Examine Navratri Day 7 – Durga Saptami

Durgashtami – Worshipping the Nice Honest Goddess

Durga Puja Ashtami is taken into account crucial day of the Durga Puja Competition. The pan-Indian pageant of Navratri spans 9 nights and ten days. Throughout this pageant, the 9 types of Goddess Durga are worshipped. Therefore, Ashtami, the eighth lunar day of Navratri or Durga Puja, is named Durgashtami (Durga Ashtami) or Maha Ashtami.

Om Devi Mahagauryayi Namah

Navratri is a commemoration of the triumph of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura. The nine-day celebration represents the 9 days of the battle of excellent towards evil and the final word triumph of excellent. The Navratri pageant of the autumn season, generally known as Sharada Navratri, is widely known from the Pratipada (the part after the brand new moon) to the Dashami (tenth lunar part) throughout the Shukla paksha (brilliant fortnight) of the Ashwin month. The final 5 days of this pageant, from Sashti (sixth lunar part) to Dashami, are celebrated as Durga Puja. Durgashtami or Maha Ashtami (the eighth lunar part) is without doubt one of the most auspicious days of the Navratri and Durga Puja festivals.

Durga Ashtami 2023 Date & Essential Timings

When is Durga Ashtami 2023

In 2023, Durga Ashtami can be celebrated on Sunday, October 22.

Ashtami Tithi Begins: 09:53 PM on October 21, 2023

Ashtami Tithi Ends: 07:58 PM on October 22, 2023

Sandhi Puja Muhurat – 07:34 PM to 08:22 PM on October 22, 2023

Mahagauri: Type of Durga worshipped on Maha Ashtami

Throughout Navratri, every day is devoted to a separate type or manifestation of the goddess, and on Ashtami (the eighth lunar day), the shape Mahagauri is worshipped. Goddess Mahagauri is understood for fulfilling the needs of her devotees. In line with the legend, she is so honest that her pores and skin tone is corresponding to jasmine and Chandan. Because of this the devotees name her Mahagauri, ‘Maha’ means nice and ‘Gauri’ means honest. She has 4 arms, and he or she rides on a bull. Her proper arm stays in Abhaya Mudra, and the opposite holds the Trishul (trident); on the left aspect, one arm holds the Damru (a small hand drum), and the opposite stays in Varada Mudra.

On Maha Ashtami, girls pray to Mahagauri to bless them with happiness and abundance. Additionally, it’s believed that worshipping her will assist to scale back the sick results of Rahu, the shadowy planet.

Examine Hindu Festivals in 2023

Masik Durga Ashtami

Each month has two lunar phases or Pakshas, i.e. the Krishna Paksha (waning moon) and Shukla Paksha (waxing moon). In line with Hindu traditions and mythological beliefs, particular intervals of the month are devoted to the worship of particular gods; for instance, the Chaturthi Tithi is devoted to the worship of Lord Ganesha, Ekadashi Tithi for Lord Vishnu, and so on. Equally, the Ashtami Tithi of the Shukla paksha or the waxing moon of each month is devoted to the worship of Goddess Durga, which is named Masik Durga Ashtami as it’s noticed each month. Probably the most important Durga Ashtami of the 12 months is Maha Ashtami which falls on the eighth day of the Navratri pageant and is noticed within the Hindu month of Ashwin. By observing the Masik Durga Ashtami quick/vrat, devotees imagine that Goddess Durga fulfils their needs.

Masik Durga Ashtami Fasting Dates in 2023

Since Masik Durga Ashtami is noticed each month, under are the dates of Masik Durga Ashtami’s quick days in 2023.

Masik Durga Ashtami Vrat Puja Vidhi

Masik Durga Ashtami Vrat ought to be adopted correctly to realize the blessings of Goddess Durga. Devotees observe the quick for all the day.

• On the day of Masik Durga Ashtami, devotees should get up early earlier than dawn and take their tub after their morning routine. They need to put on clear garments.
• The place of worship or puja sthal is then purified and cleansed with Gangajal.
• Place a picket pooja stool on the puja sthal and unfold a crimson fabric on prime of it. Set up the idol or image of Goddess Durga and purify the idol utilizing Gangajal.
• Choices of Akshat, vermilion and crimson flowers are then made to Goddess Durga. The color crimson is of nice significance as it’s a color pricey to Goddess Durga. The idol is then provided fruits and sweets as Prasad whereas lighting the lamp and incense sticks.
• Devotees then recite the Durga Chalisa and carry out an aarti of Goddess Durga. A saatvik bhog is then provided to Goddess Durga.

Choices of crimson chunari, crimson garments, lamp, ghee, make-up gadgets, bangles, ghee, incense sticks, coconut, rice, kumkum or vermilion, flowers, idol or picture of the goddess, betel nut, clove, cardamom, sugar sweet for choices, fruits, candy, camphor and kalava are made to Goddess Durga whereas performing the Durga puja.

8 Highly effective Maa Durga Mantras To Ward Off Evil

Durga Ashtami Puja and Different Rituals

Worshipping Goddess Mahagauri on Durga Ashtami is taken into account auspicious. She is the eighth among the many Navadurgas, the 9 manifestations of Goddess Durga. The method of worship on Durga Ashtami is similar as that of Saptami apart from the Pran Pratishta, which is finished solely on Saptami. Durga Puja on Maha Ashtami begins with Mahasnan and Shodashopachar Puja, which could be very a lot much like Maha Saptami Puja. Within the Mahashtami Puja, all 9 types of the supreme Goddess Durga are worshipped. This includes putting in 9 small pots and invoking the 9 Shaktis or avatars of Durga in them.
Durga Ashtami 2023 can also be particular as a result of the AshtaSakthi, or the eight consorts of Goddess Durga, are worshipped on the day. The Ashta Shakti consists of Brahmani, Maheswari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Narasinghi, Indrani, and Chamunda, who’re all completely different representations of the identical divine female power, Goddess Durga.
The opposite rituals of the day embrace Astra Puja, Kanya Puja and Sandhi Puja. Devotees additionally observe a day-long quick or Vrat to hunt her divine safety and blessings for peace, prosperity, and happiness. That is additionally a day of zesty celebrations. Individuals erect huge Puja Pandals (tents), set up idols of Durga, and rejoice by dancing and sporting conventional outfits.

Astra Puja

Astra Puja is a crucial ritual noticed on the day of Durga Ashtami. As per the assumption, the ten-armed Goddess Durga, carrying varied weapons, slew the evil Mahishasur. The Astra Puja ritual includes worshipping the weapons of the goddess. This ritual is noticed in varied areas of India with some variations. In South India, the ritual Ayudha Puja is noticed on Mahanavami (the Ninth day of Navratri), which includes the worship of instruments used for working and learning.
The devotees, on at the present time, clear their instruments and prepare them together with the goddess idol or image for worshipping. All work gear, together with industrial equipment, autos, computer systems, books, mechanical instruments, artist instruments, research instruments, and so on., are worshipped on at the present time. This act of worshipping instruments is an expression of gratitude for the prosperity acquired within the earlier 12 months. Additionally, worshipping instruments alongside God is symbolic of worshipping one’s career or job.

Kumari Puja

Kumari Puja or Kanya Pujan is a practice adopted in North India on the event of Durga Ashtami. It’s a ritual wherein single ladies are worshipped like Goddess Durga. Some individuals observe this ritual on Navami too. The traditions related to Navratri and Durga Puja give extra significance to girls, which is a stark reminder of the ability and standing held by girls in historic India.
The Kumari Puja ritual includes inviting 9 younger ladies into the house and worshipping them because the 9 avatars of Goddess Durga. As per some scriptures, ladies between the age between 2 and 10 are thought of applicable for Kumari Puja. On the day of Ashtami, earlier than breaking the quick, a gaggle of women are invited into the house and are honoured. They’re welcomed by washing their ft, and the rituals of Aarti and Puja are carried out. After Puja, the ladies are fed sweets and revered with some presents. In some areas in India, this ritual is noticed on all 9 days of Navratri. This custom is predicated on the assumption that younger ladies (kanyaka/virgins) characterize the Shakti (Vitality) of Durga on Earth.

Sandhi Puja

Sandhi time or Sandhi Kaal refers back to the time when Ashtami Tithi (eighth lunar day) ends and Navami Tithi (ninth lunar day) begins. It begins from the final 24 minutes of Ashtami and ends after the primary 24 minutes of Navami. This era is taken into account probably the most auspicious event to carry out Durga Puja for the assumption that Goddess Durga slew the demons, Chand and Mund, throughout this time. On the finish of the Mahashtami, Sandhi Puja and residential/yagna are carried out, and devotees supply bananas, pumpkins, cucumbers, and so on. Lighting 108 clay lamps is one other ritual carried out throughout Sandhi Kaal.

Durga Ashtami Mantra, Prarthana, Stuti, Dhyana&Stotra

Durga Ashtami Mantra:

Om Devi Mahagauryayi Namah

Durga AshtamiPrarthana:

ShweteVrishesamarudhaShwetambaradharaShuchih
MahagauriShubhamDadyanmahadevaPramodada

Durga AshtamiStuti:

Ya Devi SarvabhuteshuMaaMahagauriRupenaSamsthita
NamastasyaiNamastasyaiNamastasyai Namo Namah

Durga AshtamiDhyana:

VandeVanchhitaKamartheChandrardhakritashekharam
SimharudhaChaturbhujaMahagauriYashasvinim
PurnanduNibham Gauri SomachakrasthitamAshtamamMahagauriTrinetram
VarabhitikaramTrishulaDamarudharamMahagauriBhajem
PatambaraParidhanamMriduhasyaNanalankaraBhushitam
Manjira, Hara, Keyura, Kinkini, RatnakundalaManditam
PraphullaVandanaPallavadharamKantaKapolamTrailokyaMohanam
KamaniyamLavanyamMrinalamChandanaGandhaliptam

Durga AshtamiStotra:

SarvasankataHantriTvamhi Dhana Aishwarya Pradayanim
JnanadaChaturvedamayiMahagauriPranamamyaham
SukhaShantidatri Dhana DhanyaPradayanim
DamaruvadyaPriyaAdyaMahagauriPranamamyaham
TrailokyamangalaTvamhiTapatrayaHarinim 
VadadamChaitanyamayiMahagauriPranamamyaham

Durga Ashtami Legends

Navratri is a celebration of the victory of excellent over evil. It commemorates the slaying of Mahishasura by Goddess Durga. When Lord Indra was vanquished by Mahishasura, the holy trinity, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, created Goddess Durga, and every a part of her physique was blessed with the energies of various Gods. As per some scriptures, the soul of Goddess Durga got here into existence on the day of Shukla Paksha Ashtami.

One other legend surrounding Durga Ashtami is that Goddess Chamunda appeared from the brow of Mom Durga and annihilated Chanda, Munda, and Rakthabija.
Goddess Durga, within the type of Maha Gauri, is worshipped on Durga Ashtami. The story of Mahagauri is one other legend related to Durga Ashtami. The robust penance which Parvati had gone via for getting Shiva as her husband hampered her pores and skin and turned it black. When Shiva accepted her lastly, he cleaned all of the impurities off her physique within the river Ganga, and her complexion turned extraordinarily white, for which she known as ‘Maha Gauri’.

Mahagauri – the fairest of all of them

Mahagauri is the eighth type of Durga Devi. Her different names are Shwetambardhara, Vrisharudha, Chaturbhuji and Shambhavi. Mahagauri is seated on a bull and has 4 arms. Two of her arms maintain the Trishul and the Damru. The opposite two arms present the varada and Abhay mudras meant to bless her devotees. Mahagauri signifies purity, calmness, knowledge and austerity. Along with her assist, the devotee can overcome all evil forces and lead a virtuous life and thus attain everlasting bliss.
Mahagauri is taken into account to be the epitome of magnificence. She symbolises freedom and liberation from all that’s dangerous. Mahagauri regained her authentic glory when washed with the waters of Ganga. This factors to the holiness of the river and the way bathing in it washes away the dangerous from the physique and soul of an individual. Mahagauri guidelines the shadow planet, Rahu. Worshipping Mahagauri will take away the sick results of Rahu. Mahagauri is believed to reside within the Sahasrara crown chakra, which is the fruits level of the Sushumna Nadi power channel within the human physique. This Nadi, if made to wake, can realise the complete human potential of an individual.
Mahagauri additionally narrates the hardship and sacrifices one has to endure earlier than reaching the state of pure bliss. The mudra of her proper arm is to allay the fears of the devotee. In her second proper arm, Mahagauri holds a Trishul which symbolises the powers of creation and destruction. In her left hand, she holds the Damru which is symbolic of the continuation of existence via the cycle of beginning and rebirth. The mudra on the opposite left hand is to offer out blessings to the devotees. Her garments are white and pure.

Examine Navratri Day 9 – Durga Navami