Navratri means: Nav = nine ; Ratri = nights. Nine nights of worshiping Shakti also known as Mother Durga. Navratri festival is dedicated to the nine forms of Goddess Durga. The puranas and texts like ‘ Navratri vrat katha ‘ stress on the importance of ‘nirjal’ (sans water) and ‘nirahar’ (sans food) ‘vrat’ or fasting during Chaitra and Ashwin months, through which a devotee can elevate his body and mind. Navratri vrat is, thus, one of the most sacred of fasting rituals among the Hindus. Navratri fast also ensures the devotee a long prosperous married life.
Navratri Vrat Katha : नवरात्रि व्रत कथा
Navratri Vrat Katha : नवरात्रि व्रत कथा
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु चेतनेत्यभिधीयते।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नम:।।
कैलाश पर्वत के निवासी भगवान शिव की अर्धांगिनी मां सती पार्वती को ही शैलपुत्री, ब्रह्मचारिणी, चंद्रघंटा, कूष्मांडा, स्कंदमाता, कात्यायिनी, कालरात्रि, महागौरी, सिद्धिदात्री आदि नामों से जाना जाता है।
Navratri Vrat Katha In Hindi
बृहस्पति जी का ऐसा प्रश्न सुनकर ब्रह्मा जी कहने लगे कि हे बृहस्पते! प्राणियों का हित करने की इच्छा से तुमने बहुत ही अच्छा प्रश्न किया। जो मनुष्य मनोरथ पूर्ण करने वाली दुर्गा, महादेवी, सूर्य और नारायण का ध्यान करते हैं, वे मनुष्य धन्य हैं, यह नवरात्र व्रत सम्पूर्ण कामनाओं को पूर्ण करने वाला है। इसके करने से पुत्र चाहने वाले को पुत्र, धन चाहने वाले को धन, विद्या चाहने वाले को विद्या और सुख चाहने वाले को सुख मिल सकता है। इस व्रत को करने से रोगी मनुष्य का रोग दूर हो जाता है और कारागार हुआ मनुष्य बन्धन से छूट जाता है। मनुष्य की तमाम आपत्तियां दूर हो जाती हैं और उसके घर में सम्पूर्ण सम्पत्तियां आकर उपस्थित हो जाती हैं। बन्ध्या और काक बन्ध्या को इस व्रत के करने से पुत्र उत्पन्न होता है। समस्त पापों को दूूर करने वाले इस व्रत के करने से ऐसा कौन सा मनोबल है जो सिद्ध नहीं हो सकता। जो मनुष्य अलभ्य मनुष्य देह को पाकर भी नवरात्र का व्रत नहीं करता वह माता-पिता से हीन हो जाता है अर्थात् उसके माता-पिता मर जाते हैं और अनेक दुखों को भोगता है। उसके शरीर में कुष्ठ हो जाता है और अंग से हीन हो जाता है उसके सन्तानोत्पत्ति नहीं होती है। इस प्रकार वह मूर्ख अनेक दुख भोगता है। इस व्रत को न करने वला निर्दयी मनुष्य धन और धान्य से रहित हो, भूख और प्यास के मारे पृथ्वी पर घूमता है और गूंगा हो जाता है। जो विधवा स्त्री भूल से इस व्रत को नहीं करतीं वह पति हीन होकर नाना प्रकार के दुखों को भोगती हैं। यदि व्रत करने वाला मनुष्य सारे दिन का उपवास न कर सके तो एक समय भोजन करे और उस दिन बान्धवों सहित नवरात्र व्रत की कथा करे।
तुम्हारे पूर्व जन्म का वृतान्त सुनाती हूं सुनो! तुम पूर्व जन्म में निषाद (भील) की स्त्री थी और अति पतिव्रता थी। एक दिन तेरे पति निषाद ने चोरी की। चोरी करने के कारण तुम दोनों को सिपाहियों ने पकड़ लिया और ले जाकर जेलखाने में कैद कर दिया। उन लोगों ने तेरे को और तेरे पति को भोजन भी नहीं दिया। इस प्रकार नवरात्रों के दिनों में तुमने न तो कुछ खाया और न ही जल ही पिया। इसलिए नौ दिन तक नवरात्र का व्रत हो गया। हे ब्राह्मणी! उन दिनों में जो व्रत हुआ उस व्रत के प्रभाव से प्रसन्न होकर तुम्हें मनवांछित वस्तु दे रही हूं। तुम्हारी जो इच्छा हो वह वरदान मांग लो।
इस प्रकार दुर्गा के कहे हुए वचन सुनकर ब्राह्मणी बोली कि अगर आप मुझ पर प्रसन्न हैं तो हे दुर्गे! आपको प्रणाम करती हूं। कृपा करके मेरे पति के कुष्ठ को दूर करो। देवी कहने लगी कि उन दिनों में जो तुमने व्रत किया था उस व्रत के एक दिन का पुण्य अपने पति का कुष्ठ दूर करने के लिए अर्पण करो मेरे प्रभाव से तेरा पति कुष्ठ से रहित और सोने के समान शरीर वाला हो जायेगा। ब्रह्मा जी बोले इस प्रकार देवी का वचन सुनकर वह ब्राह्मणी बहुत प्रसन्न हुई और पति को निरोग करने की इच्छा से ठीक है ऐसे बोली। तब उसके पति का शरीर भगवती दुर्गा की कृपा से कुष्ठहीन होकर अति कान्तियुक्त हो गया जिसकी कान्ति के सामने चन्द्रमा की कान्ति भी क्षीण हो जाती है वह ब्राह्मणी पति की मनोहर देह को देखकर देवी को अति पराक्रम वाली समझ कर स्तुति करने लगी कि हे दुर्गे! आप दुर्गत को दूर करने वाली, तीनों जगत की सन्ताप हरने वाली, समस्त दुखों को दूर करने वाली, रोगी मनुष्य को निरोग करने वाली, प्रसन्न होने पर मनवांछित वस्तु को देने वाली और दुष्ट मनुष्य का नाश करने वाली हो। तुम ही सारे जगत की माता और पिता हो। हे अम्बे! मुझ अपराध रहित अबला की मेरे पिता ने कुष्ठी के साथ विवाह कर मुझे घर से निकाल दिया। उसकी निकाली हुई पृथ्वी पर घूमने लगी। आपने ही मेरा इस आपत्ति रूपी समुद्र से उद्धार किया है। हे देवी! आपको प्रणाम करती हूं। मुझ दीन की रक्षा कीजिए।
ब्रह्माजी बोले- हे बृहस्पते! इसी प्रकार उस सुमति ने मन से देवी की बहुत स्तुति की, उससे हुई स्तुति सुनकर देवी को बहुत सन्तोष हुआ और ब्राह्मणी से कहने लगी कि हे ब्राह्मणी! उदालय नाम का अति बुद्धिमान, धनवान, कीर्तिवान और जितेन्द्रिय पुत्र शीघ्र होगा। ऐसे कहकर वह देवी उस ब्राह्मणी से फिर कहने लगी कि हे ब्राह्मणी और जो कुछ तेरी इच्छा हो वही मनवांछित वस्तु मांग सकती है ऐसा भवगती दुर्गा का वचन सुनकर सुमति बोली कि हे भगवती दुर्गे अगर आप मेरे ऊपर प्रसन्न हैं तो कृपा कर मुझे नवरात्रि व्रत विधि बतलाइये। हे दयावन्ती! जिस विधि से नवरात्र व्रत करने से आप प्रसन्न होती हैं उस विधि और उसके फल को मेरे लिए विस्तार से वर्णन कीजिए।
इस प्रकार ब्राह्मणी के वचन सुनकर दुर्गा कहने लगी हे ब्राह्मणी! मैं तुम्हारे लिए सम्पूर्ण पापों को दूर करने वाली नवरात्र व्रत विधि को बतलाती हूं जिसको सुनने से समाम पापों से छूटकर मोक्ष की प्राप्ति होती है। आश्विन मास के शुक्लपक्ष की प्रतिपदा से लेकर नौ दिन तक विधि पूर्वक व्रत करे यदि दिन भर का व्रत न कर सके तो एक समय भोजन करे। पढ़े लिखे ब्राह्मणों से पूछकर कलश स्थापना करें और वाटिका बनाकर उसको प्रतिदिन जल से सींचे। महाकाली, महालक्ष्मी और महा सरस्वती इनकी मूर्तियां बनाकर उनकी नित्य विधि सहित पूजा करे और पुष्पों से विधि पूर्वक अध्र्य दें। बिजौरा के फूल से अध्र्य देने से रूप की प्राप्ति होती है। जायफल से कीर्ति, दाख से कार्य की सिद्धि होती है। आंवले से सुख और केले से भूषण की प्राप्ति होती है। इस प्रकार फलों से अध्र्य देकर यथा विधि हवन करें। खांड, घी, गेहूं, शहद, जौ, तिल, विल्व, नारियल, दाख और कदम्ब इनसे हवन करें गेहूं होम करने से लक्ष्मी की प्राप्ति होती है। खीर व चम्पा के पुष्पों से धन और पत्तों से तेज और सुख की प्राप्ति होती है। आंवले से कीर्ति और केले से पुत्र होता है। कमल से राज सम्मान और दाखों से सुख सम्पत्ति की प्राप्ति होती है। खंड, घी, नारियल, जौ और तिल इनसे तथा फलों से होम करने से मनवांछित वस्तु की प्राप्ति होती है। व्रत करने वाला मनुष्य इस विधान से होम कर आचार्य को अत्यन्त नम्रता से प्रणाम करे और व्रत की सिद्धि के लिए उसे दक्षिणा दे। इस महाव्रत को पहले बताई हुई विधि के अनुसार जो कोई करता है उसके सब मनोरथ सिद्ध हो जाते हैं। इसमें तनिक भी संशय नहीं है। इन नौ दिनों में जो कुछ दान आदि दिया जाता है, उसका करोड़ों गुना मिलता है। इस नवरात्र के व्रत करने से ही अश्वमेध यज्ञ का फल मिलता है। हे ब्राह्मणी! इस सम्पूर्ण कामनाओं को पूर्ण करने वाले उत्तम व्रत को तीर्थ मंदिर अथवा घर में ही विधि के अनुसार करें।
ब्रह्मा जी बोले- हे बृहस्पते! इस प्रकार ब्राह्मणी को व्रत की विधि और फल बताकर देवी अन्तध्र्यान हो गई। जो मनुष्य या स्त्री इस व्रत को भक्तिपूर्वक करता है वह इस लोक में सुख पाकर अन्त में दुर्लभ मोक्ष को प्राप्त होता हे। हे बृहस्पते! यह दुर्लभ व्रत का माहात्म्य मैंने तुम्हारे लिए बतलाया है। बृहस्पति जी कहने लगे- हे ब्राह्मण! आपने मुझ पर अति कृपा की जो अमृत के समान इस नवरात्र व्रत का माहात्म्य सुनाया। हे प्रभु! आपके बिना और कौन इस माहात्म्य को सुना सकता है? ऐसे बृहस्पति जी के वचन सुनकर ब्रह्मा जी बोले- हे बृहस्पते! तुमने सब प्राणियों का हित करने वाले इस अलौकिक व्रत को पूछा है इसलिए तुम धन्य हो। यह भगवती शक्ति सम्पूर्ण लोकों का पालन करने वाली है, इस महादेवी के प्रभाव को कौन जान सकता है।
Navratri Vrat Katha : नवरात्रि व्रत कथा In English
Navratri Vrat / Navrati Fasting
The festival of Navratri is marked by a regimen of strict fasting or partial fasting. Both men and women can follow the Navratri fasting rules. However, there is flexibility in the number of days a devotee can fast. For instance, some people fast only for three days, starting from the first day with a gap of two days. Some devotees choose to fast only on the first and the last day.
This Navratri fast gives fulfillment of all desires. Those who wish for a child they beget a child, those who wish for wealth get wealth. Those who wish for education get education. Those who are sick they get rid of their disease. One is free from all bondages. Women are blessed with a son. Those who do this fast with devotion all sins are cleared and are free from worries and are granted happiness and peace and have complete prosperity.
Navratri Vrat Katha In English
Once upon a time Sage Naradji went around the world. He went on a pilgrimage from Swargaloka (heaven) to Mrityulok. When he came to Mrityulok he saw people who had different problems and were sorrowful. He saw some people in sorrow due to their son and some crying for wealth.
After going round Mrityulok a thought came in his mind that it was long since he had seen Lord Vrishpathi. Therefore he decided to meet and thus proceeded to the place of Lord Vrishpathi.
Shri Vrishpathi was very happy to see Naradji and inquired from Naradji the reason of his visit to his place and without fear to ask the question he is being bothered with and explain to him his problem. Then Naradji with folded hands prayed and said Oh Maharaj, I have come to you to learn what fruit does one achieve from the fast of the Navratri days. I would like to hear the importance of this fast from you. Then Shri Vrishpathiji said, Navratri fast comes in the month of Chaitra Shukla period from the first to Asthami (eight) days and in Kanwar month in the Shukla period from the first day to Asthami. This Navratri fast achieves the most impossible thing e.g. One who prays for a son gets a son. One prays for wealth gets wealth. One who wishes for education gets education, one who wishes for happiness, gets happiness. One who does this fast is free from disease, if he is suffering from any illness. He is free from all bondage and all obstacles are removed. The sick person lives a happy life free from his disease. The barren woman begets a child.
Remover of all sins doing this fast which feat is not accomplished. The person who does not do this fast is separated from his mother and father. His parents die and he suffers a lot of sorrow and his body becomes diseased and he suffers. He is not able to beget a child. This way he faces many sorrows the one who does not do this fast. Wealth and prosperity desert him and he faces hunger and thirst and roams round the earth and becomes dumb. If any woman does not do this fast, she is separated from her husband and suffers different types of sorrows and troubles. If one who decides to keep the fast and is not able to remain hungry the whole day then he can have one time meal and on that day with his relatives together and hear the story of Navratri fast. O sage, the one who did this great fasts for the first time I am going to narrate to you the story. Narad kindly listen with full attention and care. This way listening to the words of Brahmaji, Vrishpathi said O Brahmin, to bless man who does this fast in our history I am ready to listen attentively and have come to your shelter. Kindly bless me.
Brahmaji said in old times in a beautiful city, there lived a Brahmin named Anath. He was a devout follower of Bhagvathi (Goddess) Durga. Due to his good qualities and Brahmaji’s first creation he begot a beautiful daughter Sumati who had all the qualities and beauty.
This child Sumati grew in her father’s house playing with her friend so fast like the moon growing in the shukla paksha into full bloom. Whenever her father was doing the puja and Homa of Mother Durga she was always present. One day Sumati went with her friends to play and she was absent for the puja of Bhagvati.
The father seeing such negligence of his daughter got angry and said to his daughter. Oh negligent daughter today you have not done Bhagvati Durga’s puja, due to this reason I will get you married to a sick and poor man. Hearing the harsh words of her father Sumati became sad and said to her father. I am your daughter and it is my duty to do as you say. You may do as you wish. You can get me married to a King, leper whoever you wish but my marriage will take place as my destiny. Man has many worries but only that what the Lord desires happen. Whatever a man does so does he reaps the fruits of his action. Because it is man’s duty to do Action (Karma) and God’s duty to give him the fruits of his actions. Like fire sparks same way seeing the fearlessness of his daughter the Brahmin got angrier then. He got his daughter married to a Kusti- leper and said angrily go fast, go fast and reap the fruits of your action. Lets see depending on destiny what you will do. Hearing these bitter words of her father, Sumati thought in her mind how unfortunate she was to get such a husband. This way thinking of her sorrow Sumati along with her husband went into the jungle and with the ferocious animals spent the night with great difficulty. Seeing this poor child in this state Bhagvati due to her previous good deeds came in front of Sumati and said to her O dear Brahmini I am happy with you ask me any boon, I will grant you. This way hearing Goddess Durga’s word the Brahmini inquired who she was who is happy with me, tell me everything and free me your humble servant. Hearing thus from the Brahmini the Devi said, She is Adi – Shakti, and she is Brahma Vidya – Saraswati. When I am pleased I remove the sorrow of human beings and bestow them with happiness. O Brahmini I am happy with your past birth. I am narrating to you; you’re past birth.
In your last birth you were the wife of Nishad (Bhil) hunter and you were a devoted wife. One day your husband Nishad had done robbery. Due to the robbery you both were arrested by the soldiers and put into the prison. They did not give both you and your husband any food to eat. This way during the days of Navratri you neither ate nor drank water for 9 days and thus fasted for Navratri vrat. Due to the fast I am very happy and today I will grant you your wish so tell me what is the boon you want. In this way hearing the words of Durga the Brahmini said if you are really happy with me then O Mother Durga, I pay obeisance to you. Kindly get rid of my husband’s leprosy. The Devi said during those days of fasting the fruits of one of the days of the fasting your husband will be rid of leprosy and get back a beautiful golden like body. Brahmaji said in this way hearing the words of the Devi this Brahmini was very happy and said seeing her husband without disease is right. The body of her husband with the blessings of Bhagvati Durga got rid of the disease and became a bright youngman whose brilliance outshone the brilliance of the moon. Seeing the beautiful brilliance of her husband and the immense power of the Devi she thought and said, Oh Durga you are the remover of obstacles of the three loka and remover of all sorrow, remover of the disease of a sick man, on being happy bestowing vows, destroying the wicked person, you are the mother and father of the entire universe. Oh Ambe, due to my mistake my father got me married to a leper and removed me from the house. Thus removed from there I have been roaming round the earth, it is you who has crossed me over this ocean of trouble. Oh Devi I offer my salutations to you. Please protect me the misfortune. Brahmaji said Oh Vrishpathi this way Sumati prayed to the Devi. Hearing her prayers and words the Devi was very happy and said to the Brahmini you will have a son named Udalak who will be very intelligent, wealthy, hardworking and brilliant son very soon. The Devi then again told the Brahmini you could again ask for any other boon you wish to ask. Hearing these words of Goddess Durga Sumati said, O Goddess Durga if you are happy with me then kindly explain to me the rituals and way to do the Navratri fast and also the fruit one can achieve. Kindly explain in detail to me. Thus hearing these words of the Brahmin, Durga said, O Brahmin I will narrate to you the complete procedure of the rituals of the Navratri fast, which removes all the sins. By hearing this one is free from all the sins and attains Moksha (liberation). In the month of Ashwin during the shukla period from the very first day till the 9th day one should keep a fast. If whole day fast is not possible then one meal can be eaten during the day. Asking educated and imminent Brahmins Kalash and wheat grains should be installed and everyday water should be poured on that vessel. Making clay figures of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswathi, everyday according to the rituals one should worship and also offer flowers and worship as per rituals. With Bijora flowers one gets beauty, Jaiphul gives brilliance, Amla gives happiness, Banana gives jewelry. In this way with fruits doing the rituals and Havana also with wheat doing the homa one gets wealth. With kheer one gets Moksha, with the flowers of Champa one gets money, leaves gives light and happiness. Amla gives work and banana gives son, lotus gives kingly respect and wealth and happiness. Kheer, ghee, coconut, honey, jowar and til (mustard seed) and fruits with all these one should do homa and one will achieve whatever one desires. The one performing the fast should with immense devotion pay obeisance to the acharya and for the yagna performance give dakshina. The one who follows the instructions regarding this great fast he gets all the happiness and there is not an iota of doubt that during these nine days all that is given in charity will get fruit in the multitude of crores. Oh Brahmin, the entire fulfilling ritual and fasting should be done in the temple or in the house as per the instruction. Brahmaji said to Vrishpathi, this way explaining to the Brahmin the procedure of fasting as per the rituals Goddess Durga disappeared.
Those men and women who keep this fast with devotion get in this loka happiness and in the end get Moksha. Oh Vrishpathi, this remover of sorrow fast importance I have told it for you. Hearing these words of Brahmaji, Vrishpathiji became happy and said to Brahmaji. Oh Brahmaji you have blessed me immensely and in the form of nectar explained the importance of the Navratri fast, O Lord other than you, who could explain the importance so beautifully. Hearing these words of Vrishpathi, Brahmaji said O Vrishpathi, the remover of obstacles for all mankinds, this magnificent fast you have asked me you are blessed, Bhagwathi Shakti (power) is bestowed to all people. This MahaDevi (Great Goddess) power who can understand.
Navaratri (Assamese: নৱৰাত্রি, Bengali: নবরাত্রি, Gujarati: નવરાત્રી, Hindi: नवरात्री, Kannada: ನವರಾತ್ರಿ, Kashmiri: نَورات / नवरात, Malayalam: നവരാത്രി, Marathi: नवरात्री, Odia: ନର୍ଵାର୍ତୀ, Punjabi: ਨਰਾਤੇ, Tamil: நவராத்திரி, Telugu: నవరాత్రీ) is a festival dedicated to the worship of the Hindu deity Durga. The word Navaratri means ‘nine nights’ in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights.[2] During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti/Devi are worshiped.
Navratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit; Nava meaning Nine and Ratri meaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti/Devi are worshipped. Shakti is the source of everything, and represents the Supreme in this divine form. By worshipping Her, all the gods and goddesses are worshipped. Navratri are the best time of the year to undertake or start new ventures. All nine days during Navratri are dedicated to nine forms of Goddess Shakti.
Navratri Poojan and Katha, Navratri Vrat Katha – Navaratri Pooja Story
