Shakambhari Navratri 2022: Goddess Shakambhari is an avatar of Goddess Bhagwati or Devi Parvati. She is the Goddess of fruits and vegetation.
The word “Shakambhari” or “Shakumbhari” is derived from the Sanskrit words Shak which means vegetation and Bhari which means the bearer or holder.
Goddess Shakambhari has four hands with a bluish skin tone. Mata Shakambhari holds a bow and a lotus in the upper left and right hands respectively and holds fruits and vegetables in the lower right and left hands.
Shakambhari Navratri starts on Paush Shukla Ashtami and ends on Paush Purnima. Paush Shukla Ashtami or Shakambari Navratri is also known as Banada Ashtami or Banadashtami or Shakumbhari Ashtami.
Chaitra and Ashwin Navratri as well as Gupt Navratri begins on Shukla Pratipada except Shakambari Navratri which starts on Ashtami tithi and ends on Purnima.
Thus Shakambari Navratri continues for eight days. Though Shakambhari Navratri might span for seven days due to skipped Tithi and nine days because of leaped Tithi.
Shakambhari Mata is the incarnation of Devi Bhagwati. It is believed that Devi Bhagwati incarnated as Shakambhari Mata to relieve people from famine and severe food crisis on the Earth.
Shakambhari Devi Mata is also known as Goddess of vegetables, fruits and green leaves and portrayed with green surroundings of fruits and vegetables.
Shakambhari Navratri ends on Paush Purnima which is also called as Shakambhari Purnima. Shakambhari Purnima or Shakambhari Jayanti is the day which is believed to be the day when Maa Shakambhari was incarnated.
People in India celebrate Shakambari Navratri, though it is more popular in the states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and some parts of Tamil Nadu.
Shakambhari Devi is known as Banashankari Devi in Karnataka and Banada Ashtami is an important day during Navratri.
Devotees visit Mata temples and pay respect to the Shakambhari avatar of the Mother Goddess on the day of Paush Purnima.
The Story of Goddess Shakambhari Existence:
A demon named Durgamasur did intense penance or “tapasya” to please Lord Brahma who is the creator of the Universe. The demon wanted to get the four Vedas (the Rig Veda, the Yajur Veda, the Sama Veda and the Atharva Veda) from Brahma, who holds and is the author of the sacred scriptures.
Finally after years of penance, Lord Brahma was pleased and appeared in front of Durgamasur and asked for boons the demon wanted. Durgamasur asked for the Vedas to be given and thus Lord Brahma granted him the boon of obtaining the Vedas.
The result was that the sages on the earth and the Devas in heaven lost all their powers in the absence of the Vedas.
No Yagya or Havan was performed, and the Sages lost their knowledge. The earth was hit by a famine due to the inadequacy of water and rain.
Therefore to save the world from this deficit, Devi Parvati took the form of Shakambari to kill Durgamasur and recover the Vedas from his custody.
Mata Shakumbhari Devi showered her blessings on the earth. Thus, Maa Shakambhari came into being and is worshiped as the Goddess of fruits and vegetation.
Shakambhari Navratri 2022 Date and Time January:
Shakambhari Navratri Starts (Banada Ashtami) – Monday, January 10, 2022
Shakambhari Jayanti 2022 Date – Monday, January 17, 2022
Shakambhari Navratri 2022 Starts – Monday, January 10, 2022
Shakambhari Navratri 2022 Ends – Monday, January 17, 2022
Ashtami Tithi Starts – 11:08 AM on Jan 09, 2022
Ashtami Tithi Ends – 12:24 PM on Jan 10, 2022
Maa Shakambari Puja Vidhi:
- Devotees must wake up early and perform a holy bath and then offer homage to the idol of Goddess Shakambhari
- Devotees must chant the Banashankari Pratah Smaran Mantra
- The idol or the statue of Goddess Shakambhari must be adorned with fruits and seasonal vegetables
- Devotees must visit the temple of Goddess Shakambhari
- Sacred food (Prasadam) must be offered to the deity
- Aarti should be performed with all the family members
- Sacred food must be distributed to all the devotees
- The one who has observed a fast must read the Shakambhari Katha
