THE TALES OF ADI SHAKTI
GHATASTHAPANA
Navratri has begun today on Ghatasthapana
all over India. The whole country will celebrate nine days of festivities starting
today. Beginning in the month of Ashwin as per the Hindu calendar, the festival
celebrates the nine day battle of Goddess Durga with the evil & powerful
demon Mahishasur and her eventual victory over him.
During Navratri, each day also
comes with its own special colour that adds to the auspiciousness. On
Ghatasthapana, the color White is worn by all devotees.
While most buy clothes as per the
latest fashion trends, it is essential to shop for the stylish attire from the
best place in town. In Pune and Maharashtra, there is just one place to shop
for festive & stylish sarees – Swamini Saree – Sadiyon Ki Maharani. Located
in Bizzyland Building, Phadtare Chowk Kumthekar Road, this single three-storied
AC showroom is the ultimate saree destination. Shoppers get large saree
varieties for every occasion, from traditional to designer & fancy,
wedding, daily wear, and genuine Silkmark sarees. Their unique Paithanis are
popular amongst buyers.
Swamini Saree has a special
programme for Navratri. आदिशक्तीची अनंतरूपे is all about the avatars
of Adishakti or Devi for whom Navratri gets celebrated. And each episode talks
about the power of Devi, the victory of good over evil, meanings of rituals and
more.
On Day 1 of Ghatasthapana, we
will talk about what this day truly means.
KATHA 1: GHATASTHAPANA
India has a pre-Vedic era
tradition of Shiva-Parvati worship. Shri Krishna calls Shiva Purush and Shakti
Prakruti. Thus, Prakruti or Shakti creates the earth with Purush and protects
it. Known as Vishwa Janani, she is honoured as a goddess or Devi.
We just bow before her Devi’s Shakti
and revere her for her competence. Even rishis and saints eulogize about her
greatness. Mankind is just a small part of the vast universe and its working.
And the entire universe’s working and rhythm is taken care of by the Devi.
Devi’s one true form is of
Adishakti or Adimaya. She has different avatars and each is worshipped by
humans as per different needs and reasons. Her main avatars are Mahalakshmi for
safety, Mahakali for destroying evil and Ma Saraswati for Dharma. She took
avatars to protect the universe.
Navratri begins from Ashwin
Shudha Pratipada and continues till Shudha Navami. The demons blessed by gods
harassed everyone and so Devi took avatar to kill them and protect mankind. The
nine days of battles is called Navratri.
Ravan was also killed by Lord Ram around
this time. To do son, Lord Ram stayed up to pray to the Devi. A pleased Ma
Durga granted Lord Ram his wish. That is the reason why Navratri puja is
special, despite Devi puja conducted throughout the year.
The first day is Ghatasthapana. A
whole process is involved to establish the idol and photo on the Ghat. This
involves putting things like Kalash, water, coins, betel leaves, some soil,
nine grains, bell, conch and light in the right place. Marigold flowers and
garlands are also used around the Ghat. The story behind these flowers is that
since many of Devi’s Bhairavs got killed while fighting Mahishasur, they got
blessed into being marigold flowers used for the festivities. Also scientifically,
marigold flowers bloom plentifully in the month of Ashwin and these are known
to purify the air. Sweets are also offered to the goddess first and then to the
devotees.
This is the story of the first
day of Navratri – of Ghatasthapana. Tomorrow, you will read about the second
Katha – of Surath Raja and a Vaishya named Samadhi.
To hear the programme आदिशक्तीची अनंतरूपे by Swamini Sarees, Kumthekar Road, Pune and
know the stories of the avatars of Adishakti, please click on this link –
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