Shailaputri


Shailaputri is a manifestation of the Hindu goddess, Durga and is one of the first Navadurga's venerated during the first day of Navratri.
She is also known as Sati, Bhavani, Parvati or Hemavati. Mother Shailaputri is the absolute form of Mother Nature.

Iconography

Goddess Shailaputri is depicted with two hands and has a crescent moon on her forehead. She holds a trident in her right hand and a lotus flower in the left. She rides on mount Nandi.

History

Shailaputri is the Adi parasakti, who was born in the house of King of Mountains “Parvat Raj Himalaya”. The name “Shailaputri” literally means the daughter of mountain. Variously known as Sati Bhavani, Parvati or Hemavati, the daughter of Himavat - the king of the Himalayas.
The embodiment of the power of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, she rides a bull and carries a trident and a lotus in her two hands. In previous birth, she was daughter of Daksha, Sati. Once Daksha had organized a big Yagna and did not invite Shiva. But Sati being obstinate, reached there. Thereupon Daksha insulted Shiva. Sati could not tolerate the insult of husband and burnt herself in the fire of Yagna. In other birth, she became the daughter of Himalaya in the name of Parvati - Hemavati and married Shiva. As per Upanishad, she had torn and the egotism of Indra, etc. Devtas. Being ashamed they bowed and prayed that, "In fact, thou are Shakti, we all - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are capable by getting Shakti from you."
In some scriptures like Shiva Purana and Devi-Bhagavata Purana the story of Mother Goddess is written as follows: Maa Bhagwati in her earlier birth was born as a daughter of Daksha Prajapati. Then her name was Sati and she was married to Lord Shiva. But in a sacrificial ceremony organized by her father Prajapati Daksha, her body was burned in the yogic fire, because she could not bear the insult of her husband Lord Shiva by her father Prajapati Daksha in the sacrificial ceremony.
In her next birth she became Goddess Parvati, the daughter of Parvat Raj Himalaya. Other avatar of navadurga is the incarnation of mother Parvati,she also incernated her as 32 vidyas, who was again known as Hemavati. In her Hemavati aspect, she defeated all prominent gods. Like her previous birth, in this life also Maa Shailaputri married Lord Shiva.
Getting her name as Mata Shailputri is having a story behind it. This was the time when Devi Parvati was a teenager. Once She was playing with her in the grasslands near the Himalayan mountains, which was actually her home. Grassland was for grazing cattles and near to it was big river namely Varuna River with Lotus flower on its edge. Mata Parvati was playing a game like hide seek in the woods nearby. It was her turn to seek her friends in the wood. While she was seeking her friends she came across the shore of the river full of lotus flowers. It was so mesmerizing for her, hence she wanted a flower from the river. She was about to pick one from it, but Suddenly a cow came mooing to her from the grasslands as if she was in great pain and wanted a help from Devi Parvati. The cow took Devi Parvati to the nearby grasslands. What Devi Parvati saw was horrible at first sight.
She saw skeleton of many cows as the flesh was freshly eaten by someone. The picture in front of Devi Parvati was almost impossible to understand so she kept her hand on the cows head and closed her eyes. Then she got to know about lady demon Tarika.
Tarika was sent to the earth by Tarkasur itself to kill the new form of Devi Adishakti, Devi Parvati. Devi Parvati was threat to Tarkasur as her and Lord Mahadev's son was threat for his life. After Tarika, being sent to Earth to kill Devi Paravti, she saw these cow grazing on the open grasslands and Shepard with them. She found this as delicious treat. So, she secretly she started attacking one cow at a time. After a while, when Shepard got a look on the cows the number was depreciating. So, he decided to find the cause and asked the person who was taking the cows. Suddenly Tarika occurs in the terrific form, with red blood all over her face. So he came to know that this non other than a demon who is killing all of his cows. So he decided to attack, He approached Tarika, but she being the demon she killed the Shepard and started eating rest of the cows and Shepard. One of the cow decided to protest and ran hay way for help and came across the shore of River Varuna and found Devi Parvati.
After getting to know about the all over situation Devi Parvati decided to fight against the demon Tarika. For the fight she took an unusual track. She took a form Shail as like her father Lord Himavan. The cow hided the structure and started mooing. The cow's mooing attracted the evil demon Tarika towards her. Tarika arrived there and saw the Shail and the cow behind it. Tarika tried to fetch the cow but it wasn't possible as the Shail used to move from one side to another. Tarika was trying hard to fetch the cow but was unable.
On the other hand it was almost evening and about to get dark, where Lord Himavan and Parvati's both friends arrived at the Grassland. They saw the conflict going on over there between the cow, Shail and demon Tarika but Parvati was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly some villagers also arrived at the location in search of the Shepard and they too saw this conflict. Himavan being the ruler of the nation was being drastically shocked by watching the demon in his territory and wanted to wipe the demon out of the territory. Tarika got fed up by conflicting with Shail and decided to break the Shaila. On the other hand Himavan raised sword to kill Tarika and Tarika raised the sword on the Shaila. Suddenly the Shaila burst and everyone stayed still. As the Shail started bursting, slowly golden rays emerged out of the Shail and Devi Paravati came in her form with a golden grown on the head and Trishul in the hand. Everyone who saw this picture were mesmerized eventually the cow was still her in her position behind Devi Paravati. Himavan took a step back but Tarika was too furious again she was about to attack Devi Parvati. Devi Parvati lifted the Trishul and threw on Tarika. Tarika was hence defeated and killed. Himavan, Parvati's bo th friends and the Villagers started praising Devi Parvati. Meanwhile the cow ran towards the shore of the river, picked one lotus, brought it and gave it to Devi Parvati.
After this incidence Himavan named Devi Parvati as Mata Shailputri and this form of Devi Parvati with golden crown on her head, Trishul in one hand, Lotus in another and a cow standing behind her was came to be known as Mata Shailputri and as this form Devi Parvati took the first after coming into life, It is been worshipped on the first day of the Navratri. After all of this Devi Shailputri gave boon to the cow who stood behind her during conflict and intended to protect the Nature. Devi Shailputri boon was, alike Devi Adishkati from that day onwards Cow will also be universal mother of all the creatures, without Gaupujan non of the auspicious works will get its fulfillment and killing a cow will be next to Brahmahatya (the eternal and ultimate massacre

Worship

The puja begins with Ghatasthapana, a ritual that symbolises women power.
The Ghatasthapana puja is done by using puja items that are considered holy and symbolic. A shallow pan like utensil made of clay is used as base. Three layers of mud and Sapta Dhanya/Navadhanya seeds are then scattered in the pan. After that little bit of water is needed to be sprinkled so that seeds get enough moisture. Then, a Kalasha is filled with Ganga jal. Supari, a few coins, Akshat and Durva grass are put in water. After this, five leaves of the mango tree are put around the neck of the Kalash, which is then covered by placing a coconut.

Prayers

Its mantra is La+Ma, i.e.Lama, of the Sanskrit Varṇamālā. Its focus is on the tip of the tongue, and lips.
Mantra of Shailaputri:
Prarthana or Prayer of Shailaputri
"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."

Temples