Form 2 of 9 · Night 2 of Navratri
Brahmacharini
The second form of Durga, worshipped on the second night: Brahmacharini, Parvati in her long penance to win Shiva, walking barefoot with a rosary and a water pot.
- Her name means
- She who keeps the vow of austerity
- Walks barefoot
- Her night
- Night 2
- of Navratri
The story
The sage Narada told the young Parvati that only by penance could she win Shiva as her husband. She left her father’s palace for the forest.
For a thousand years she lived on fruit and roots, then on fallen leaves, and at last on nothing at all, so that she was called Aparna, “without even a leaf”. The gods and sages marvelled at her strength.
At last Brahma blessed her, and Shiva accepted her. Brahmacharini is that steadfast, unbending will.
What she gives
Strength of will, patience and the power to keep at a hard path.
How she is shown
Walking barefoot, two-armed, a rosary (japa mala) in her right hand and a water pot (kamandalu) in her left, dressed in white.
Her verse
दधाना करपद्माभ्यामक्षमालाकमण्डलू।
देवी प्रसीदतु मयि ब्रह्मचारिण्यनुत्तमा॥
Dadhana karapadmabhyam akshamala kamandalu,
Devi prasidatu mayi Brahmacharinyanuttama.
Holding a rosary and a water pot in her lotus hands: may the supreme goddess Brahmacharini be gracious to me.
अपने कमल जैसे हाथों में माला और कमंडल लिए हुए, सर्वश्रेष्ठ देवी ब्रह्मचारिणी मुझ पर प्रसन्न हों।
Her mantra ॐ देवी ब्रह्मचारिण्यै नमःOm Devi Brahmacharinyai Namah
Her night
The second night of Navratri
Brahmacharini is worshipped on the second night of Navratri, the tithi of Dwitiya, in spring (Chaitra) and in autumn (Sharad).
Find this year’s NavratriWhere she is worshipped
In every Durga temple and festival pandal on her night of Navratri. In Varanasi each of the nine forms has a temple of her own, and pilgrims visit one each night.
Questions
Why is she called Aparna?
Because in her penance she gave up even fallen leaves as food: a-parna, “without a leaf”.
What does Brahmacharini teach?
That a great aim is won through patient, steady effort and self-control.