What Made Sati Reborn as Devi Shailputri in Navratri Celebration?

Navratri celebration, nine nights of Hindu festival, is dedicated to the goddess Shakti, the consort of Lord Shiva. She is the Prakriti and mother of all living beings. Goddess Shakti takes nine different forms to bestow blessings, boons, and wishes to her children on Earth. Navdurga, the nine goddesses of Navratri, are the divine aspects of Shakti. Devi Shailputri is the first avatar of Shakti in the universe. She loves being the daughter of Shail, or Mountains, the king Himavat.

As a daughter of Himavat, she is called Himavati. Shailaputri is the purest form of energy and is shown as a beautiful maiden. She is the reincarnation of goddess Sati, the first consort of Mahadev. Devotees worship goddess Shailaputri in Navratri. 

This festival has been performed since ancient times and is mentioned in the scriptures, such as Puranas and Upanishads.

However, most people need to realize the reason behind these festivals. Therefore, we at Vedic Story decided to narrate the story of goddess Shailputri and delve deep enough to provide you with the wisdom you are missing out on. 

Devi Shailputri Story: A Daughter of King Himavat

Navratri is forwarded with the worship of the Mata Shailapuri story. She is the embodiment of purity, strength, and divinity. Goddess Shailapuri reversed as the prominent form of Parvati. Sati is reborn as Shailaputri in King Himavan’s kingdom as the daughter of Menavati and Himnaresh. 

What Does the Iconography of Maa Shailaputri Signify?

Maa Shailputri, Navratri First Day Goddess, is a beautiful young damsel, a symbol of calmness and strength. She is often depicted wearing a white saree and seated on Nandi.

Goddess Shailapuri holds a trident and a white flower. It represents her control of all physical, mental, and spiritual realms.

She holds a lotus flower in her left hand that represents spirituality and purity.

Parvati loves the crescent moon on her forehead. 

What is the Shailputri Mata Mantra to Recite on Navratr 2024?

वन्दे वाञ्छितलाभाय चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखराम्।वृषारूढां शूलधरां शैलपुत्रीं यशस्विनीम्॥

Maa Shailaputri rides Nandi, the bull holding the trishula (trident) and a white lotus. The crescent moon on her head looks aesthetic and represents calmness on her face.

She is the Maa nature who bestows prosperity, fortune, and success to her devotees.

Reciting the Maa Shailputri Mata Mantra brings happiness, peace, and longevity.

What is the Maa Shailputri Story, the First Form of Navdurga?

Goddess Shailaputri, an avatar of Sati, is the first wife of Mahadev and a daughter of Prajapati Daksha.

According to Shiva Purana, Sati chose Lord Shiva as her husband in her swayamvar against King Daksha’s wishes.

Prajapati remained quiet for a long time as he was upset with Sati for choosing Mahadev. He was thinking of Mahadev as his rival who cut down his father, Lord Brahma’s fifth head.

As a result, he began to hate his daughter because she chose Mahadev, the destroyer of the fifth head of Daksha’s father.

The Grand Yagna of Daksha

Daksha, the kind of people who decide to arrange a yagna. He invited all the Devas, Daitayas, Gandharvas, and prominent people from other lokas. 

Seeing everyone gathering for the yagna, Sati wanted to join as well. But she was not invited. 

Although Lord Mahadev warned Sati not to go without invitation. Sati reasons that her father must have forgotten due to the heavy work. She denies the fact and warning of Lord Shiva; she visited the palace of Daksha Prajapati.

The Great Humiliation of Sati

Upon reaching the yagna, Sati sensed that Lord Shiva was right. She must not have visited her father without invitation. 

Daksha left no stone to insult Sati and Lord Shiva. 

Unable to bear such an insult from her partner, Sati sacrificed herself to be the daughter of Daksha in his yagna fire.

The Death of Daksha

Lord Shiva came to know about Sati’s great sacrifice to be free from being called the daughter of Daksha Prajapati. Mahadev in devastation of her sacrifice visited the Yagna in fury. 

He cut down Daksha’s head in anger at Sati’s loss but restored it with a goat’s head upon request. 

Reborn of Sati as Devi Shailaputri 

After this great event, Sati was reborn as Shailaputri, the daughter of Hemavana, king of the Himalayas. 

This is how Sati became Sailputri and came to be known by many names such as Parvati, Hemavati, etc.

Why is Goddess Shailputri worshiped in the Navratri celebration?

Maa Shailputri is the first avatar of Navdurga in Navratri. She is worshiped for her immense ability to bestow worldly luxury, happiness, prosperity, and peace. 

According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that whoever worships her never faces a shortage of food or worldly resources. 

However, Devi Durga, the destroyer of Durgasura, is worshiped in Shardiya Durga Puja 2024 as the primal Devi by Bengalis. They hold five days of festival for her as the daughter and welcome her with a great treat in Navratri.

Where is the temple dedicated to Maa Shailputri?

If you wish to visit an ancient temple dedicated to Maa Shailputri, you can visit Varanasi. Locals believe that whoever gets a glimpse of Shailaputri Devi here gets their wishes fulfilled. 

She is even worshiped to lessen the adverse effects of the moon. It also has a unique Vedic story related to Moon and Sati. Daksha cursed Chandrama and how Sati saved his life.

Goddess Shailputri reduces the adverse effect of the curse of Daksha on the moon, saves him from being destroyed, and manages life on Earth. controls the Moon and saves him from the adverse effect of the curse of Daksha.

How Should You Pray to Maa Shailputri?

Maa Shailputri, the first form of Shakti, resides in the Muladhara Chakra (root chakra) of the human body. 

To awaken the first chakra of the human body, people must worship Maa Shailputri and Lord Shiva. It is also the first step on the path of spirituality.

On the first day of Navratri, you must put all your focus on the Muladhara Chakra awakening. It needs meditation. 

You must fast on the first day and offer white flowers, vermilion, and akshat (dhaan (unbroken rice)) to Shailaputri Devi. You also need to recite 

Durga Saptashati Paath. 

Offer fresh sweets to the goddess and perform aarti with great devotion, seeking her blessings for prosperity, health, wealth, and happiness.

Conclusion

According to Hindu mythology, devotees must chant the Shailputri Mata Mantra regularly on the first day of Navratri, Shardiya Durga Puja 2024. This mantra invokes the blessings of Maa Shailputri in your life. She eliminates negativity and brings prosperity, peace, and health. 

Vedic Story hopes you get all the blessings on this Navratri 2024 celebration from Maa Shailputri.