Sharad Navratri Ashtami & Maha Navami Puja Today!

On Ashtami in Navratri, know why Kanya Bhoj and Kumari Puja are held. Read the glory of Maa Mahagauri and Maha Ashtami puja rituals on Durga Puja. also know the importance of Maha Navami Puja.

Ashtami Tithi during Navratri is a significant date in Hinduism. On this day, there is a provision to worship Goddess Durga in her Mahagauri form. Devotees from every community of Hinduism come together and perform Kanya Pujan on Ashtami during Navratri according to traditions. On Ashtami Pujan during Navratri, numerous natives organize different religious rituals and ceremonies such as Tonsure or Mundan, food Tasting or Annaprashan Sanskar and House Warming or Griha Pravesh as per their beliefs and traditions. During Shardiya Navratri in 2019, Ashtami Puja is being conducted today, i.e. on 6 October, Sunday.

Note: It is worth noting that as per Hemadri Nirnayamrit, it is believed that the Ashtami falling on the Shukla Paksha in Mool Nakshatra in the month of Ashwin will be observed as Maha Navami. Therefore, the Maha Navami will be observed today, i.e. on 6 October, Sunday itself. According to Mahanavami scriptures, it holds high significance in the Trilok or Three Worlds.

Auspicious Muhurat for Ashtami Pujan 

According to the Hindu Panchang, the Ashtami tithi during Sharad Navratri in the year 2019 will begin from 09:53:11 on October 5 and end on October 6 at 10:56:51. Due to this reason, Ashtami should be observed on 6 October.

Navratri Ashtami Puja Muhurat
October 5, 2019	Ashtami Begins from 09:53:11
October 6, 2019	Ashtami Ends At 10:56:51

Note: This Muhurat is effective for New Delhi. Know for your city: Maha Ashtami Puja Muhurat

Worshipping Maa Maha Gauri on Ashtami

As we have already mentioned that Maa Maha Gauri, the eighth incarnation of Maa Bhagwati, is worshipped on the Ashtami during Navratri. The name Maha Gauri is a combination of two words, in which “Maha” means mighty and great, and “Gauri” means fair. Hence, this incarnation of Goddess Durga got her name due to her fair complexion. It is believed that worshipping Maa Mahagauri awakens the Soma Chakra in one’s body, and as a result, the native gets rid of all kinds of troubles in life. With the blessings and grace of the Mother, all sorrows and pain get reduced. Therefore in the scriptures, Mahagauri, the eighth form of Goddess Durga, is also hailed as Aishwarya and Annapurna.

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Maa Maha Gauri in Astrology

Maa Mahagauri is widely mentioned in Hinduism, but her existence holds major importance in Vedic Astrology as well. According to astrology, Mother Mahagauri dominates and rules over the Rahu planet. This is why it is said that any native worshipping Goddess Mahagauri attains her blessings and gets rid of all the Doshas and malefic effects formed by Rahu from the kundli.

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The Glory & Form of Maa Mahagauri

You will get to read the description of the beautiful form of Mahagauri in several Hindu scriptures. According to beliefs, it is said that Goddess Parvati had performed severe penance for years to attain Lord Shiva as her husband. As a result, her body turned black, after which Lord Shiva appeared before her and bathed her with Gangajal. Since then, the complexion or colour of the Goddess became clear and fair, which earned her the name Maha Gauri.

• Maa Mahagauri adorns the Moon on her head.
• She has four arms.
• Out of these four, she holds Trishul or Trident and Damaru or Tambourine in two of her hands.
• The third hand stays in the Var Mudra or Blessing position.
• The fourth hand can be seen in the Abhaya Mudra.
• The ears of Devi Mahagauri are adorned by gems-studded earrings.
• The Goddess rides a White Bull.
• Halwa or Pudding as Bhoga is her favourite.

Read: The Glory Of Maa Mahagauri & Mythological Legend

Mantras To Appease Devi Maha Gauri

ॐ देवी महागौर्यै नमः॥ / oṃ devī mahāgauryai namaḥ॥

Prayer Mantra

श्वेते वृषेसमारूढा श्वेताम्बरधरा शुचिः।महागौरी शुभं दद्यान्महादेव प्रमोददा॥

śvete vṛṣesamārūḍhā śvetāmbaradharā śuciḥ।mahāgaurī śubhaṃ dadyānmahādeva pramodadā॥

Navmi Tithi During Navratri

Navratri, along with the Navami of Shardiya Navratri, will end tomorrow, i.e. October 7. On Navami, special prayers are offered to Goddess Durga in the Hindu households and big Pandals and processions are organized all over the country. During this period, Maa Siddhidatri, the ninth form of Goddess Durga, is worshiped. On this occasion, Bhandara and Kanya Pujan are organized in different places. So let us now know the importance of Navami Tithi during Navratri, and Paran and Durga Visarjan Muhurat.

Auspicious Muhurat for Navami Puja
October 6, 2019	Navami Begins From 10:56:51
October 7, 2019	Navami Ends On 12:40:09
Shardiya Navratri Paran Muhurat
7 October 2019, Monday	After 12:40:09
Durga Visarjan Muhurat
8 October 2019, Tuesday	From 06:17:33 to 08:37:59
Duration	2 Hours 20 Minutes

Note: This Muhurat is effective for New Delhi. Know for your city: Paran Muhurat and Durga Visarjan

Navmi Pujan during Sharad Navratri will be performed tomorrow, i.e. on 7th October 2019, and all auspicious activities will be carried out as per the auspicious Muhurat. 

Navratri Parana

Hindu scriptures describes that performing Parana on the Dashmi or tenth tithi during Sharad Navratri is auspicious. The ritual of fasting for nine days during Navratri is concluded during the Paran Muhurat. It is said that only after Navratri Parana is performed, the devotees can offer fruits, gifts, clothes, donations and Dakshina etc. to the Brahmins and seek their blessings. Along with this, Kanya Pujan is also organized.

Get details about Daily Festivals and Panchang

Day to Worship Maa Siddhidatri

The ninth and final form of Maa Durga is Maa Siddhidatri, which literally means the “Goddess of Accomplishment”. Just like her name, this divine form of Goddess Durga grants all kinds of Siddhis and achievements to her devotees. That is why it has been said that if a native worships this form of the Goddess with full devotion, then the Goddess fulfils all his/her wishes and desires. Along with this, anyone who gains the grace of the Goddess achieves Salvation or Moksha.

According to the Panchang, there is a provision to perform Durga Maha Navami Puja on the Navami tithi of Sharad Navratri. During this occasion, special Havan is organized and offerings are made for all the Hindu deities.

Maa Siddhidatri In Her Form

• If we talk about the divine form of mother Siddhidatri, then she can be seen sitting on a Lotus, and rides a Lion.
• She has four arms, out of which her two right hands hold a Gada or Mace and Chakra.
• At the same time, the Maa can be seen holding a Conch and a Lotus flower respectively in both of her left hands.
• This form of Goddess helps to gain all kinds of success and achievement.

Mantras To Chant On Navmi During Navratri

ॐ देवी सिद्धिदात्र्यै नमः॥ / oṃ devī siddhidātryai namaḥ॥

Prayer Mantra

सिद्ध गन्धर्व यक्षाद्यैरसुरैरमरैरपि। सेव्यमाना सदा भूयात् सिद्धिदा सिद्धिदायिनी॥

siddha gandharva yakṣādyairasurairamarairapi। sevyamānā sadā bhūyāt siddhidā siddhidāyinī॥

Read: The Glory Of Maa Siddhidatri & Mythological Legend

Importance of Kanya Pujan on Ashtami & Navami

Kanya Pujan or Kumari Pujan is performed on the Ashtami and Navami tithi during Navratri. On this day, every Hindu family devotedly worship the Kanyas or young girls. For this, girls aged 2-10 years are invited to the houses, venerated and offered the Bhoga and Dakshina. Let’s know the benefits of Kanya Pujan and mantras to chant:

• 2 years old girls are hailed as Kumari. Worshipping them helps to get rid of sorrows and poverty. Chant this mantra to procure beneficial results: “कौमाटर्यै नमः / kaumāṭaryai namaḥ”.

• 3 years old girls are venerated as Trimurti. Worshipping them blesses the married couple with a baby. Chant this mantra to procure beneficial results: “त्रिमूर्तये नमः / ‘trimūrtaye namaḥ”.

• 4 years old girls are worshipped as Kalyani. Worshipping them helps to attain prosperity, happiness and intelligence. Chant this mantra to procure beneficial results: “कल्याण्यै नमः / kalyāṇyai namaḥ”.

• 5 years old girls are hailed as Rohini. Worshipping them helps to get rid of all kinds of diseases. Chant this mantra to procure beneficial results: ‘रोहिण्य नमः / rohiṇya namaḥ”.

• Kalika are known to be 6 years old girls. One gets rid of his/her opponents and enemies by worshipping them. Chanting “‘कालिकायै नमः / kālikāyai namaḥ” helps to procure beneficial results.

• Chandika are 7 years old girls. Venerating them helps to attain wealth and fame. Chant the mantra ‘चण्डिकार्य नमः / caṇḍikārya namaḥ: to attain beneficial results.

• Shambhavi are those girls whose age is 8 years. Worshipping them helps to attain success and progress in every field. Chanting the mantra ‘शम्भव्यै नमः / śambhavyai namaḥ’ delivers desired results.

• 9 years old girls are venerated as Durga. Worshipping them helps to attain every kind of worldly pleasures. For this, chant ‘दुर्गायै नमः / durgāyai namaḥ’ to attain beneficial results.

• 10-years old girls are worshipped as Subhadra. Venerating them helps to fulfill all kinds of desires. For this, ‘सुभद्रायै नमः / subhadrāyai namaḥ’ must be chanted.

Rituals to Perform Kanya Pujan on Ashtami & Navami

As per Hindu beliefs, these young girls represent nine incarnations of Goddess Durga. Worshipping them as per the auspicious muhurat pleases the Goddess and offers fruitful results. On Ashtami and Navami during Navratri, Kanya Pujan is performed as per the traditions and rituals, but scriptures describe the importance of performing Kanya Pujan on Ashtami itself. Here are the rituals:

• Keep in mind that the girls invited over the house on the day of Ashtami must be between 2-10 years of age.

• Now, chant the mantra and worship these girls according to their age.

• After worshipping them, give them red-coloured clothes and wash their feet. 

• After that, apply Chandan-Kumkum tilak on their forehead and chant the mantra mentioned above.

• Then, feed them with devotion, offer them Dakshina and see them off happily. The Bhog consists of Puri or Fried Bread, Chana or Black Gram, and Halwa.

(Note: If it is not possible to worship nine girls, then there is a provision to worship two girls.)

AstroSage wishes all readers a Happy Maha Ashtami 2019! We hope that Goddess Durga’s blessings are always with you.