Shailaputri – 1st day of Navaratri

The first day of Navaratri is celebrating the incarnation of Devi as Shailaputri. Shailaputri directly translates to daughter (putri) of the mountains (shaila). This incarnation of the divine mother is also known as Parvati, Sati, Bhavani or Hemavati. She is the daughter of the king of the Himalayas. Being the absolute form of Mother Nature, she is the embodiment of the power of the Tridev— Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva. She is often seen with a trident in her right hand, lotus in her left hand, a crescent moon on her forehead, and a bull as her vehicle.

She represents earth, nature and grounding. Kickstarting the Nine nights of celebration, she represents the Mooladhara chakra. She reminds us to model after nature, to be fluid and adaptable like water and to be grounded like the earth. She is the mother of the root chakra, and her journey begins upwards. This is the starting point that shoots us up and beyond to Satyaloka energies.

If you were to read her stories, she gave a boon to the cow who stood behind her during conflict and protecting the nature. She gave the cow the boon of being a universal mother to all creatures. Without the blessings of praying to the Kamadhenu, no auspicious occasion would reach its fulfilment. Furthermore, killing a cow is equivalent to an eternal and ultimate massacre.

Shailaputri is the essence of earthly existence. She resides in the mooladhara chakra, and her divine latent in everyone till woken up and realized.

(Artwork by yours truly: Dhevamitra)

Jai Pratyangira Jai Jai Pratyangira
Jai Maa Shailaputri
Jai Adiparasakthi Namo Namaha
Jai Bhuvaneswari Jai Namo Varahi
ANBE SIVAM
Thiruchitrambalam .