Brahmacharini Mata Puja Vidhi
Brahmacharini Mata Puja Vidhi is a key ritual performed on the second day of Navratri, where devotees worship Mata Brahmacharini, the second form of Goddess Durga. Brahmacharini symbolizes asceticism, wisdom, and devotion. Worshiping her brings peace, prosperity, and strength to endure hardships. Goddess Brahmacharini is the second form of the Navadurga and is worshipped on the second day of Navaratri. Her name signifies the ascetic phase of Goddess Parvati's life, where she performed intense penance (tapas) to unite with Lord Shiva as her husband.
Maa Brahmacharini is also known as Tapah Charini, symbolizing her dedication to penance and spiritual discipline. Other names of Goddess Parvati, such as Kumari and Kanyaka, are closely related to Brahmacharini, reflecting her youthful, celibate form and the significant phase of her life dedicated to austerity and devotion.Below is the detailed step-by-step puja vidhi (ritual procedure) to perform the worship of Brahmacharini Mata.
Brahmacharini Mata Puja Vidhi (Puja Procedure)
Devi was born to the Lord of the Mountains, Himavan and his wife Menavati. As she was the daughter of the mountain (Parvat) god, she was called Parvati. From her childhood, she heard many tales of Lord Shiva from Sage Narada. Being thus influenced, she was determined to attain the Lord as her consort.
At this time, Lord Shiva had renounced worldly ways and had become a sannyasin or ascetic, spending his time meditating in the Himalayas.
Parvati undertook to look after his abode – cleaning it, keeping his food ready, and decorating it with flowers. She would also meditate and pray. At first, she ate very little, surviving on fruits and flowers, but over time, she reduced her food to just leaves. Ultimately, she completely gave up food and water. She slept on the bare floor, meditating constantly.
After following such austere practices for a thousand years, an old man visited her. He berated Lord Shiva, calling him a mendicant. Listening to his abusive language made Parvati angry. She loyally defended the Lord. Impressed with her devotion and constancy, the old man, who was in fact Lord Shiva in disguise, revealed himself, and agreed to marry her.
In reality, Goddess Parvati was the reincarnation of Lord Shiva’s first wife, Sati. READ MORE
1. Purification of Mind and Body
- Wake up early: On the second day of Navratri, rise early in the morning, preferably during Brahma Muhurta (4 AM – 6 AM).
- Take a bath: Cleanse yourself and wear clean, preferably white or light-colored clothes as white symbolizes purity.
- Purify the puja area: Sprinkle Gangajal (holy water) in the puja room and the place where you will perform the puja.
2. Setup for Puja
- Install the idol or picture: Place a picture or an idol of Mata Brahmacharini on a clean platform, decorated with flowers, preferably in the northeast direction.
- Set up the Kalash: Place a copper or brass Kalash filled with water, with mango leaves, and coconut placed over it.
- Puja Thali: Prepare a thali (plate) with items like roli (kumkum), rice, incense sticks, flowers (preferably jasmine or lotus), fruits, sweets, and a ghee lamp (diya).
3. Invocation of Mata Brahmacharini
- Dhyana (Meditation): Sit in front of the deity, close your eyes, and meditate on Brahmacharini Mata. Visualize her serene, calm form with a lotus flower in one hand and a water pot (kamandalu) in the other.
- Chant the mantra:
दधाना कर पद्माभ्यामक्षमाला कमण्डलु | देवी प्रसीदतु मयि ब्रह्मचारिण्यनुत्तमा ||
4. Puja Rituals
- Aachaman (Sipping Water): Offer water to Brahmacharini Mata to invoke her presence.
- Tilak (Marking the Forehead): Apply tilak of roli (red kumkum) and sandalwood paste to the idol or picture of the goddess.
- Offer Flowers: Offer fresh flowers, especially jasmine or lotus, while chanting mantras in praise of her.
- Offer Sweets and Fruits: Present sweets (like kheer or fruits) to the deity as bhog (offerings).
- Lighting of Incense and Diya: Light the incense sticks and the diya (lamp) made of pure ghee and place them in front of the deity.
5. Chanting of Brahmacharini Mata Mantras
Recite the following mantras to invoke blessings:
ॐ देवी ब्रह्मचारिण्यै नमः ||You may also chant the Brahmacharini Stotra:
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ ब्रह्मचारिणी रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः।।
6. Offer Naivedya (Food Offering)
- Offer kheer, sugar, or other sweets as naivedya to Brahmacharini Mata. It is believed that offering sugar brings long life and harmony to the family.
7. Aarti (Waving the Lamp)
- Perform the aarti of Brahmacharini Mata with a ghee lamp while chanting her praises and offering flowers. Use a bell or a conch to enhance the devotion and positive energy.
- Sing or recite the Brahmacharini Mata Aarti:
जय अंजनी सुत हनुमाना। बल समुद्र गुण निधि नाना॥
8. Prasad Distribution
- After completing the aarti, offer the prasad (sweets or fruits) to all the family members and devotees present.
9. Final Prayers and Conclusion
- Seek the blessings of Mata Brahmacharini for strength, patience, wisdom, and devotion in life.
- Conclude the puja by folding hands and bowing before the deity.
Conclusions:
By following this Brahmacharini Mata Puja Vidhi with devotion and purity, devotees believe they can attain peace, prosperity, and spiritual growth.Brahmacharini (Sanskrit: ब्रह्मचारिणी) means a devoted female student who lives in an Ashrama with her Guru along with other students. She is the second aspect of the Navadurga forms of Mahadevi and is worshipped on the second day of Navaratri (the nine divine nights of Navadurga).
