Ashadh Gupt Navratri 2024

The festival of Navaratri is nothing but a celebration of power. The nature that exists in our universe is the power behind life on earth. Man is able to move to the next level in life because of this very nature. The 9 days of Navratri signify this development of man from one stage to another. The Ashadh month Gupt Navratri festival is a boon for the fulfillment of pleasures and desires.

Ashadh Gupt Navratri auspicious time

This year, Ashadh Gupt Navratri will begin early in the morning on Saturday, 06 July 2024. One this day should wake up early, take a bath, light a ghee lamp in front of Mata and then begin the Puja. One should recite Durgasaptashati and remember all the forms of Durga on this day.

Number of Navratris

The festival of Navratri is dedicated to Mata Durga. During this time various forms of Shakti are worshiped. Many rituals are followed in this Puja. Chanting and meditation are amongst them. Navaratri comes four times in a year, out of which two are celebrated in great detail. One is celebrated during the Chaitra month, the other is celebrated as Shardiya Navaratri. Both of these are celebrated by people on a very wide scale.

The other two Navratris are celebrated in a milder manner. They are celebrated with the objectives of attaining Siddhi and Tantra Gyan. These two Navratris are celebrated in Magh month and Ashadh month. These Navratris are celebrated as Gupt Navratris and they lead to the attainment of Siddhi.

Shakti Puja Katha

Several stories are written on Navratri Shakti Pujan. The basis of these stories are Veda-Purana etc. A story is also found in Ramayana that speaks about Shri Rama performing a Puja for Shakti. The war between Rama-Ravana had reached a stage where Shri Rama's army was almost defeated. In order to come out of this crisis.

Shri Rama started worshiping Durga Mata for power to defeat Ravana.

Ram decides to worship Goddess Durga for Shakti, he resolves to offer 108 lotuses to Mata. He keeps placing one lotus after the other. However, in the end, he realises that he has one lotus less. This upsets him and he is unhappy about not being able to fulfill his resolution. Just then he realises that his mother used to call him Kamal Nayan. In order to fulfill his resolution, he decides to offer one of his eyes to Mata.

The minute he sets to remove his one eye, Mata appears and stops him from removing his eye. She feels very happy by his commitment and ability to uphold his promise. She blesses Ram with Shakti which helps him to win the war against Ravana. Ram is able to conquer Lanka, defeat Ravana and kill him by worshipping Goddess Durga

Mahishasura Mardini

According to another legend, the Devas in heaven created Goddess Durga to kill the demon named Mahishasura. All the devas gave Goddess Durga their respective powers. This makes Goddess Durga immensely powerful and she becomes a symbol of power. A battle between her and Mahishasur ensues. However, as Goddess Durga was the culmination of powers of all the Devas, Mahisasur could not survive. He struggled and Goddess Durga killed him. This is how the end of Mahishasura was possible. Having killed Mahishasura, Goddess Durga is also addressed as Mahishasura Mardini.

Mahavidyas are worshiped in Gupta Navratri

Gupt Navratri is a stepwise process in which every type of Shakti comes into being. In this Shakti Puja, Goddess Kali, Goddess Tara, Goddess Lalita, Goddess Maa Bhuvaneshwari, Goddess Tripura Bhairavi, Goddess Chinnamastika, Goddess Maa Dhumavati, Goddess Baglamukhi, Goddess Matangi, Goddess Kamala. All these powers are mainly worshiped in Tantra Sadhana.

The worship of ten Mahavidyas is given prominence in Gupta Navratri. It is a symbol of strength. Each form of Mahavidya is complete in itself and capable of running the universe. Each Mahavidya has secrets within it. Mahavidya is practiced by all living beings. It resolves all kinds of problems. These ten Mahavidyas are considered very capable of Tantra Sadhna.

Ashadha Gupta Navratri Puja and Penance

The Devi Bhagwat has references to these Navratri too. This period is related to Tantric actions and Shakti Sadhana. Sages practice difficult penance in this period. A lot of attention has to be paid to the purity and Sattvikta at this time. Even the smallest error can lead to failure of penance. It is hence very important to pay full attention while performing penance in this period.

In order to achieve Siddhis in Gupta Navratri Puja, the seeker has to cleanse his/her body thoroughly. This purification takes place during the chanting of Mantras. Everyday Puja should be done at the same place where it was commenced. The place of Puja should not be changed again and again. An Asan should be used to carry out the Puja. The Aasan should not be used by anyone else. The same level of concentration and patience should be maintained on all nine days.

Chant the following MAntra on Ashadh Gupt Navratri

Kali Tara Mahavidya Shodashi Bhuvaneshwari.

Bhairavi Chinnamasta ch Vidya Dhumavati and.

Bagla Siddha Vidya f Matangi Kamalatmika

Eita Dasmahavidya: Siddhvidya Prakritita:॥

Each form of Goddess is described in this mantra. This Mantra is one of the easiest, and simplest means of pleasing the Goddess.