Shubh Navraatris

Navraatri means 9 nights. This is an auspicious period which is celebrated twice in a year i.e. in the month of Chaitra and in the month of Ashwin as per hindu calendar. This period is devoted to ‘Shakti-Pooja”. During the first 3 days of pooja is dedicated to Goddess “Mahakaali”. The next 3 days dedicated to Goddess “Mahalakshmi” and the last 3 days are dedicated to “Goddess Mahasaraswati”. This auspicious period coincides with the change of season. Fasting observe during these days is beneficial from physical aspect as well as spiritual aspect of life. During these 9 days Goddess Durga is worshipped in nine different forms which are as follows
1) Goddess Shailputri
2) Goddess Brahmacharini
3) Goddess Chandra Ghanta
4) Goddess Kushmanda
5) Goddess Skandmata
6) Goddess Katyayni
7) Goddess Kaalraatri
8) Goddess Mahagauri
9) Goddess Sidhidaatri

“Kalash(pot) Sthapna” is very important in the morning of first navratri.A metal pot filled with water and coconut at top of it is placed along with mango leaves(in odd numbers). It is a symbolic representation of Goddess. This process has to be performed strictly according to muhurat. As per ritual one should sow barley grains in a separate pot.After the completion of fast on ashtami tithi, it is important to worship small girl child which is symbolic to Goddess Durga. Recitation of Durga-Saptashati is considered as highly auspicious during navraatri

The Divine 52 Places

As per classics there are 52 shaktipeeth present across India and neighboring countries. It is believe that pujas performed during “Vishesh Kaal” (special period) is considered very auspicious. They are as follows-

1. Goddess Hinglaj located in Pakistan.
2. Goddess Jwalamukhi(in Kangra Himachal Pradesh)
3. Goddess Sugandha (in Bangladesh)
4. Godess Kamakhya (in Assam )
5. Goddess Vrindavana (in UP)
6. Goddess Mahamaya(in Kashmir)
7. Goddess Lalita (in Alahabad ,UP).
8 Goddess Jayanti (in Bangladesh)
9. Goddess Phullara (in W Bengal)
10.Goddess Mahshmardini (in Pakistan)
11.Goddess Avanti (In Ujjain, MP)
12.Goddess Prabhas (Somnath, Gujrat)
13.Goddess Brahmri (Nasik, Maharashtra)
14.Goddess Vishweshwari (AndhraPradesh)
15.Goddess Gandakichandi (in Nepal)
16 Goddess Narayani(Tamil Nadu)
17.Goddess Gayatri(Ajmer, Rajasthan)
18 Goddess Tripurasundri (Tripura)
19 Goddess Mahadevi (Janakpur)
20 Goddess Jai Durga ()
21.Goddess. Trisnota (Jalpaiguri,in West Bengal)
22 Goddess Sarvani (Tamlinadu)
23 Goddess Kalika (In West Bengal)
24 Goddess Savitri (Kurukshetra, Haryana)
25 Goddess Narmada (in MP)
26 Goddess . Kalighat (Kolkotta)
27 Goddess Ratnavali(W Bengal)
28 Goddess VishwaLakshmi (varanasi, UP)
29.Goddess Ambika(Bharatpur, Rajasthan).
30.Goddess Girija( Orissa.)
31 Goddess Shri Sunadari(Andhra Pradesh).
32 Goddess Dakshinayani(In Tibet)
33 Goddess Bhawani(in Bangladesh)
34.Goddess Shivani (Chitrakoot, UP)
35.Goddess Nandini (In Bengal)
36.Goddess Jashoreswari (In Bangladesh)
37 Goddess Devagarbha (W Bengal)
38 Goddess Mangalchandika (W Bengal)
39 Goddess Kapalini(W Bengal)
40 Goddess Kalmadhava (in MP)
41 Goddess Mahashira (In Nepal)
42 Goddess Yogadaya (W Bengal)
43 Goddess Bahula (W Bengal)
44 Goddess Mahalaxmi (Indo-Bangla Border)
45 Goddess Vimla (Orissa)
46.Goddess Aparna (in Bangladesh)
47.Goddess Danteshwari(chattisgarh)
48 Goddess Mahishamardini (W Bengal)
49 Goddess Indrakshi(Srilanka)
50 Goddess Tripurmalini (Punjab)
51.Goddess Jai Durga(Bihar)
52.Goddess Varahi

However the above list varies a little bit according to different classics. But one should never miss an opportunity when you are in a town where a shaktipeeth is situated.

Naaryan Naarayan!

There was a Brahmin whose name was Ajaamil. He was learned man. But due to bad company he get surrounded by bad people all the time. He lost all his divine powers as well as knowledge acquired by him. Now he became an evil person who always engaged in stealing money and spending it on drinking wine. He married to a maid. Later he had a son whose name was “ Naraayan”. The childhood of a boy had a deep impact on Ajaamil. Most of his time was spent on his son. As the time passes Ajaamil fell seriously ill. It was even difficult for him to move an inch from his bed. He could easily felt the approaching death. But the impact of his son on his memory was so deep that kept calling his name all the day. This repeated calls to son started working as a magic because the word “Naarayan” means “Lord Vishnu”. He regain all his lost knowledge. He was remorseful for his sin committed during young age. When “Yam Dut”, the messengers of “God of Death” came to took him to Yamlok, Lord Vishnu himself came to rescue to Ajaamil in divine form. In this way Ajaamil finally reaches the “Baikunth Dhaam”, the abode of Lord Vishnu after the death.