Maa Brahmacharini Worship on Shardiya Navratri 2024 – Timings, Puja Steps & Meaning
Significance and Symbols of Maa Brahmacharini
On the second day of Shardiya Navratri, devotees turn their prayers to Maa Brahmacharini, the second avatar of Goddess Durga. She is the personification of relentless devotion, disciplined penance and inner strength. The name itself comes from brahmacharya – a life of self‑control, celibacy and unwavering focus on spiritual goals. Legends tell that she performed severe austerities to win Lord Shiva’s attention, making her the ultimate example of devotion through hardship.
Visually, the goddess is shown in pristine white robes, holding a kamandal (water pot) and a rosary. The white symbolizes purity, the kamandal represents the flow of spiritual knowledge, and the rosary points to constant remembrance of the divine. Worshipping her is believed to plant patience, perseverance and a calm mind in the hearts of believers, guiding them toward wisdom and self‑realization.
How to Observe the Second Day of Shardiya Navratri
According to the Drik Panchang, the Dwitiya tithi starts on Friday, October 4, 2024 and ends at 5:30 AM on October 5. The day carries a blend of Vaidhrithi Yoga and Chitra Nakshatra, with the Moon lodged in Libra – a combination that amplifies the day’s auspiciousness.
Auspicious timings for the rituals are:
- Brahma Muhurta: 4:38 AM – 5:27 AM
- Abhijit Muhurta: 11:46 AM – 12:33 PM
- Vijaya Muhurta: 2:07 PM – 2:55 PM
The color of the day is green – a hue that stands for nature’s growth, fertility and inner peace. Wearing green clothing is thought to help align personal energy with the goddess’s calming vibration.
Puja Vidhi (step‑by‑step worship) should ideally begin during Brahma Muhurta. Here’s a practical guide:
- Take a cleansing bath to wash away physical and mental impurities.
- Prepare the altar: sweep the space, sprinkle it with Gangajal, and arrange a clean cloth.
- Set up a kalash (metal pot) filled with water, a coconut, mango leaves and a mango branch.
- Place the idol or picture of Maa Brahmacharini on a raised platform and light a few lamps.
- Offer fresh jasmine flowers, fragrant rice and sandalwood paste as the first token of devotion.
- Perform abhishek – gently pour milk, curd, honey and a dash of rose water over the deity while chanting her name.
- Apply a thin line of roli (red vermilion) and kumkum on the forehead of the idol.
- Recite the Brahmacharini mantra – “Om Shreem Hreem Brahmacharinyai Namah” – three times for each breath.
- Conclude the ritual by distributing the prasad (sacred offering) among family members.
The special bhog for this day is a simple sugar preparation. Sweetness is believed to please the goddess, inviting her gentle blessings.
Spiritual benefits of observing this day are manifold. Devotees often report heightened patience, sharper self‑control and a clearer mind after the worship. The goddess’s energy helps people face challenges with calm resolve, fostering an inner purification that supports long‑term spiritual growth.
In households across India and among diaspora communities, the second day of Navratri turns into a collective reminder: discipline and devotion, even in the face of hardship, can lead to profound inner transformation. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or a curious newcomer, honoring Maa Brahmacharini offers a chance to step back, breathe in the green energy of the day, and realign with a path of perseverance and wisdom.