CHAITRA NAVRATRI 2012 - MARCH 23 TO APRIL 1st

Nav Samvatsar will start from 23rd March 2012. This day is the first Navratri of              Chaitra Shukla Paksha and so, Kalash Sthapna is being performed. Nine incarnation        of Goddess Durga are worshipped on these nine days of Navratri in a systematic manner. Moreover, a person gets virtues by performing Puja, meditation, Yagya, donations,        fasting etc. in theses days. This year, the Navratri festival shall start on Friday in Rewati Nakshatra and will be till 1st April 2012.                       

                            Lord Ganesha Pujan                       

On the date of Pratipad, before starting Navrati Puja, Kalash Sthapna or the Ghat Sthapna is performed. Devi Pujan has a great Mahatmya in the Hindu Dharm. In this  period, 9 days fasting is observed. On the 9th day, 10 years old girls are worshipped and offered food.                       

             Ghat Sthapna in Subh Muhurth                       

In every religious pilrimages, Ghat Sthapna is performed during the auspicious muhurat   after sunrise. On the first day of Navratri, Goddess Durga and Lord Ganesha is worshipped.Seeds of barley and wheat are sown in soil, placed in a vessel made of mud.                       

On the day of 4th April, people take the resolution of fast, Yagya, Puja and start           worshipping Goddess. on the first day of Navratri, Shailputri incarnation of Mata             is worshipped. It is well known that Mata Shailputri is the daughter of Himalaya              and is also known as Goddess Parvati. Fast is observed during Navratri in order             to please Goddess. And, Path of Maa Durga is performed at night. A person get auspicious  results of performing Jagran in the nights of Navratri.                       

                  Nine Incarnation of Goddess

Nine incarnations of Mata are worshipped during Navratri. the names of nine Goddesses are as follows :-                       

1. Shailputri
2. Brahmacharini
3. Chandraghanta
4. Kushmanda
5. Skanda Mata
6. Katyayani
7. Kalratri
8. Maha Gauri
9. Siddhidatri

Chaitra Paksha First Navratri - Ghat Sthapna Procedure  

Shardiya Navratri begin on Pratipada Tithi of Ashwin Shukla Paksha by Kalash Sthapna. In Hindus, Kalash is considered as the form of Mangalmurti Ganesha. Hence, first of all, Kalash Sthapna is performed. for this, the ground is made pure and clean by applying a paste of cow dung and Ganga Jal. As per the process, 7 types     of soil is taken and a Peeth is prepared. If 7 types of soil is not available, then soil brought from river is mixed with Gangot (soil of river Ganga) and Kalash is              established on this.

Mata Shailputri Pujan - Devi Pujan on First Day of Navratri 

In Kalash, seven types of soil (Saptamatrika),betel nut,money is offered. And Kalash      is adorned with five types of Pallav. Beneath the urn, 7 types of cereals and barley  is grown which is cut on Dashmi Tithi. Worshipper and his family get blessings of          happiness, wealth, health by chanting the mantra "जयन्ती मंगला काली भद्रकाली कपालिनी,         दुर्गा क्षमा शिवा धात्री स्वाहा, स्वधा नामोस्तुते".  

Goddess Statue Establishment  

Statue of Goddess Durga is placed in the middle of the worshipping place. On the right side of the statue, idols of Devi Mahalakshmi, Ganesha and a Yogini named Vijaya are placed. On the left, idols of Karthikeyan, Mahasaraswati and Yogini Jaya               are placed.                       

 Lord Shiva is also worshipped as no prayer is considered complete without his PujaOn the first day, Devi Shailputri is worshipped in the form of Bhagwati Durga Durgati      Nashani is worshipped with flowers, Akshat, Roli, sandalwood. This way Durga Puja   is started and every evening, Aarti of Goddess Durga is performed. Devotees sign the bhajans ‘Jag Janani Jai Jai’ and ‘Jai Ambe Gori’, while performing Aarti.                       

                            Navratri : Grah Shanti

                            Procedure of Nav Grah Shanti during Navratri are as follows:-                       

On the day of Pratipada, Mars planet pacification is done. On Dwetiya, work related to Rahu planet pacification are performed. On Tritiya, Jupiter planet pacification works are do.On Chaturthi, a person performs Saturn pacification and avoid the inauspicious effects of Saturn. On Panchami, Mercury planet, on Shashti Tithi, Ketu, on Saptami, Venus planet pacification, on Ashtami Tithi sun pacification should be performed and on Navami, Moon pacification rituals are performed.                           

Before beginning the process of Greh Shanti, Kalash Sthapna and Durga Maa Pujan        should be performed. After Puja, Navgreh Yantra is drawn on a piece of red cloth. After this, Navgreh mantra is chanted and resolution of Navgreh Shanti is taken.                       

On Pratipad, Mars is worshipped as this day, Mars Greh Shanti is performed. After          Puja, with the beads of Moonga or Red Akik or Panchmukhi Rudraksha, Mars mantra       are chanted for 108 times. Then, Mangal Kavach and should be read. For the Rahu         Shanti, Rahu is worshipped and Rahu’s mantra is chanted 108 times for auspicious  results of Rahu.                       

         God to be worshipped in Navratri                     

Lord Ram and Hanuman are also worshipped with Maa Durga during Navratri. Reading     Sundarkand, Ram Charitra Manas and Ramayan is considered fruitful. Obstacles through  enemy are removed. Desires are fulfilled. A person who worship Goddess in a systematic manner during Navratri, all his works are completed and his soul gets peace.  

Source : astrobix.com

HARI OM