Second day of Bada Dashain: Brahmacharini Devi worshiped

Kathmandu, Oct. 4:  Brahmacharini Devi is ritually worshiped in the Dashainghar or Pooja room on the second day of Navratri today. There is a religious belief that one can gain knowledge of Brahmanhood if one invokes Brahmacharini Devi if worshipped properly.

The second goddess of Navadurga is called Brahmacharini in the belief that she is constantly striving to make living beings in the world attain Brahman, in the form of Satchidananda. There is a law that lotus, akshamala, and kamandalu should be made in the hands of Brahmacharini.

It is said in texts such as Markandeya Purana, that, "Brahma Charayitun Seelam Yasya: Sa Brahmacharini" i.e., Brahmacharini is the nature of attaining Satchidananda Brahmaswarup. Therefore, those who want to know the Brahman, especially worship Brahmacharini Devi in a special form.

During Navratri, devotees worship and gather at Shaktipeeth all over the country. 

On Thursday, the first day of Navratri, jamara was kept in the Dashainghar as per Vedic ritual. On the same day, first goddess Shailputri among the nine Durga was worshiped at the place where the desecration was done.

On the nine days of Navratri, chants of Durga Saptashati (Chandi), Shri Maddevi Bhagwat, and other Goddess Stotras are recited at the site where the desecration is held. It is a religious belief that on the occasion of Navratri if one worships the Goddess and worships them, one will get power, wealth, and knowledge.

On this basis, Vedic Sanatan Dharma devotees perform special worship of Goddess Durga every year from Ashwin Shukla Pratipada to Navami. Prasad, which is worshiped for nine days, is carried from Vijayadashami to the day of Kojagrat Purnima. (RSS)