SHAILAPUTRI:

VANDE VAANCHHIT LAABHAAYA CHANDRARDHA KRITA SHEKHARAAM,
VRISHAARUDHAAM SHULADHARAAM SHAILA- PUTRIM YASHASVINIIM

वन्दे वांछितलाभाय चन्द्रर्धकृत शेखराम् ।
वृशारूढ़ा शूलधरां शैलपुत्री यशस्वनीम् ॥

I pay my VANDANA/ obeisance to the DIVINE MOTHER SHAILA-PUTRI, who bestows upon the choicest boons to the devotees. The moon in the crescent form is adorned as the crown on Her forehead. She is mounted on the bullock. She holds a lance in her hand. She is Yashasvini -the CELEBRATED MOTHER DURGA.”

Shailaputri is the first among Navadurgas and the first day of Navratri pooja is dedicated to Durga Shailaputri. Variously known as Sati, Bhavani, Parvati or Hemavati. Maa Shailaputri is the absolute form of Mother Nature. She is also known as Goddess Parvati the consort of Lord Shiva and mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya. In the Navratri festival the worshiping Mother Goddess has a half moon in her forehead & she is holding a trident in her right hand & lotus flower in her left hand. She rides on mount Nandi (bull).

The first and the most prominent among Nava Durgas, Shailaputri is of immense importance and her glories are endless.

She is the Devi of the root chakra, who, upon awakening, begins her journey upwards. On the first day of Navratri pooja Yogi’s keep their mind concentrated on Muladhara(root chakra). This is the starting point of their spiritual discipline. Shailaputri is the Muladhara Shakti to be realized within Self and sought for higher depths, in the yogic meditation.

Shailaputri means the daughter of the Himalaya. SHAILA is the derivative of the word SHILA. Shila means a rock, a stone. It is the rock of spiritual standing and the whole world gets strength from the Shailaputri aspect of Purna Prakriti DURGA.From the Yogic point of view, the First day of Navratri is considered to be very auspicious day. This is the Yogic start for being in tune with the Divine Mother Durga. Those who want to have any kind of initiation in the Shakti Mantras, can have it on the First of Shukla Pratipada.

The aspiration of a devotee is to reach higher and further higher, for spiritual evolution, and for the attainment of Siddhi, which is perfection associated with Ananda (bliss). Shailaputri is the physical consciousness of the Divine Mother Durga. Shailaputri is the manifestation of this earth planet, which includes what is apparent on this earth, and within the globe. Shailaputri covers all the hills, vales, water resources, seas and oceans, including atmosphere.

Therefore, Shailaputri is the essence of the earthly existence. Her abode is in the Muladhara Chakra. The divine Energy is latent in every human being. It is to be realized. Its color is crimson. The Tattva (element) is Earth, with the Guna (quality) of coherence, and with the Bheda (distinct) characteristics of Ghraana (the smell).