(2) Devī Brahmacāriṇī

ॐ देवी ब्रह्मचारिण्यै नमः॥
Om Devī Brahmacāriṇyai Namah॥

The second archetype of Durga Maa is Devī Brahmacāriṇī. We worship Her on the second day.

The word “Brahma” here represents Supreme Divinity. The root “charini” means the female who is moving in, moving with, or going after something.

So in this case, Brahmacāriṇī Devī is She who moves with God, moves towards God.

Recall that the first Navadurga is Śailaputrī Devī, the Goddess of Inspiration, who awakens the energy in the root chakra and focuses our attention toward Shiva (God).

Her inspiration is the foundation for our next step – the learning of sadhana and the study of sacred scriptures, as depicted by the example of Brahmacāriṇī Devī and the flowchart below.

Brahmacāriṇī Devī is unsurpassed in what she can accomplish. She is visualized as a celibate female practitioner who performs penances (tapasya). She is the revered Goddess of Learning and Sacred Studies.

Legend has it that Goddess Brahmacāriṇī performed severe austerities for thousands of years to obtain Lord Shiva as Her husband. Her penance included sacrificing personal comforts, maintaining a strict diet, sleeping on the floor and going barefoot.

Such was Her penance that Sages, Rishis, and Munis all had great respect for Her.

In this austere form of Durga, She wears a basic white saree with an orange or red border, holds a rosary (akṣamālā) and sacred water vessel (kamaṇḍalu) in her gentle hands (lotus like hands).

She is barefoot and has yellow aura of radiance around her head from her penance.

Here is the symbolic significance of each:

• White Saree: purity, simplistic and unadorned
• Japa Mala: performance of non-stop severe austerities; knowledge of sacred mantras and scriptures
• Water Pot: represents a simple and self-contained life, no frills
• Barefoot: willingness to undergo suffering and renounce comforts for the achievement of Her goals
• Yellow/Orange Light: Her radiance from intense tapasya

In Vedic texts the word brahmacāriṇī means a female who pursues the sacred religious knowledge.

A brahmacārin is one who is focusing their mind on the Supreme, taking actions with the Supreme One in their mind.

Doing all acts while keeping the Supreme Source in mind leads One to reside in the Supreme Beingness. This form of the Mother, represents our spiritual aspirations and the effort and practice we need to put in to realize them.

Goddess Brahmacāriṇī has strength of mind, immense resolve, and rock solid determination no matter what the suffering is, she will endure it. Worshiping Her will bring these attributes while increasing knowledge, and support in renouncing the world.

Even while She is disciplined, She is also an epitome of love, wisdom, and loyalty. Worship her with a pure heart and you will get great emotional support and a boost of confidence.

The blessing of Brahmacāriṇī Devī will grace you with the ability to perform great austerities as you calmly detach from worldly affairs. If the Goddess is pleased, She will grant the ultimate in sacred wisdom – the wisdom of the Supreme (Brahma Gyaan; knowledge of Brahman).

Through sadhana practices, Brahmacāriṇī Devī will raise the energy from the Muladhara Root Chakra (1st chakra) to the Swadhisthana Sacral Chakra (2nd chakra), giving the devotee a feeling of wellness, abundance, and joy, while taking away fear, depression and emotional instability.

Navaratri Worship (Day 2): Perform simple pujas today and pray to Goddess Brahmacāriṇī for blessings of knowledge, determination in your spiritual practices, and dispassion in worldly affairs.

If you fast today and chant mantras with full devotion while focusing on the Swadhisthaan Chakra (just under belly button), Devī will bless with success, wisdom and knowledge.

Sadhana: Swamiji has shared two mantras for Brahmacāriṇī Devī from the Nava Durga Puja in the Samasti Upasana (Cosmic Puja):

Click Here for a Printable PDF of the Brahmacharini Mantras

As an alternative, you may chant to all nine forms of Durga using the Nava Durga Stotram.

May we all be inspired to worship Goddess Brahmacāriṇī and become full of the divine light of wisdom!

Jai Maa!