Shailaputri
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Shailaputri | |
|---|---|
Daughter of the Mountain[1] | |
| Member of Navadurga | |
 Shailaputri | |
| Affiliation | Avatar of Durga and Parvati |
| Abode | Mount Kailash |
| Planet | Mercury |
| Mantra | Oṃ Devī Śailaputryai Namaḥ |
| Weapon | Trident and Cattle-stick |
| Mount | Bull |
| Genealogy | |
| Parents |
|
| Consort | Shiva |
Shailaputri (Sanskrit: शैलपुत्री, IAST: Śailaputrī) is a form of the Hindu goddess Mahadevi, venerated as Parvati, daughter of the mountain king Himavat. She is the first of the Navadurga, and is worshipped on the first day of Navaratri.[2][3]
History
The name “Shailaputri” literally means the daughter (putri) of the mountain (shaila). She is variously known as Sati Bhavani, Parvati or Himavati, the daughter of Himavat - the king of the Himalayas.
The embodiment of the power of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, she rides a bull and carries a trident and a lotus in her two hands. In a previous birth, she was Sati, daughter of Daksha.[5] Once Daksha had organized a great yagna (fire sacrifice) and did not invite Sati's husband, Shiva. Sati, infuriated, decided to attend the feast nevertheless. Thereupon, Daksha insulted Shiva. Sati could not tolerate this insult, and thus destroyed Daksha's sacrifice by stepping into the sacrificial fire, immolating herself. In her next birth, she was born as Parvati, the daughter of Himalaya, and married Shiva again.
In yoga, she is seen as the goddess of the root chakra, Muladhara, and upon one's spiritual awakening, she is said to begin her journey upwards towards Shiva, who awaits her at the top chakra at the Sahasrara. In Shaktism, the first day of Navaratri is considered an auspicious day to begin yogic practices and to receive initiations. [citation needed]
