According to the Hindu Scriptures, Adi Shakti (आदि शक्तिः) (Primordial form of Feminine energy) is the energy which created the whole Universe. The energies which drive the whole Universe are Highest Feminine energy as well as the Highest Masculine energy so, worshipping the Highest Feminine energy as well as the Highest Masculine energy is considered as the best devotion as it can lead the devotee towards the spiritual upliftment. This Highest Feminine energy is Goddess Parvati & her other forms, the Highest Masculine energy is Lord Shiva. There are specific days & months, which are connected to the worship of a particular Deity to beget particular energy. In the same way, Ashtami (8th day of the fortnight), Friday & nine days of different months are dedicated to the Adi Shakti (आदि शक्तिः) (Primordial Form of Goddess).
As you have read in the previous articles of other Navratris that, according to the Hindu Scriptures, there are total five (05) Navratris viz. Pausha, Magha, Chaitra, Aashadha & Ashwina Navratri. Each Navaratri holds a special significance & it is celebrated by worshipping the nine different forms of The Adi Shakti (आदि शक्तिः) (Primordial Form of Goddess). Generally, only three Navaratris are known & celebrated by the people, which falls in the month of Pausha, Chaitra & Ashwina. But, apart of these three Navaratris there are two more Navaratris which are not much prevalent & it is known as Gupt Navratri. First Gupt Navaratri is celebrated during the bright fortnight of the Magha month & second Gupt Navaratri is celebrated during the bright fortnight of the Aashadha month. Aashadha Navratri is celebrated in the month of Aashadha (आषाढः). Aashadha Navratri is also known as Aashadhi Navratri, Gupt (secrete) Navratri (गुप्त नवरात्री) & Guhya (secrete) Navratri. This Navaratri is celebrated from the first day of the bright fortnight of the Aashadha month (आषाढः शुक्लपक्षे प्रतिपदा) till the ninth day of the bright fortnight of the Aashadha month (आषाढः शुक्लपक्षे नवमी).
Significance of Aashadha Navratri (आषाढः नवरात्री) –
Just like Magha Navratri, this Aashadhi Navratri is also more prevalent among the Tantrikas (तांत्रिकः) & Sadhakas (साधकः). Tantrikas (तांत्रिकः) are those who have the super powers & performs more Tantra Sadhna (तंत्र साधना) (i.e., worshipping & performing the principles of Tantra) to gain more such powers & these Tantrikas are known as occultists in English. Sadhakas (साधकः) are those who are more inclined to Spiritual practices & perform Anushthanas (i.e., performing the religious rites) (अनुष्ठानम्) to increase more spiritual powers to attain the Liberation (मोक्षः). According to the Devi Bhagwatam, the Ten Mahavidyas (दश महाविद्या) are worshipped during this Gupt Navratri. These Ten Mahavidyas (दश महाविद्या) are ten forms of Goddess & they are; Kali, Tara, Tripura Sundari (Shodashi), Bhuvaneshwari, Tripura Bhairavi, Chinnamasta, Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi & Kamala. Not only Tantrikas but Sadhakas & many other worships these ten forms of Goddess during Gupt Navratri (गुप्त नवरात्री).
As this Navratri is associated to the Ten Mahavidyas (दश महाविद्या) this Navratri is more important & significant to the Tantrikas & Sadhakas. Those who knows the importance of this Navratri & perform the rituals during this Navratri, attain increment in their mystical powers during this Navratri. The reason that this Navratri is known as Gupt Navratri (गुप्त नवरात्री) is that, one should worship Goddess during this Navratri in secrecy, without disclosing about performing rituals & worships thus, by performing it in secrecy one attains the fruitful results. According to the Scriptures, Gupt Navratri (गुप्त नवरात्री) has been described as the worshipping period for attaining secret powers (गुप्तः सिद्धः).
This Navratri is predominantly celebrated in the northern parts of India; especially in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh & Uttarakhand. Gupt Navratri is celebrated with the primary objective to please the Adi Shakti (आदि शक्तिः) (Primordial form of the Goddess) to acquire prosperity, wealth, knowledge & positivity in materialistic as well as spiritual life. By worshipping Goddess during this Navaratri, she eliminates distress & negativity from life. This ritualistic worship of Adi Shakti is performed daily for nine days & nights. During this Navratri not only Ten Mahavidyas (दश महाविद्या) are worshipped but other forms of Goddess are also worshipped.
While worshipping Goddess during the Gupt Navratri the devotees gain the protection against evil forces like black magic, jealousy, etc. & build a protective shield around themselves & their family. During the nine nights of Gupt Navaratri or Aashadha Navaratri, sacred texts that hail the Goddess’ powers & blessings such as Devi Mahatmyam or Durga Saptashati & other Durga Stotras, mantras, etc. are chanted. Durga Saptashati is a part of Markandeya Purana. It highlights the story of Goddess Durga, her powers & weapons gifted to her by the Trinity – Brahma, Vishnu &Shiva, & the slaying of the demon Mahishasura by the Supreme Goddess. Chanting this sacred text during Ashada Navaratri eradicates negativity, grant wealth, happiness, prosperity & Divine protection of Adi Shakti.
According to the Scriptures, God Shiva offered & taught the Tantra Vidya (तंत्र विद्या) to Adi Shakti during the month of Magha & Aashadha in a secret cave & because of the same reason these two Navaratris are known as Gupt Navratri (गुप्त नवरात्री) which is performed in secrecy & Tantra Sadhna (तंत्र साधना) is predominant during these two Navratris.
During Aashada Gupt Navratri Goddess Vaarahi is mostly worshipped, a special ritual ceremony is offered to Goddess Vaarahi. Goddess Vaarahi is a Hindu deity representing the feminine aspect of the all-pervading power of creation, which is inherent in all animate & inanimate beings. Goddess Vaarahi is the female counterpart of Varaha, the boar Avatar of Lord Vishnu. She is known as Barahi in Nepal & the Buddhist Goddesses Vajravaaraahi & Marichi are also widely considered as a form of the Goddess Vaarahi.
Goddess Vaarahi is one of the divine mothers from the Sapta Matrukas (सप्त मातृका) – seven forms of Goddess Mother which are present in the form of Shakti (feminine energy). According to the Devi Mahatmya, Goddess Durga creates the Matrukas from her own self & leads them in the battle against the demon Raktabija. These seven forms of Goddess Mother are; Brahmani, Vaishnavi, Maaheshwari, Indrani, Kaumari, Vaarahi & Chaamundi. Brahmani is a form of Goddess Saraswati emerged from Lord Brahma, Vaishnavi is a form of Goddess Lakshmi emerged from Lod Vishnu, Maaheshwari is a form of Goddess Parvati emerged from Lord Shiva (Mahesha), Indrani is a form of Shachi emerged from Lord Indra, Kaumari is a form of Devsena & Valli emerged from Lord Skanda (Kartikeya), Vaarahi is a form of Goddess Lakshmi emerged from Lord Varaha (incarnation of Lord Vishnu) & Chamunda is a form of Goddess Durga emerged from Lord Shiva. Apart of these seven Mother Goddesses there are two another Mother Goddess which sometimes are also added to the same, they are; Narasimhi & Vinayaki where, Narasimhi is a form of Goddess Lakshmi emerged from Lord Narasimha (incarnation of Lord Vishnu) & Vinayaki is a form of Siddhi & Buddhi emerged from Lord Ganesha.
According to the Devi Bhagvata Purana & Matsya Purana, Goddess Vaarahi is shown riding on a buffalo (महिष), she is having a boar like face just like Lord Varaha (incarnation of Lord Vishnu) with a human female body. She is generally depicted in four armed or six arms. When she is shown in six armed, she is holding a Disc (चक्रम्) & Conch (शंखम्) in the upper two hands, Plough (हलम्) & Pestle (मुसलम्) in the middle two hands & the lower two hands with the Abhaya Mudra (अभय मुद्रा) (protection gesture) & the Varada Mudra (वरद मुद्रा) (blessing gesture).
This Goddess Vaarahi is the substitute of the Northern direction & revered by most Hindu sects, including Vaishnavas, Shaivas & Shaktas. Worshipping of Goddess Vaarahi is often carried at night, using secretive Vamamarga Tantric practices. By worshipping Goddess Vaarahi, she removes the evil forces from her devotee’s life, bestow wealth, knowledge & prosperity. She also protects her devotees from accidents & ill-health.
As she is described as the Goddess of Darkness & worshipped after sunset & mostly in the middle of the night because of this reason, she is worshipped during this secretive Navratri like Magha Navratri or Aashadha Navratri.
Ritual ceremony of Aashadha Navratri (आषाढः नवरात्री) –
During Aashadha Gupt Navratri, the puja rituals are not done in the morning like the other Navratris but it should be done during evening or night time. After cleaning the puja area, one should decorate the place of worship & begin their preparations. Kalash grown with barley is kept in front of the idol or photo of the Goddess at auspicious timing & another kalash with a raw coconut is kept over it & the installation (घटस्थापना) ritual is done. An idol of Goddess is decorated with red bindi, red bangles, red saree, etc. Later, a 16 Worshipping Practices (षोडश उपचारः) are done every day from the day one till the ninth day during this Navratri. The one who takes up this puja ritual follow strict fast where they only eat one meal after finishing puja rituals & offering food to Brahmin. Few devotees also observe partial fasting by eating fruits & other dairy products only.
Devotees recite Durga Shaptashati Path & also take up Anushthana (i.e., performing the religious rites) (अनुष्ठानम्) which is generally one mantra to be recited every day in a particular number for nine days during this Navratri. Some devotees also ignite Aakhand jyot (a long-lasting lamp) of ghee in front of Goddess to acquire more blessings. When devotee perform this puja ritual in secrecy with a pure heart then Goddess fulfils all their wishes. Puja rituals or only Mantra Japa (मंत्र जपः) during Aashadha Gupt Navratri provides meritorious fruits & the Goddess bestow her divine blessings to her devotees if the rituals are followed with complete faith. After worshiping for nine days during this Navratri, girls are served a feast on Ashtami & Navami. Sometimes the puja rituals are almost same as the other Navratri puja rituals, but the only difference is that one must not disclose it to others, it is done secretly & the during evening or night time to obtain more benefits.
The worship of Goddess Vaarahi is the most vital part of such secretive Navratri. Also, such other secretive Goddesses are worshipped in the midnight during Gupt Navratris (गुप्त नवरात्री).
Thus, Goddess is the most vital part of Sanatana Dharma & is worshipped with great respect as she is the Life-giver & nurturer of this universe. Hindus, not only worship goddesses, but we also worship & respect every female as we consider her as a part of Adi Shakti. Gupt Navratri holds a very vital part of our religion & mainly has its special place among the Tantrikas & Sadhakas. So, Gupt Navratris has more significance than the other Navratris in Hinduism.
चैत्रः शुक्लपक्षे १०, २०७८