Ekadashi - Maa Shailputri

Artwork copyright of Ankur Chaudhary/The Fourth Face

The first day of Sharadiya Navratri is dedicated to Maa Shailputri. 

Significance: She takes birth as the daughter of the Great Himalayas. She is the goddess of nature in which she exhorts mankind to maintain the natural balance and live in harmony. All the energies of world converge into her.

Colour: Imbibe the colour White on this day to celebrate the sense of purity and innocence.

Mantra:

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु प्राकृति रूपेण संस्थिता 

नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः

वन्दे वांछितलाभाय चंद्रार्धक्रतशेखराम

वृषारूधाम शूलधारम शैलपुत्रीम यशस्विनीं 

Translation: May the illustrious Shailputri Durga, whom I salute and whose head is adorned by a half-moon, who rides Nandi, a bull and carries a spear fulfil the desires of my heart.