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Shree Brahmachaarinee Ashtottarashatanaamaavalih

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Shree Brahmachaarinee Ashtottarashatanaamaavalih

1. Om Brahmacharya/Aashrama/Paraayai Namaha

2. Om Brahmavidyaa/Taranginyai Namaha

3. Om Brahmaanda/Koti/Vyaapta/Ambaayai Namaha

4. Om Brahmahatyaa/Apahaarinyai Namaha

5. Om Brahma/Eesha/Vishnu/Roopaayai Namaha

6. Om Baala/Peeyoosha/Rochishaayai Namaha

7. Om Brahma/Vidyaayai Namaha

8. Om Brahma/Maatryai Namaha

9. Om Brahmeshyai Namaha

10. Om Brahma/Kaivalya/Bagalaayai Namaha

11. Om Brahma/Chaarinyai Namaha

12. Om Brahma/Sthitaayai Namaha

13. Om Brahma/Roopaayai Namaha

14. Om Brahmanaa/Veda/Vanditaayai Namaha

15. Om Brahma/Udbhavaayai Namaha

16. Om Brahma/Kalaayai Namaha

17. Om Brahmaanyai Namaha

18. Om Brahma/Bodhinyai Namaha

19. Om Brahma/Karma/Paraayanaayai Namaha

20. Om Brihat/Tundaayai Namaha

21. Om Brahma/Aadi/Sura/Vandyaayai Namaha

22. Om Brahma/Aadi/Jananyai Namaha

23. Om Brahma/Randhraayai Namaha

24. Om Brahma/Yajnaayai Namaha

25. Om Brahma/Sheershaayai Namaha

26. Om Brahma/Vaadinyai Namaha

27. Om Brahmanyai Namaha

28. Om Brahma/Yajninyai Namaha

29. Om Brihat/Saama/Stutaayai Namaha

30. Om Brahma/Maayaayai Namaha

31. Om Brahmarshi/Poojitaayai Namaha

32. Om Bandhooka/Sumano/Raagaayai Namaha

33. Om Baadaraayana/Deshikaayai Namaha

34. Om Baalaa/Ambaayai Namaha

35. Om Baana/Kusumaayai Namaha

36. Om Bagalaamukhee/Roopinyai Namaha

37. Om Bindu/Chakra/Sthitaayai Namaha

38. Om Bindu/Tarpana/Preeta/Maanasaayai Namaha

39. Om Brihat/Aishvarya/Daayai Namaha

40. Om Bandha/Heenaayai Namaha

41. Om Budha/Samarchitaayai Namaha

42. Om Brahma/Chaamundikaayai Namaha

43. Om Brahma/Jananyai Namaha

44. Om Braahmana/Priyaayai Namaha

45. Om Brahma/Jnaana/Pradaayai Namaha

46. Om Brahma/Vidyaayai Namaha

47. Om Brahmaanda/Naayikaayai Namaha

48. Om Brahma/Taala/Priyaayai Namaha

49. Om Brahma/Pancha/Manchaka/Shaayinyai Namaha

50. Om Brahma/Aadi/Vinutaayai Namaha

51. Om Brahma/Sahodaryai Namaha

52. Om Brahma/Pura/Sthitaayai Namaha

53. Om Braahmyai Namaha

54. Om Braahmana/Devataayai Namaha

55. Om Brahmaanda/Bahir/Anta/Sthaayai Namaha

56. Om Brahma/Kankana/Sootrinyai Namaha

57. Om Brimhanyai Namaha

58. Om Brahma/Vaadinyai Namaha

59. Om Brahma/Mayyai Namaha

60. Om Braahmyai Namaha

61. Om Brahma/Aananda/Pradaayinyai Namaha

62. Om Brahma/Vishnu/Shiva/Aatmikaayai Namaha

63. Om Bradhna/Tanayaayai Namaha

64. Om Bala/Unmoolita/Kalmashaayai Namaha

65. Om Bala/Uddhataayai Namaha

66. Om Bahu/Vighna/Vinaasha/Krite Namaha

67. Om Baala/Baalaayai Namaha

68. Om Bahu/Mataayai Namaha

69. Om Baahu/Yugalaayai Namaha

70. Om Baahu/Pankajaayai Namaha

71. Om Baala/Aatapa/Nibha/Amshukaayai Namaha

72. Om Balabhadra/Priyaayai Namaha

73. Om Baala/Pradaayinyai Namaha

74. Om Buddhi/Samstutaayai Namaha

75. Om Bandee/Devyai Namaha

76. Om Bilavatyai Namaha

77. Om Badisha/Ghnyai Namaha

78. Om Bali/Priyaayai Namaha

79. Om Baandhavyai Namaha

80. Om Bodhitaayai Namaha

81. Om Buddhi/Bandhooka/Kusuma/Priyaayai Namaha

82. Om Baala/Bhaanu/Prabhaa/Karaayai Namaha

83. Om Brihaspati/Stutaayai Namaha

84. Om Brindaayai Namaha

85. Om Brindaavana/Vihaarinyai Namaha

86. Om Baalaakinyai Namaha

87. Om Bila/Aahaaraayai Namaha

88. Om Bila/Vaasaayai Namaha

89. Om Bahu/Udakaayai Namaha

90. Om Bahu/Netraayai Namaha

91. Om Bahu/Padaayai Namaha

92. Om Bahu/Karna/Avatamsikaayai Namaha

93. Om Bahu/Baahu/Yutaayai Namaha

94. Om Beeja/Roopinyai Namaha

95. Om Bahu/Roopinyai Namaha

96. Om Bindu/Naada/Kalaa/Ateetaayai Namaha

97. Om Bindu/Naada/Svaroopinyai Namaha

98. Om Baddha/Godhaa/Anguli/Traanaayai Namaha

99. Om Badaree/Aashrama/Vaasinyai Namaha

100. Om Brindaarakaayai Namaha

101. Om Brihat/Skandhaayai Namaha

102. Om Brihatyai Namaha

103. Om Baana/Paatinyai Namaha

104. Om Brindaa/Adhyakshaayai Namaha

105. Om Bahu/Nutaayai Namaha

106. Om Bahu/Vikramaayai Namaha

107. Om Baddha/Padma/Aasana/Aaseenaayai Namaha

108. Om Bilva/Patra/Tala/Sthitaayai Namaha

Iti Shree Brahmachaarinee Ashtottarashatanaamaavalih

Meaning

The Brahmacharini Ashtottara Shatanamavali gives 108 names of Brahmacharini Devi, the second form of Durga. She is worshipped on the second day of Navaratri as Parvati in the years of her long tapas for Shiva. The namavali begins with Om Brahmacharyaaashramaparaayai Namaha, Om Brahmavidyaataranginyai Namaha and Om Brahmaandakotivyaaptaambaayai Namaha: the one devoted to the life of tapas, the one who flows with the knowledge of Brahman, and the Mother who fills crores of worlds.

Significance

All 108 names start with the sound "B", and a great many of them start with the word "Brahma". In this list "Brahma" points to the Veda, the highest truth and tapas, the same ideas found in her name. So the namavali keeps coming back to one theme: a mind given fully to a single goal. Om Brahmachaarinyai Namaha is her own name, the one who lives in tapas. Om Brahmavidyaayai Namaha calls her the knowledge of Brahman itself.

Some names read like small pictures of her tapas. Om Baddhapadmaaasanaaaseenaayai Namaha describes her seated firmly in the lotus posture. Om Bandhaheenaayai Namaha means the one free from all bonds. The very last name, Om Bilvapatratalasthitaayai Namaha, calls her the one who rests on bilva leaves, a quiet echo of the story in which she lived on leaves and then gave up even those, and was called Aparna.

How and when to chant

The natural time to chant this namavali is on the second day of Navaratri, Ashvayuja Shukla Dwitiya, though it can be said on any day. Light a lamp before her picture or the Navaratri kalasha and offer a pinch of kumkuma or a flower at each name. White flowers, especially jasmine, suit her. Payasam and curd rice are popular naivedya. In the spirit of her tapas, some devotees keep a small vow of their own that day. A steady recitation takes about ten minutes. A namavali needs no initiation, so anyone can chant it with devotion.

To read how her tapas earned her the names Aparna and Uma, see the story of Brahmacharini Devi.

Frequently asked questions

Which day of Navaratri is Brahmacharini worshipped, and who is she?
Brahmacharini is worshipped on the second day of Navaratri. She is Parvati during her long tapas to win Shiva, dressed in white and holding a japa mala and a kamandalu.
What is the Brahmacharini Ashtottara Shatanamavali and how is it chanted?
It is a set of 108 names of Brahmacharini Devi, each said as "Om ... Namaha". Chant them slowly before a lit lamp, offering a flower or kumkuma at each name; it takes about ten minutes.
What is the mantra of Brahmacharini?
Her mantra is "Om Aim Hreem Kleem Brahmacharinyai Namah". Devotees usually chant it 108 times on the second day of Navaratri.
What flowers and naivedya are offered to Brahmacharini?
White flowers, especially jasmine, are offered to her, and payasam and curd rice are popular naivedya. The exact offerings vary by family tradition.
What does "Om Baddhapadmaaasanaaaseenaayai Namaha" mean?
It means "salutations to the one seated firmly in the lotus posture". The name fits Brahmacharini, the Mother who sat in long tapas for Shiva.

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