Shakambhari Jayanti is celebrated on the full moon day of Pausha month. Shakambari Mata is a form of Shakti. She is one of the various incarnations of Goddess Durga. Goddess Durga incarnated in the form of Shakambhari Mata for the welfare and creation of the universe. Mata Shakambhari is supposed to calm the hunger of all beings. When a devotee is blessed by Goddess Shakambhari, there is never a shortage of money and grain in his/her life. The devotee leads a happy life.
Shakambhari Devi is worshipped by organizing Bhandare and Kirtans. Special care is taken of Aasan and equipment while worshipping Goddess Shakambhari. Mantras and Sadhana must be carried out in the Shakambhari Puja. If you are not able to practice Sadhana, it does not matter, at the very least it is very good to chant Mantras on the day of Shakambhari Jayanti.
Shakambhari Jayanti Puja Muhurat Time
Traditionally Shakambhari Devi is worshipped in the form of Shakti while worshipping Goddess Durga. This year, Maa Shakambhari Jayanti will be celebrated on full moon.
Mata Shakambhari Form
Mata Shakambhari has blue coloured skin. She has beautiful lotus-like eyes. She sits on a Lotus. The goddess holds a lotus in one hand and arrows in the other hand. She is addressed as Shakambhari as she protects her devotees from the same.
Shakambhari Puja and Tradition
Shakambhari Puja commences specifically on the full moon day of Paush month. The Puja begins by setting up a Kalash. The Kalash is believed to represent the Goddess and hence it is placed as a symbol of Goddess. The area where the Kalash is to be placed has to be purified by Ganga water. After that Akshat is spread on the same area. A Kumkum Tikka is done and the Kalash is placed on the Akshat carefully.
Shakambhari Mother is called upon in the Shakambhari Puja. The Goddess is worshiped with flowers, fragrance, lamps, Akshat etc. While offering all this the following Mantra is recited
“Jayanti Mangala Kali Bhadrakali Kapalini, Durga Kshama Shiva Dhatri Swaha, Swadha Namastastute”.
Shakambhari Mantra
Chanting the Shakambhari Mantra has a lot of significance in the worship of Shakambhari Mata. This Mantra should be recited 108 times. Shakambhari Mata should be meditated upon while chanting this Mantra. This Mantra helps in bringing all types of happiness –
Shakambhari Nilavarnaniilotpalvilochana.
Mushinshilimukhapakamalkankalalaya.
Shakambhari Avatar Story
Mother Shakambari, one of the main incarnations of Goddess Durga, is also worshiped with great devotion and gaiety. On the occasion of Shankambhari Jayanti, religious works, Jagrans etc. are performed in Shakti Peethas across the country. All the incarnations of Durga have taken place to fulfill one purpose or the other. Many incarnations of Mata are famous. It is important to recite Shakambhari Avatar Katha while conducting Mata Shakambhari’s Puja.
Shakambhari Jayanti Katha
Several stories related to Maa Shakambhari are found in mythological scriptures. These stories reveal the reason behind Goddess Durga’s incarnation as Mata Shakambhari. Goddess Shakambhari has also been referred to in the Durga Saptashati. According to a legend, once several demons came together and created a lot of unrest on earth. Sages were not able to undertake their religious activities because of the demons. Yagna, Puja etc were affected. All auspicious activities had ended. It stopped raining on earth and this continued for over a hundred years. The lack of water started endangering the life of living beings on earth.
Several famines take place at various places across the earth. Animals start dying, flora and fauna start drying up. Death is rampant. This deterioration and imbalance upsets Bhramaji. Life on Earth begins to end. People start dying due to a lack of food and water. To resolve this all the sages come together and worship Goddess Bhagwati. Heeding to the sages Goddess Durga incarnates in the form of Shakambhari. She blesses the earth with rain. She fills the earth with herbs, vegetables and water. All the creatures become alive again and the earth too gets filled with greenery on all sides.
Another Story related to Shakambhari Jayanti
According to another legend, a monster by the name Durgam tormented everyone through his terror. The monster wanted to defeat Devas. He realized this was possible if he received the power that was available in the Vedas and Yajnas. In order to attain the same, he practices deep penance to please Lord Brahma. Finally Lord Brahmaji appears in front of him with the effect of his penance.
Pleased with his penance, Brahma Ji gave him the complete knowledge of Vedas. As a result of this, all the knowledge on the earth ends. The power of darkness begins to increase as the light of knowledge on the universe ends. There is chaos all around. The Devtas start praying to Goddess Shakti and ask her to save the world.
Mother Jagadamba is pleased to hear the prayers of the Devta and gives them the boon of being victorious in the fight against the monster Durgam. Mother frees the Vedas from the monster. She then takes the form of mother Shakambhari and rains on the earth. Water flows on the earth and all darkness is alleviated. Shakumbhari Devi kills the monster and frees everyone from the terror of that monster. Therefore, the revelation of Mother in the Shakambhari form is celebrated as Shakambhari Jayanti.