection. He is connected with dew, and as such, is one of the gods of fertility. As #Soma, presides over Somvar or Monday.
The Moon rules Mother and maternal matters, contentment in the home, emotions and bodily fluids, as the Moon is kapha dosha. Kapha dosha signifies water, fluids, fluids in the body and it is of an earthy nature. It has dimensions of loyalty, faithfulness, love and attachment. The Moon waxes and wanes monthly and as it is the fastest moving planet, it is easily afflicted in transits. The Moon is strongest when it is 180° from the Sun; the closer the Moon comes to the Sun, the lesser its energy and strength.
Moon signifies responsiveness, loyalty, dependence. It is traditional, conservative, conventional in attitudes. It delivers the energy of belonging, seldom rebels, and, when cool, has high frustration tolerance. Moon gives friendly attitudes, life-long associations and doesn’t like to hurt other people. It can accept feedback from others but does not like confrontations, particularly when they are personally hurtful. The Moon gives good parents who are good providers.
Day 2
#Goddess #Brahmacharini
Brahmacharini means a devoted female student who lives in an Ashrama with her Guru along with other students. It is also the name of the second aspect of the goddess Durga (Parvati). The goddess is worshipped on the second day of Navratri (the nine divine nights of Navadurga). The goddess Brahmacharini wears white clothes, holds a japa mala (rosary) in her right hand and Kamandal, a water utensil in her left hand.
Charini is the feminine version of one who is a charya, which means “occupation with, engaging, proceeding, behaviour, conduct, to follow, moving in, going after”; so to seek, to explore, to experience, to know. One does not dare to speak of the divine without internal, inner experience. For the Divine is that which is known only; it cannot be thought about, read about, nor experienced in discussion with others. One pursues the experience of the Divine – like Bhakta Meera, also known as Mirabai:
I am your slave.
Bind me in tethers, Mira’s your slave.
She wakes up at dawn,
sits in the garden,
haunts the pathways of Brindavan forest
making up ballads.
Fever, memory, craving,
birth after birth they come with me.
I slip on a saffron robe
hoping to see you.
Yogins come to Brindavan to know oneness,
hermits perform terrible spells,
holy men come to sing gospels –
but Mira is deeper, Lord,
and more secret.
She waits with a ruined heart every night
by the river
just for a glimpse.
The Moon is often thought of as feminine, just as the rules Mother and maternal matters, contentment in the home and emotions. The moon is a feminine symbol, universally representing the rhythm of time as it embodies the cycle. The phases of the moon symbolize immortality and eternity, enlightenment or the dark side of Nature herself. It might reflect inner knowledge, or the phases of man’s condition on Earth, since it controls the tides, the rains, the waters, and the seasons. It is the middle ground between the light of the sun and the darkness of night, and thus often represents the realm between the conscious and the unconscious.
On this second day of Navaratri, we have learned that the day is ruled by the Moon, the colour is white and the Goddess is Brahmacharini Devi, the Goddess of #Swadhisthana #Chakra. The word swadhisthana can be translated as “the dwelling place of the self”. Swadhisthana Chakra develops around the ages of 6 months to 2 years. This chakra governs our relationship to the feminine, our reproductive area and our femininity. We are also determining the safety of expressing our feelings, experiencing emotions and also connecting to our intuition.
The element of Swadhisthana Chakra is #water, which equals cohesiveness. A balanced second chakra leads to feelings of wellness, abundance, pleasure, and joy. When this chakra is out of balance, a person may experience emotional instability, fear of change, sexual dysfunction, depression, or addictions.
We have learned about the name the Goddess of this day – Brahmacharini – and that charini is the feminine of “occupation with, engaging, proceeding, behaviour, conduct, to follow, moving in, going after”. We cannot live without the feminine aspect of the #Divine #within, and Navaratri represents a call toward exploring and experiencing this feminine divine within. We are ask to follow, to move in, to go after, just like Mirabai, the Rajput princess who lived for and sought her Lord Krishna alone. It behooves us to seek the feminine within, to honour it, for in honouring the feminine, the Mother Goddess, the Shakti or female energy principle within, we honour Mother Earth herself, who is also a Goddess, Bhu-Devi. We honour our own Mother, our sisters, aunts, grandmothers and all the generations of women who have come before us and gifted us. So also, we take care of the resources of Mother Earth, as per Sri Sathya Sai Baba:
Significance of Navaratri
“The Navaratri celebration is an occasion for revering #nature and considering how natural resources can be used properly in the best interest of mankind. Resources like water, air, power and minerals should be used properly and not misused or wasted. Economy in the use of every natural resource is vital. Pollution of the air has many evil consequences. The inner significance of observances like singing in the villages and devotional singing is to fill the atmosphere with sacred vibrations and holy thoughts. The inauguration of the Navaratri celebrations means that you should use this occasion for offering worship to nature and resolving to make sacred use of all natural resources.” Sai Baba. SS, 11/92, p. 269
The Second Night of #NavRatri is dedicated to #Ma as #Brahmacharini – the Seeker of the #Absolute.
Now as we will recall – ‘Brahman’ is from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerǵʰ-. This term in PIE refers to something that is ‘high’, ‘exalted’ – and also produces, unsurprisingly, terms for ‘mountain’ (like the Germanic ‘Berg’). It would perhaps be improper via implication to suggest that Her quest is to ‘Get High’ – even though the ultimate goal of said questing is, indeed, wreathed frequently ‘midst Cannabis smoke.
‘Acharani’, meanwhile, a feminine form for ‘Acharana’ – one who goes, or one who follows. This derives from the same root which gives ‘Carya’ – a term not only for ‘motion’ and ‘journeying’, but also for adhering to customs and precepts. And, as it happens, from PIE *kʷel- – which is the same root which gives us our modern English “Cult” and “Culture”, “Telos” and “Teleological” … as well as “Bicycle”.
This is because that PIE *kʷel- root in fact means “to turn”. Just what a wheel does (another descendant term) or a circle (again, from the same root). It is not hard to see how the ‘circle’, the ‘wheel’, the ‘way we go’ pertains both to journeying and to how we conduct ourselves (whether in terms of culture or initiatory precepts) in this journey that we term ‘life’.
So – Brahmacharini, therefore, is moving upwards in both senses.
In the literal sense, She ascends the Himalayas toward the fabled realm where Lord Shiva is to be found.
In the theological sense, She ascends also upward toward the Absolute, the Supreme. Interestingly, this might be thought of as Her remembrance and reconnection with Her Own True Nature – accomplished, certainly, via Her reconciliation and reintroduction to Her Husband, the mighty Mahadev.
Now this is interesting, because in the West we are most familiar with what is known as the ‘Katabasis’ – the ‘Going Under’. Often this is overtly intended as going down into the Underworld, there to meet the dread sovereign(s) of that realm in pursuit of the sought-for boon. Even in Christian times, the Alchemical motto V.I.T.R.I.O.L. – “Visita Interiora Terrae Rectificando Invenies Occultum Lapidem” (‘Visit the Interior of the Earth and Rectifying [i.e. making one’s self pure or whole], you Find the Hidden Stone”) – was prominent amidst those esoteric spheres.
However here, upon first glance, the journey is in the opposite direction. It is, after all, Upwards rather than Below.
And yet – here, there is an underpinning thematic unity. In both cases, one is braving arduous routes and perils to venture to a realm where a Divinity and spirits preside. In both cases, these are realms far removed from what is habitable by ordinary humans, ordinary mortals. And in both cases, there is a fantastic wealth of wisdom (and other sources) to be beheld therein. If one can make it in – and then, more remarkably, make it back out again.
We might go further. I have long observed that in the archaic Indo-European world-view, the Sky and the Underworld – are substantively coterminous. I shall not repeat the reasoning nor the exploration herein. Except to note that we might comfortably observe that the same God holds sway in both places – Lord Shiva, a Lord of Wealth (‘Plouton’, we might say, to dip into the Ancient Greek) and the Dead and possessed of great Wisdom, indeed.
But we are digressing somewhat.
The course of Brahmacharini is to head out into the wilds and engage in a quest. One for Her True Self – and also for (and thusly through) Her Other Half. For it is only there, and rejoined with Her Missing Piece, that She can become most truly Herself. Whole, Hale, Healthy – ‘Holy’, in a more fully realized sense.
The quest is long and dangerous. The Himalayas are no place for a young woman – their upper reaches prove inhospitable even to experienced mountain climbers and hardy men. And yet She continues – She persists.
Why? Because She must. She is following Her Nature – Her Calling, Her Destiny.
What is that Destiny? ‘Happiness’ does not quite begin to cover it – although it is its necessary correlative coefficient. ‘Wholeness’, as we have inferred above, might come closer to the mark.
Eventually, in amongst the higher peaks, She encounters it. Or, rather, She encounters Him. Lord Shiva – there, Himself. Engaged in austerities in the harsh conditions, desperately endeavouring to forget His Wife – the One Whom He had lost amidst the flames of the Sacrifice of Daksha.
She approaches. He recedes.
He might be somewhat intrigued by this woman that has somehow managed to make Her way up all the way to His customary haunting-grounds and bear the harshness of both climactic and other conditions. She may even remind Him somewhat of She Whom He Had Lost. And that is precisely, in part, why He recedes – out of guilt, out of grief, out of disbelief in a miracle that cannot be.
And yet – She is not discouraged. She presses on. He climbs up ever higher in the Mountains, undertaking further Austerities – She matches Him. Demonstrating that this truly is no ordinary woman – able to keep pace with the nature of the God.
What comes next? Shiva’s pause. His beginning to reconsideration. He allows Her to engage Him in dialogue – seeking to perhaps assuage Himself that this cannot, in fact, be Her. Or perhaps to assay whether She, in truth, might just be.
In some tellings, They commence a theological debate. It might sound curious (although I can personally attest that to a .. certain sort of prospective couple, this is indeed something that happens – good to ensure you’re on the ‘same page’ about the most important matters, after all), and yet it is in actuality the most natural thing in the world.
After all, that is precisely what it is upon – nature, Their Nature(s), and how two Gods in Each Other’s presence can be assured of various, greatly important, things.
Eventually, She prevails. Proving to Him that She is, indeed, Who She Is. And prevails, also, through various other rhetorical ‘tests’ delivered by He.
This showcases something further rather interesting – the ‘answer’, it would seem, was inside of Her all along. It only required the proper context, the proper circumstance, the right environment (i.e. with Him) in order to become more fully realized. ‘Immanentized’, we may say.
So. ‘Brahmacharini’, then, is the ‘Seeker of the Absolute’, the Venturer to the High Places – not only terrestrially, nor even cosmologically and metaphysically, but also into (and as) Her Own Self, likewise. For She, as Devi, is the Absolute
And the End of the Journey is also the same location as its Beginning.
A ‘Circle’, some might say – as with the Water, a Cycle.
What’s that Proto-Indo-European term again?
*kʷel-
The ‘Cycle’, the ‘Turning’ of the High (*bʰerǵʰ-), is complete.
Jai Mata Di
https://aryaakasha.com/2022/04/03/brahmacharini-for-chaitra-navratri-seeker-of-the-absolute/
#Happy #Navratri Day 2
Dvitiya
#Maa #Brahmacharini Puja
23rd
March 2023
(Thursday)
Brahmacharini Maa is worshipped on the second day of Navratri. She is considered as the unmarried form of Goddess #Parvati. Brahamacharini is the #Sanskrit term which means: #Brahma, the absolute reality, the supreme consciousness + Charini, the female version of 'Charya', which means the one who behaves or conducts.
About Brahmacharini
Brahmacharini Mata adorns herself in white attire; keeps a Japa Mala (rosary) in her right hand and Kamandala (stoup) in her left hand. She signifies loyalty and wisdom. Also, she is an epitome of love.
Legend
As per the mythology, Goddess Parvati had this desire to marry Lord Shiva. When her parents got to know about this, they tried to discourage her. However, it didn't work and she approached Lord Kama, the God of erotic activities and attraction, to help her. In this pursuit, Kama shot an arrow of pleasure and desire into Shiva. Being in meditative state, Shiva got disturbed and really angry. So, he burnt him into ashes.
The story didn't end here. She, then, started living the way Shiva does. The Goddess went to mountains and lived the life of an ascetic for many years. Hence, she got the name Brahmacharini. Due to this, she drew the attention of Lord Shiva. So, he went to her in disguise and told all the negative traits of Shiva. But, the Goddess paid no heed to such things rather she resisted to hear all that. Shiva finally accepted her and they got married.
Astrological Aspect
Goddess Brahmacharini governs the planet Mars in astrology. Worshiping her can eliminate all the bad effects of Mars.
Mantras
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ ब्रह्मचारिणी रूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नम:।।
दधाना कर पद्माभ्याम अक्षमाला कमण्डलू।
देवी प्रसीदतु मई ब्रह्मचारिण्यनुत्तमा।।
ॐ देवी ब्रह्मचारिण्यै नमः॥
Dhyan Mantra:
वन्दे वाञ्छितलाभाय चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखराम्।
जपमाला कमण्डलु धरा ब्रह्मचारिणी शुभाम्॥
गौरवर्णा स्वाधिष्ठानस्थिता द्वितीय दुर्गा त्रिनेत्राम्।
धवल परिधाना ब्रह्मरूपा पुष्पालङ्कार भूषिताम्॥
परम वन्दना पल्लवाधरां कान्त कपोला पीन।
पयोधराम् कमनीया लावणयं स्मेरमुखी निम्ननाभि नितम्बनीम्॥
Stotra:
तपश्चारिणी त्वंहि तापत्रय निवारणीम्।
ब्रह्मरूपधरा ब्रह्मचारिणी प्रणमाम्यहम्॥
शङ्करप्रिया त्वंहि भुक्ति-मुक्ति दायिनी।
शान्तिदा ज्ञानदा ब्रह्मचारिणी प्रणमाम्यहम्॥
Kavacha (Shield/Protection Mantra):
त्रिपुरा में हृदयम् पातु ललाटे पातु शङ्करभामिनी।
अर्पण सदापातु नेत्रो, अर्धरी च कपोलो॥
पञ्चदशी कण्ठे पातु मध्यदेशे पातु महेश्वरी॥
षोडशी सदापातु नाभो गृहो च पादयो।
अङ्ग प्रत्यङ्ग सतत पातु ब्रह्मचारिणी॥
With this, we hope that you will make the best of Navratri’s second day. May Maa Brahmacharini blesses you with all the goodness of life.
Happy Navratri!
Navratri Day 2: White
The colour of Day 2 of Navratri is white. On this day, #Goddess Brahmacharini is worshipped. The white colour signifies purity, peace and meditation. Mata Brahmacharini also wears a white dress and has a rosary in her right hand and Kamandala in her left hand. She signifies loyalty and wisdom. This goddess is the epitome of love.
#Shardiya #Navratri 2022 Day 2: On the second day of Navratri, the second form of Navdurga, #Maa #Brahmacharini is worshipped. She adorns a peaceful and pleasant look in white clothes
Navratri Day 2
September 27, 2022, Tuesday
Navratri color of the day - #Red
On Tuesday, wear Red color for your Navratri celebrations. Red symbolizes passion and love and is also the most preferred color of Chunri that is offered to Goddess. This color fills the person with vigour and vitality.