Shailaputri Devi – Story, Mantra and Puja on the First Day of Navaratri

Shailaputri is the first of the nine forms of Durga and is worshipped on the first day of Navaratri. She is the Mother reborn as the daughter of Himavan, king of the mountains, after giving up her earlier life as Sati. She rides a bull, holds a trident, and wears a half-moon on her head.

Shailaputri dhyana sloka and meaning

वंदे वांछितलाभाय चंद्रार्धकृतशेखराम् । वृषारूढां शूलधरां शैलपुत्रीं यशस्विनीम् ॥

vande vāñchitalābhāya candrārdhakṛtaśekharām | vṛṣārūḍhāṃ śūladharāṃ śailaputrīṃ yaśasvinīm ||

Meaning: I bow to the glorious Shailaputri, who wears the half-moon on her head, rides a bull and holds a trident, so that my heart's wishes may be fulfilled.

The story of Shailaputri

Shailaputri's story begins in her previous life.

Sati, daughter of Daksha

For the work of creation, Lord Brahma created the Prajapatis. One of them was Daksha Prajapati. Among Daksha's daughters was Sati, and from the start her mind was always on Shiva. When Daksha arranged a svayamvara for her, Shiva came in the guise of a yogi and married Sati.

Some time later, Daksha held a great yajna. He invited all the devas, but he did not invite Shiva or Sati. Sati made up her mind that she would go to her father's yajna all the same. Shiva tried to stop her, but she left.

The yajna and Sati's sacrifice

When Sati reached the place of the yajna, Daksha insulted her and spoke ill of Shiva. Sati could not bear to hear her husband abused. She gave up her body in the fire of her own yoga.

When the news reached Shiva, he was furious. From his matted hair he created Virabhadra, and Virabhadra destroyed Daksha's yajna.

Lost in grief, Shiva lifted Sati's body and began to wander across the worlds with it. Then Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshana chakra to cut the body into pieces. Every place where a piece fell became a Shakti Peetha.

Reborn as the daughter of the mountain

In her next birth, Sati was born as the daughter of Himavan, king of the mountains. "Shaila" means mountain, and "putri" means daughter. Because she was the daughter of the mountain king, she was called Shailaputri.

In this life too, her heart was set on Shiva, and she did fierce tapas to win him. In winter she stood in icy water. In summer she sat between fires. Pleased by her tapas, Shiva married her.

So the first day of Navaratri begins with a story of a love that did not end with one life. The same Mother who gave up her body as Sati came back, and through tapas she was united with Shiva again.

Her form and what it means

Shailaputri sits on a bull. In her right hand she holds a trident, in her left a lotus, and on her head she wears a half-moon. Each part of the image carries a teaching:

• The bull stands for steadiness and dharma.
• The trident reminds us to keep the three gunas, sattva, rajas and tamas, in balance.
• The lotus stands for purity.
• The half-moon points to a mind held under control.

Because she is the daughter of Himavan, she is also known as Parvati and Hemavati, and as the first form she is seen as the start of the whole Navaratri journey.

How to worship Shailaputri on Day 1

Navaratri begins on Ashvayuja (Ashvin) Shukla Pratipada, and this first day belongs to Shailaputri. In many homes the kalasha is set up and the Navaratri lamp is first lit on this day.

• Flowers: Red flowers are offered to her, especially roses.
• Lamp: Light a lamp with ghee.
• Naivedya: A popular custom is to offer a sweet made with milk.
• Mantra: Chanting her mantra 108 times is considered especially good:

ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं शैलपुत्र्यै नमः

oṃ aiṃ hrīṃ klīṃ śailaputryai namaḥ

Begin with the dhyana sloka above, picture her on the bull with trident and lotus, and then chant the mantra.

Blessings of worshipping Shailaputri

Devotees believe that worshipping Shailaputri strengthens the mind and gives the power to face hardship. Tradition holds that she blesses her devotees with good health, a happy married life, prosperity and spiritual growth. Since Sati's devotion to Shiva survived even death, many couples pray to her for harmony in marriage.