Basantika Durga Puja and Chaitra Navratri

"Devi"  is the Hindu concept of the Ultimate Mahashakti or the ultimate power inherent in all Creation and is the original creator, observer and destroyer of the whole universe. Today's Scientist call her Supreme Intelligence or Sacred Energy, "Durga" is the most popular incarnation of Devi - Goddess Adya Shakti Mahamaya, who acquired this name after killing the demon "Durgamaasura".

The Sacred Rituals of Worshiping Goddess Durga is referred to as Durga Puja. The most popular practise of performing  Durga Puja (The Sacred Rituals of Worshiping Goddess Durga) now a days is the Sharadiya Durga Puja and Navaratri initiated by Lord Rama in the month of Aswinya ( Autumn - Sharat or Sharad) as an Akalbodhan ( Akal = Untimely and Bodhan = Awakening ) of Goddess Durga. Whereas the Basantika Durga Puja is believed to be the most ancient Durga Puja initiated by King Suratha in the month of Chaitra (Spring - Basanta or Vasanta) much earlier than the Sharadiya Durga Puja and Navaratri.

The legend in Markanda Puran states that King Surath had lost his kingdom and wandered in the forests where he met Samadhi Vaishya who also had lost kingdom. In the jungle, they met Medha Muni who on request suggested them to perform Basanti Durga Puja to get back their lost kingdoms. King Surath and Samadhi Vaishya, thus, performed Basanti Puja and got back their kingdoms. This started the ritual of performing Basanti Durga in Basant season or Chaitra Month. Whereas the Shardiya Puja is said to have first performed by Lord Rama to seek Goddess Durga’s blessings for defeating Ravana. Since then, due to popularity of lord Rama, his devotees started celebrating Durga Puja in Sharad season or Aswinya Month. 

The legend in Markanda Puran states that King Surath had lost his kingdom and wandered in the forests where he met Samadhi Vaishya who also had lost kingdom. In the jungle, they met Medha Muni who on request suggested them to perform Basanti Durga Puja to get back their lost kingdoms. King Surath and Samadhi Vaishya, thus, performed Basanti Puja and got back their kingdoms. This started the ritual of performing Basanti Durga in Basant season or Chaitra Month. Whereas the Shardiya Puja is said to have first performed by Lord Rama to seek Goddess Durga’s blessings for defeating Ravana. Since then, due to popularity of lord Rama, his devotees started celebrating Durga Puja in Sharad season or Aswinya Month. 

Navadurga, are the nine forms of Durga collectively worshipped by Shakti devotees. Scriptures differ in naming the nine incarnations. Pictures and paintings of the Nava-Durga also varies from region to region. The most widely accepted account of the nine forms of Durga is the one found in the Devi Mahatmya – Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skanda Mata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Maha Gauri and Siddhidaatri.

The Sacred Days of the Chaitra Navratri 2019

Chaitra Shukla Paksha Pratipada ~ The Day Brahma created the Universe

According to the Sloka  Chaturvarga Chintamani, the God Bramha created the universe on the first day of Shukla paksha in the month of Chaitra. In the Beginning there was Nothing. All existence lay submerged in the un-manifested waters of the Great Deluge, the Mahapralaya. Vishnu, the Cosmic Consciousness, was reclining on the Serpent Ananta( one without beginning or end), who was floating on these waters. Lost in deep sleep, Vishnu dreamt of this Creation and as he did so a lotus sprouted forth from his navel. The stem grew longer and longer till the lotus blossomed. And sitting in the lotus was Brahma. 

Brahma opened his eyes and was bemused to find himself there alone, in the middle of Nothing. He tried to find out where the lotus was stemming from but it appeared to have no starting point. Just then he heard a voice asking him to create a universe... Learn More>>