Navadurgas And Shatchakras

Radhika Kothuri 

Sep 2021

Prathamam Shailputri cha Dwitiyam Brahmacharini
Tritiyam Chandraghanteti Kushmaandeti Chaturthakam
Panchamam Skandmaateti Shashtham Kaatyayneeti cha
Saptamam Kaalraatriti Mahagauriti Chaastamam
Navamam Sidhhidaatri cha Navdurgaah Prakeertitaah

प्रथमं  शैलपुत्री च,द्वितीयं  ब्रह्मचारिणी ।
तृतीयं चन्दघण्टेति,कूष्माण्डेति  चतुर्थकम् ।।

पंचमं  स्कन्दमातेति,षष्ठं कात्यायनीति  च ।
सप्तमं   कालरात्रीति,महागौरीति  चाष्टमम् ।।

नवमं  सिद्धिदात्री,च  नवदुर्गा: प्रकीर्तिता:।
उक्तान्येतानि  नामानि,ब्रह्मणैव महात्मना ।।

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The great Goddess Lalitha Maha Tripurasundari (the playful transcendent beauty of three cities) is the presiding deity of the yogic practices associated with Sri Chakra (also known as Sri Yantra) that is collectively called Sri Vidya.  Navaratri is the ideal worship of Sri Lalitha Maha Tripurasundari in her Navadurga forms.

The mother goddess ‘Parameshwari’ is said to have three forms 1.Subtle (sukshma) 2. Sukshma tara which is a universal reality and 3. Sukshma tama in the form of kundalini

Kundalini is jivatma and its union with paramatma in sahasrara is the goal of Navaratri, Navadurga puja, or say a sadhaka doing Srividya worship. Saadhaka can realise mother goddess or shiva Shakti tatvam after awakening the kundalini the serpent power that is in the state of resting in mooladhara and take it up to sahasrara.

Kundalini in the process of awakening passes through the Shatchakras:-

  1. Mooladhara, 2.Svadhistana, 3.Manipooraka, 4.Anahata, 5.Visudha, 6.Ajna and 7.Sahasrara

Navaratri and shatchakras:

The sadhaka starts the Navaratri puja in bahya pooja (external worship), thinking that the goddess and sadhaka are two different entities.  The pooja is performed to fulfill the desires – kamya sadhana. 

We can clearly see the ascent of kundalini during navaratris with the prayers to navadurgas:

1st day Shailaputri -  She represents the Muladhara chakra.  The journey of sadhaka starts at muladhara chakra to generate energy and slowly rises to other chakras daily.  Praying to Shailaputri gives strength and courage.

2nd day Brahmacharini – She represents Svadhistana chakra.  Praying to Bramhacharini gives devotion, self-restraint, and virtue.

3rd day Chandraghanta – She represents Manipura chakra.  Praying to Chandraghanta removes the suffering, distress, and sins of a sadhaka and bestows with peace.

4th day Kushmanda- She represents Anahata Chakra.  Praying to Kushmanda removes the ailments, troubles, and hurdles of a sadhaka.

5th day Skandamata: She represents the Visudha chakra. She bestows peace, knowledge, and prosperity to the sadhaka.

6th day Katyayini – She represents Ajna chakra.  Praying to Katyayini gives good health, wealth, and strength to fight against all odds. 

7th day Kalaratri- She governs Sahasrara chakra.  Praying to Kalaratri teaches us the truth of life and accepting them in fullness to realise our fullest potential.  This provides siddhi to the sadhaka. 

8th day Mahagauri -  She purifies the sadhaka.  Praying to Mahagauri will free the sadhaka from the clutches of the material world and removes sorrows of life.  She will lead the sadhaka to a path of virtue.

9th day Mahasiddhidatri – She bestows all the siddhis to the sadhaka, by purifying the sadhaka and at this stage, sadhaka feels that he/she and goddess are one and the same and not two different entities.  At this stage, the Ardha nareeswara tatva is felt.

Thus this jiva and Isvara are identical in the absence of manifestation- it is nothing but Brahman. 

“Om poornamadah poorna midam poornat poorna mudachyate

Poornasya poorna madaya poorna mevavasishyate”

  • Part two of this article on Srichakra & Shatchakras will be published in 7 days.