5.skndha mata

#ନବରାତ୍ରିର_ପଞ୍ଚମ_ଦୁର୍ଗା_ସ୍ୱରୂପ_ସ୍କନ୍ଦମାତା_ସ୍ୱରୂପରେ_ଦର୍ଶନ_ଦେଲେ_ମାମଙ୍ଗଳା🌺🔱
#ମାତା_ସ୍କନ୍ଦମାତା
ସିଂହାସନାଗତାଂ ନିତ୍ୟଂ ପଦ୍ମାଶ୍ରିତ କରଦ୍ୱୟା
ଶୁଭଦାସ୍ତୁ ସଦାଦେବୀ ସ୍କନ୍ଦମାତା ଯଶସ୍ୱିନୀମ୍ ।।
ଭଗବାନ କାର୍ତ୍ତିକେୟ ବା ସ୍କନ୍ଦଙ୍କ ମାତା ହେବା ପରେ ଦେବୀ ପାର୍ବତୀଙ୍କୁ ସ୍କନ୍ଦମାତା ବୋଲି କୁହାଗଲା। ନବରାତ୍ରିର ପଞ୍ଚମ ଦିନ ମା ସ୍କନ୍ଦମାତାଙ୍କୁ ଆରାଧନା କରାଯାଏ। ବିଶ୍ୱାସ ରହିଛି ଯେ ମା ସ୍କନ୍ଦମାତା ବୁଧ ଗ୍ରହକୁ ନିୟନ୍ତ୍ରଣ କରନ୍ତି।
ଦେବୀ ସିଂହାରୁଢା ,କୋଳରେ ଶିଶୁ କାର୍ତ୍ତିକେୟ ବା ସ୍କନ୍ଦଙ୍କୁ ଧାରଣ କରିଥାନ୍ତି ।ଦେବୀ ଶୁଭ୍ରବର୍ଣ୍ଣା, ତ୍ରିନେତ୍ରା ଓ ଚତୁର୍ଭୁଜା ଉପର ଦୁଇ ହାତରେ କମଳ ଶୋଭାପାଏ। ଅନ୍ୟ ଦୁଇ ହାତରୁ ଗୋଟିଏ ଅଭୟ ମୁଦ୍ରାରେ ଏବଂ ଅନ୍ୟଟିରେ ଶିଶୁ ସ୍କନ୍ଦଙ୍କୁ ଧରିଥାନ୍ତି। ମା ପଦ୍ମ ଉପରେ ଆସୀନ ହୁଅନ୍ତି ବୋଲି ତାଙ୍କୁ ପଦ୍ମାସନା ମଧ୍ୟ କୁହାଯାଏ। ମା'ଙ୍କର କୃପା ପ୍ରାପ୍ତ ହୋଇ ନିପଟ ମୂର୍ଖ ବି ଜ୍ଞାନର ସାଗର ଲାଭ କରିପାରେ ବୋଲି ବିଶ୍ୱାସ ରହିଛି।
ଜୟ ମାଁ ସ୍କନ୍ଦ ମାତା

“Dvitiyam Brahmchaarini”

The second night of Navraatri is dedicated to Devi Brahmachaarini. 

*Name explanation*

The following Sanskrit shloka describes the meaning of Brahmchaarini:

|| Brahma Bhaave Maanascharyam ||

Which means: the one who is engrossed in gaining all-round knowledge, who does not get affected by her ego and who cannot be touched by arrogance. 

The essence of being a brahmchaari is described in de following Sanskrit shloka:

|| Ayam Nijaha Paro Veti Ganana Laghuchetasaam Udaar Charita Naamtu Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam ||

This means: one who is limited in mind and thine and has a possessive mind is considered a selfish person. One who is conscious about the real self sees the entire universe as one family. 

Now let’s approach this in a mythological and symbolical way:

*Mythological view*

Shailputri was Parvati as an infant. Brahmchaarini is Parvati at an older age (16 to 25 years), who is still unmarried. Brahmchaarini also means someone who is unmarried and practises celibacy. Parvati as Brahmachaarini practised tapasya (endurance) to achieve her main goal: marrying lord Shiva. The reason for her having this goal lies in her previous life as Sati. Sati married Shiv, but gave up her life due to her large ego combined with severe circumstances. She was the daughter of Prajapati Daksh, who was the first king on earth and stood symbol for arrogance. Sati being the daughter of Daksh and the incarnation of Maa Durga inherited these qualities of her father. In her new life as Parvati she did tapasya to “wash away” the negative qualities (ego and arrogance) which she inherited from her previous life. Tapasya or endurance lead to purification of mind and body.

*Symbolic meaning*

The phase of Brahmchaarini in a girls life is the period in which a girl becomes mature and acquires knowledge. 

Brahma means “The spirit of the universe” as well as “knowledge”. Chari means “eater”. A Brahmachaarini literally translated means a feminine eater of knowledge. Seen from a symbolical view this means that a brahmchaarnini is interested in gaining and focused on acquiring knowledge. Nowadays students, who only engross in knowledge, might be seen as the Brahmachaarinis from the ancient times.

Devi Brahmachaarini is adorned with lotus flowers which respresent purity. The mala in her hand symbolizes meditation and concentration. She also carries a Kamandal in her hand filled with water. This symbolizes being one-minded.

Devi Brahmachaarini makes one realize that tapasya (self-control and endurance) is needed before achieving your goal. In other words one has to lose something in order to gain something better. 

*Symbolic colour*

White represents Sato gun, which is the state of mind in which someone is sober, concentrated and calm. This state of mind is needes for meditation and realisation. A Brahmachaari can be recognised by the white colour they wear. White symbolizes equality and purification. A specific colour tells something about the status of someone. For example orange clothes refer to a woman being an ascetic and red clothes refers to a woman being married. White is the absence of any dominating colour and is considered to be pure.

Brahmachaarini is the acquirer of knowledge who is pure in mind and sees oneness in diversity. She teaches us that penance and self-control (Tapasya) is the way to reach salvation.

Aum Shanti