Navdurga
Every question on the site tagged Navdurga, each answered from a timestamped source rather than a summary written from memory.
The nine forms of Durga (Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, and so on).
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Chamunda sandhi puja bali vidhan: the lamps, sankalp, offerings and aarti in order
The speaker gives the procedure. First light one of the three single-wick diyas and invoke Bhagwati Durga as Jatved Agni into its flame; that is the Karmasakshi Deepak from which every other lamp is lit. Holding Akshat, flowers, water and Dakshina, take Sankalpa with name, Gotra and place: to worship Bhagwati Chamunda in the Sandhi Kaal as far as one's ability, understanding and available upacharas allow, for the destruction of all one's enemies and of every tantric scheme and conspiracy worked against one. From the Jatved lamp light the first single-wick lamp in the Guru's name and the second in Ganesha's; then the eleven Chaumukh Deepak diyas in a row before the banana leaf — the nine in the middle are the nine forms of Chamunda, the one on one's left is Hanuman ji, the last on the right Batuk Bhairava — lit in that order: Hanuman, the nine, Batuk Bhairav last. Before every lamp place one coconut and one lemon, sprinkle all with Gangajal and give each a fine red Sindoor tilak. Holding akshat and flowers recite the Tantrokta Devisuktam — the recitation by which Kaushiki was invoked — and offer the flowers. Then the Bali: offer every coconut first, in the same order (guru, Ganpati, Hanuman, the nine Durgas, Batuk Bhairav), then cut each lemon standing upright, applying Roli and dropping a little water three times beside each from an Achamana spoon. Any stuti may follow; before Aarti set one camphor with two flowered cloves before every lamp and light it, then do aarti and Kshama Prarthana. The lemons are immersed under a sacred tree or in a river; the coconuts are eaten only by the household, never by outsiders. By Jagadamba's grace, he says, Chamunda destroys many troubles, sorrows and crises in a moment.
Name-mantras for the Kavach, nine ahutis on Argala's first mantra, Kilaka's first alone, nothing for the Rahasyas
Kavach uses the individual name-mantras of the Nine Durgas or named powers, not its full verses; Argala uses nine Ahutis with only its first mantra; Kilaka uses only its first mantra, dedicated to Shiva; the Rahasya texts get no Havan offerings at all.
Where and how did Barbarika perform penance to gain his supreme strength?
On Krishna's direction, Barbarika performed penance at the Mahisagara Sangama Tirtha (Gupta Kshetra), worshipping the Nine Durgas thrice daily; after three years they granted him strength unequalled in the three worlds and the name Suhridaya.
Four hymns inside the Durga Saptashati as a substitute for the full path
The speaker addresses brand-new sadhakas drawn to the Durga Saptashati who want to recite it this Navratri but cannot manage the full path, for lack of time or of Sanskrit pronunciation. He says four stutis that sit inside the Saptashati carry the presence of the Navadurga, the ten Mahavidyass, the Ashtamatrika and the 64 Yoginis, so they are the essence (ark, nichod) of its 700 mantras, and reciting them gives the Devi's special grace and the fruit of the Saptashati path. He is firm that this is for new people and those without time — a Navratri should not go empty, and even school-age children who can read should be made to do it — and not for those who already do the full path, who must not drop it for this.
Nine jaiphal ahutis to the Navdurga before the purnahuti
Before the Purnahuti, when the havan is complete, the speaker says, Ahuti is given with Jaiphal: take nine jaiphal, dip them in ghee, and give one ahuti with one jaiphal in the name of each of the Navadurga — Shailputri Durgaya Swaha, Brahmacharini Durgaya Swaha, and so on for all nine. Both men and women give the jaiphal ahuti, he says.
Drawn to many forms of the Devi: serve Vindhyavasini, who contains them all
The speaker describes the devotee who is pulled toward many forms — wanting to serve Shailputri, then Kalaratri, then one of the ten Mahavidyas such as Kalika, Tripurasundari or Baglamukhi — and who ends up unsure whom to serve at all. His answer is that such a person should serve Bhagavati Vindhyavasini, because every particle of this whole creation and every devi shakti is contained in her form.
Why is the Navarna mantra called the Gayatri of Tantra?
The speaker says Navarna is not merely Durga's mantra: it is the mantra of that Bhagavati's nine Chandikas, of her nine principal shaktis; all ten Mahavidyas are present in it, as are the Navdurgas. Through it every kind of shakti awakens and all the vidhans of shatkarma can be done. As Gayatri is in the Veda, so Navarna is in Tantra — no other mantra in tantra is held its equal. Yet, he says, such a great tantric mantra is nowadays handed out like halwa-puri — every video says do Navarna — while nobody discusses how to do it, how much, whether diksha is to be taken, and how much may be done without diksha.
Which mantra of the Durga kavach should jyotish and tantra students jap?
Each mantra of the kavach can also be recited independently, and it is from this kavach that we utter the Navadurga mantra. Those learning jyotish, learning vastu, wanting proficiency in tantra, wanting to take the trivacha of the shaktis of tantra, or engaged in the siddhi of the trinetra, should continuously jap the Navadurga mantra described in the kavach — "prathamam Shailaputri, dvitiyam Brahmacharini" up to "Navadurga prakirtita".
How does the Durga kavach begin?
He says that by the kripa of the Navadurga siddhi comes quickly, and then reads the opening: "Namah shastru Maharudre Mahaghora Parakrame, Mahabale Mahotsahe Mahabhaya-vinashini. Trahimam Devi Dushpreksha Shatrunam Vaivardhini." From there, he says, the kavach proper begins: "Prachyam rakshatu Mamendra, Agneyyam Agni Devata."
How are the limb-deities of the Durga kavach used for illness?
For whichever limbs the devis are described in the kavach — if you have a problem in any limb, you should search out and do the seva and puja of that very devi in a specific manner for the sake of that limb's problem. If nothing is found, you should do only the shodashopachar pujan of that devi with the name mantra. His first example: for the protection of the tongue, Bhagavati Saraswati is named.
How should the Navadurga Yogini sadhana of Bhagavati Brahmani be done?
Asked about Bhagavati Brahmani in the Navadurga Yogini sadhana in Navratri, he says the mantras relating to her sadhana have been told; do the anushthan of that mantra, doing at least 27 malas of japa every day, and on the last day complete the process of the havan and the rest.
Why the Navadurga Yogini and the mothers of the nine grahas are not to be found anywhere else
Sift the whole of YouTube, he says, and you will not find the Nine Durga Yogini anywhere; the nine grahas, the mothers of the nine grahas, and the Navadurga you will not find anywhere. And if you do find it, watch the video of his own channel, the published one, and see what comes after it. After he gave out the kuldevi Jayanti Mangala mantra in this manner for the eleven devis, once the video went viral many channels made it, and theirs went more viral than his — look at the dates by publication and it will be known.
Is the japa of the navagrahas and their mothers by weekday good?
A listener says she did the japa of the Navdurga, the navagraha and their mothers in the Durga Puja, and asks whether the japa of the navagrahas and their mothers by the day of the week is right. The speaker answers: absolutely divine, exceedingly divine. If you do this, then very special grace will be obtained — do each of the grahas thoroughly.
The nine days of Navratri are special because the Nava Durga forms answer the affliction of the nava grahas for those who have no kundali.
The whole subject of Bhagavati's Nava Durga forms, which is repeated every Navratri: you are afflicted by the nava grahas, which graha is where, nobody has their kundali. So these nine days of Navratri become extremely special. There is a video on the channel in which the whole subject connected with Bhagavati's nine Durgas, the nine grahas, and the mothers of the nine grahas has been told; do that anushthan in the night hours if you wish.
Bhagavati stands in the nava-graha form, and the grahas have an adhikar of their own that cannot be skipped.
Because taken all together, where will you do them separately? The grace of the nine grahas is necessary. Bhagavati is there in the nava-graha form; they too have their adhikar, and you cannot skip them. So the speaker says: perform once at least in your life, in one Navratri, the samyak sadhana of the nava grahas, the Nava Durgas, and the mothers of the nava grahas. A great deal will become easy for you.
How is the Havan for the Devi Kavach performed?
Ideally with the names of every goddess in the Kavach, but as a general rule nine oblations with each of the nine names of Navadurga — Shailaputri through Siddhidatri. Men offer ghee; women offer havan samagri.
Mauli wound nine times around the neck of the kalash
The speaker says the thread around the neck of the Kalash should be wound nine times. The Mauli thread is wrapped nine times in the names of the nine Durgas.
A Navchandi Mahayagya has begun at Govardhan Parvat against the lumpy mahamari in cows
He says that the Navchandi Mahayagya of Bhagavati Nav Durga has begun that day at Govardhan Parvat, for the destruction of the mahamari named lumpy that has spread among cows — so that the mahamari is destroyed and Gau Mata is properly protected and saved. So many deaths have occurred, he says, that pure ghee of Gau Mata is not to be had around you. It has been made possible only with the cooperation of the listeners.
Which tantric goddesses are located in the Surya loka?
Among the Nav Durgas, the speaker says, the kshetra held for Bhagavati Kushmanda — the place where she dwells — is held to be the Surya loka. Besides that, the form and the sthan held for Bhagavati Baglamukhi, worshipped chiefly in the tantra kshetra, is also held to be in the Surya mandal. So for full proficiency in tantra and for a mantra's full effect, Surya pujan becomes extremely necessary.
What must be observed most carefully in Surya-related worship?
In the pujan of Bhagavan Surya, of Bhagavati Shashthi, of Bhagavati Baglamukhi, Bhagavati Kushmanda and Bhagavati Katyayani — the shaktis connected with the Surya loka — the speaker says one has to take very great care of suchita, of cleanliness. Suchita matters in any dev process, but here especially, because Surya Narayan is a pratyaksha deva and gives fruit very quickly.
What is Jai Durga's place in tantra?
He says this is the utmost point of our Sanatan — a person living in a Jyotirlinga region asking whether it is jagrit. Go, babu, take darshan. There, in the form of Lakshmi and Durga ji: in the field of tantra, Bhagavati Jai Durga has a very chief place. He points to the Brahm Pishach Prapanch true tantra incident put on the channel and website, in which Jai Durga is described, her mantras are described, and how they were used — it is very fierce. In the Nav Durga pujan done in South India, according to different kalpas, in one kalpa among the nine Durgas one Durga is Jai Durga, and their chief Shakti Peeth is held to be this very one at Baijnath Dham — the shakti Jai Durga and their Bhairav Baijnath.
The two limbs of the householder Navratri plan: Durga Saptashati by day, the tithi-wise Navdurga mantra by night
The speaker says two things are carried together through the nine days. The first is the path of the Shri Durga Saptashati. The second is, in the night hours, doing Japa of the mantra of that form of Bhagavati Mahadurga which belongs to that day's Tithi, and obtaining her grace through it.
Night japa vidhan on Pratipada: a karma sakshi lamp, offerings to the four guardians, and nine malas of Shailputri
The speaker says that on Pratipada night — or earlier, at Sandhya, once the Aarti is done with the family or alone — one sits again on the asana around eight o'clock. The Akhand Jyot is burning; light a separate Karma Sakshi lamp, offer Dhoop, deep and Naivedya, and offer Akshat and flowers in the names of the guru, Ganesha, Batuk Bhairava and Bhagwan Narasimha. Then jap nine Mala of the mantra of Bhagavati's first form, Shailputri Durga, and offer the japa to Bhagavati; that is all. If one wishes, light nine camphors and nine cloves in some vessel. The first day's pujan is complete; it takes little time, is authentic, and brings Bhagavati's full grace. The mantras of all nine Durgas for the nine nights are in one PDF he provides.
Tithi-wise Navratri schedule, Pratipada to Ashtami: Saptashati adhyayas by day and the Navdurga form japped at night
The speaker lays out the days. Every day: Kavach, argala and keelak, the day's adhyayas of the Durga Saptashati in the Mahavidya krama, then the Tantrokta Devi Suktam; and at night nine Mala of that day's Durga. Pratipada: adhyaya one; Shailputri at night. Dwitiya: adhyayas two and three; brahmacharini. Tritiya: adhyaya four; Chandraghanta. Chaturthi: adhyayas five to eight; Kushmanda. Panchami: adhyayas nine and ten; Skandamata. Shashthi: adhyaya eleven; Katyayani. Saptami: adhyayas twelve and thirteen, completing the thirteen; Kalratri. Ashtami: with kavach, argala and keelak, the three Rahasyas — Murti Rahasya and the others printed after the thirteen adhyayas and the Devi Suktam — and Mahagauri at night. The mantras of all nine Durgas are in one PDF he provides.
Navami in the householder Navratri: havan early, then kanya pujan, Siddhidatri at night, and the paran only on Dashami
The speaker says that on Navami the Havan is done early in the morning, because the Kanya Pujan has to follow; do Bhagavati's havan in the morning and then the kanya pujan, and that part is complete. But the paran is not taken yet — this is according to the vidhan he sees in the Vindhya region, and whoever offers other proofs, that is their own matter. On Navami night one japs nine Mala of Bhagavati Siddhidatri; the Purnahuti has been done, but the night sadhana that was running must still be done. The Paran is taken on Dashami.
Alternative for Navami: japping Mahagauri and Siddhidatri together on Ashtami night, with twenty-seven ahutis per Durga in the morning havan
The speaker says that if a doubt remains about japping on Navami night after the purnahuti, there is a second road. On Ashtami night, after the nine Mala of Mahagauri, jap nine malas of Bhagavati Siddhidatri as well, at the same sitting — both are done on Ashtami. Then on Navami morning, in the fire, give at least 27 Ahuti with the mantra of each of the nine Durgas; a woman offers with Guggul, a man with ghee. Taking the paran on Navami, he adds, is the listener's own matter to decide.
Ashtami-Navami sandhi kaal: Chamunda's worship, and at minimum a coconut and three lemons in bali
The speaker says the final twenty minutes of Ashtami and the first twenty minutes of Navami are called the Sandhi Kaal. In it appeared Bhagavati's foremost form, Jagadamba's Chamunda swarup — her greatest Tantrokta form — so that form is to be worshipped at that time; its full vidhan is separate from the two-Durga japa of Ashtami night. How to do Deepdaan and to whom Bali is and is not given is in a separate video; do it if possible. If one cannot do that large a vidhi, give at the very least the bali of one coconut and three lemons, and burn camphor and cloves.
Bhog for the nine days of Navratri and the honey offering
The speaker says those who can may offer a different Bhog each day according to the nine forms of Navadurga; otherwise the ordinary bhog is enough: milk sweets, raisins, dried dates and whatever seasonal fruit is available. Honey, he says, must always be offered. If possible, keep honey before Bhagavati in a small silver bowl for all nine days, and when the path is complete, put that honey into water and let everyone take that water as Prasad.
Combined Navratri jap of the Navdurga, the navgrah and the mothers of the grahas: purpose and who it is for
The speaker says that if in the nine days of Navratri the nine grahas, the mothers of the nine grahas and the nine Durgas are worshipped together, many graha Doshas and yogas in the birth chart that affect life are pacified. Since even the smallest particle in the world is held to be a karaka of the Navagraha, the grahas must not be neglected; alongside one's Ishta Devata their puja should be done from time to time. Worshipping each graha separately is long and difficult, with its own vastra and vidhi, so he gives a simple nine-day vidhan for Navratri only that any sadhak or sadhika can do, meant especially for those who do not know their own janma kundali: by it alone, in nine days, whatever subtle graha dosha exists is pacified and the grahas' grace obtained. Done fully, he says, Jagadamba removes even the greatest calamity, and sufferings that were not otherwise going away are removed by this collective (samyak) pujan.
Daily jap order of the Navratri navgrah vidhan: the day's Durga, nine malas of the day's graha, one of its mother
The speaker gives the daily order: after the initial pujan, one Mala of the guru mantra and one of the Ganesha mantra (if one japs other mantras too), then one mala of that day's Durga, then nine malas of that day's graha, then one mala of the graha's mother; the graha mantra is thus Samput-ed by Ma Durga and the mother, which he says makes it sharper in effect. All the jap is then surrendered into the left hand of Bhagwati Jagadamba Durga. Day one (Pratipada): Shailputri one mala, Surya Narayan nine, Mata Aditi one. Day two: brahmacharini, the Chandra graha, his mother Anusuya. Day three: Chandraghanta, the Mangal graha, Mata Bhumi (Prithvi Mata). Each day continues in the same pattern, the jap surrendered the same way.
Completing the Navratri navgrah vidhan: havan ahuti counts, kanya pujan on Navami, parana on Dashami
The speaker says that when the nine days of jap are complete, a Havan is done on the last day, the Navami tithi; the basic havan vidhi has been given on his channel. Five Ahutis each go to guru and Ganesha; nine ahutis each from the separate mantras of the nine Durgas that were japped; nine each from every one of the nine graha mantras; and nine each in the names of the mothers of the nine grahas. On Navami one also does Kanya Pujan and so on, and then on the Dashami tithi the Paran.
The Tritiya falls on two days this time, pushing the Maha Saptami and the Kalratri Puja onto the Monday
The Dwitiya falls on Tuesday; the Tritiya falls on two days this time — Wednesday and Thursday — because the tithi has increased. Chaturthi on Friday, Panchami on Saturday, Shashthi on Sunday; and the Maha Saptami, the Kalratri Pujan, then falls on Monday the 29th of September.
May a devi be worshipped in the form of Ma Gauri?
It is not wrong at all, he says; you may do the puja in the form of Ma Gauri.
What is said about Yamraj and his kaal danda?
He speaks of the kaal danda with Yamraj, the kaal danda of Yamdev. He is Kaal Dev. He has been made sarva-samartha, he has been given it, and each has his own responsibility. His ishta aradhya shakti is Bhagavati Kalaratri. So that form of Bhagavati, and the capacities that have been given to him — why have they been given? He is himself Kaal; who can go beyond him?
When should a Navdurga sadhana be taken up?
To someone who wishes to perform the Navdurga sadhana, he says to do it especially only after Makar Sankranti.
How should children be started on Saraswati sadhana?
Have them do the Bhagavati Saraswati practice that is on the channel. For the Beejakshar: once children reach about eight or nine years, Bhagavati's Beejakshar should at least be taught to them and japa of it done daily.
What is the Navarna mantra, and whose is it?
Its root Shakti is Bhagavati Mahadurga. In Mahadurga all of them come — the Navadurga who manifested from her, the three Mahashaktis Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati, and the ten Mahavidyas as well. It is not a mantra, the speaker says, but a Mantra-raja.
What is the mandal pujan of the Durga Saptashati?
The mandal pujan of the Durga Saptashati exists and is done in a very vast form, the speaker says. Ordinarily, at least the pujan of the nine Durgas is done in a mandal. The Saptashati's mandal pujan is very vast and very fine — you will thoroughly enjoy it. It is such that in it the pujan of all the goddesses of the world takes place; if one were to speak of the highest, of what stands above all, then it is the Saptashati mandal. No shakti, no devi shakti at all is left out of it — Bhairav and Ganpati are a separate matter altogether.
What should be done in place of Navarna japa?
If you are doing Saraswati, the speaker says, then do one mala — and its japa should be done without the pranav. The second thing is that in its place, if you wish, you can use the mantras of the Argala and the like; you can use the other mantras of the Saptashati, by which the fulfilment of your desire may come about. And if Navarna alone is to be done, then Navarna is the mantra of Mahadurga; it is not only of Durga ji — nine shaktis are seated in it.
It runs on the same vedi as the Chandi path, the havan and the daily bali
Whosever japa it is — for example if it is of the Nav Durga, then the whole Chandi path, the havan and the rest and the daily bali and so on are running — so it will all be installed there itself, upon the same vedi; there is no need to do it separately, and on an ordinary day that much cannot be done. Bhairav ji's is being done separately, so for those whose is being done, it is being done there.
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