Maa Brahmacharini
An Eternal Love Story Beyond the Limits of Life and Death
Prof (Dr) Shalini Verma ‘Lifoholic’
Today 8th of October, we enter into the 2nd day of Shardiya Navratri 2021 – the celebration of eternal love between the unified soul of Lord Shiva and Devi Shivaa – Adi Shakti Maa Durga.
Maa Brahmacharini is invoked on the second day of the Navaratri. The form of Goddess Brahmacharini signifies love, loyalty, wisdom, and knowledge. This form of Adi Shakti as Maa Brahmacharini symbolizes simplicity. She holds a rosary in one hand and a Kamandal in another. Her name ‘Brahmacharini’ means the one who performs Tapa or penance.
Stuti
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ ब्रह्मचारिणी रूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Maa Brahmacharini Rupena Samsthita।
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah॥
As per the legend, Maa Brahmacharini is the maiden form of Parvati born to the King of mountains – Himalaya. She had resolved to marry Lord Shiva – her husband who she had to part with in her previous birth as Devi Sati.
Her parents, in this birth also against her desire to marry Lord Shiva but she pursued what she her tenacity and did Tap for about 5000 years. In the meantime, Gods approached god Kamadeva – the god of desire, erotic love, attraction, and affection and asked him to generate desire in Shiva for Parvati.
On insistence of Gods when Kamadeva shot an arrow of desire towards Lord Shiva, he opened his third eye in his forehead and burnt Kamadeva to ashes.
This event didn’t deter Parvati from losing her hope to win over Lord Shiva. She left her parents’ home and went to live in the mountains just like Shiva and embraced the same activities as him, one of asceticism, yogi, and tapas; it is this aspect of Parvati that is deemed to be that of Maa Brahmacharini. Her ascetic pursuit draws his attention and awakens his interest. He meets her in disguised form, tries to discourage her, telling her Shiva’s weaknesses and personality problems but she refuses to listen and insists on her resolve. Lord Shiva finally accepts Devi Shivaa as his wife.
With her passion, perseverance and prolonged path of penance, Brahmacharini could finally re-unite with Lord Shiva as Partivati.
It is believed that Lord Mangal, the provider of all fortunes, is governed by Maa Brahmacharini and all kinds of hurdles and struggles can be triumphed by worshipping this form of Adi Shakti.
Prarthana
दधाना कर पद्माभ्यामक्षमाला कमण्डलू।
देवी प्रसीदतु मयि ब्रह्मचारिण्यनुत्तमा॥
Dadhana Kara Padmabhyamakshamala Kamandalu।
Devi Prasidatu Mayi Brahmacharinyanuttama॥
