Navratri special Day 1: Jai Maa Shailaputri! (view pics)

The auspicious occasion of Navratri is celebrated to seek blessings from all the nine forms of maa Parvati, wife of Lord Shiva. Each day represents different avatars of Goddess Parvati. Let's have a look at first avatar of Goddess ParvatiNavratri is an occasion during, which Goddess Parvati reveals her nine forms of avatar, Maa Shailaputri, Maa Brahmacharini, Maa Chandraghanta Maa Kushmanda, Maa Skanda Mata, Maa Katyayani, Maa Kalaratri, Maa Mahagauri, and Maa Siddhidayini. Today, on the frist day of Navratra, we offer our prayers to Maa Shailputri. Maa Shailputri, is an amalgamation of two forms, Shaila (meaning mountains), and Putri (meaning daughter). Goddess Parvati was the daughter of king Himavant (ruler of Himalayan region of Ancient India).The image of Maa Shailaputri is represented holding a lotus in one hand and a trident in another. She is seen seated a top of a bull. In her previous life Goddess Parvati was born as Sati, daughter of Prajaparti Daksh, and Mata Prasuti (daughter of Manu). Sati all her life offered her prayers to Lord Vishnu and one day she realized that she is 'Adishakti'. From that day she secretly started worshipping Lord Shiva and intended to marry him.Sati despite being forbidden by her father, disobeyed him, and went onto marry Lord Shiva, which annoyed Prajapati Daksh to the core.Soon after their marriage rituals, Prajapati Daksh broke off all his relations with his daughter Sati and forbade her to never enter her palace back at home.Once, Prajapati Daksh organised a 'Yagya', and invited all Devta's, Devi's, Asur', and everybody except his daughter Sati and her husband Lord Shiva. Ignoring this to be her father's deliberate attempt, Sati went to her palace back at home hoping her father would forgive her and would invite her and her husband.Instead Prajapati Daksh due to his ego insulted Sati and her husband Lord Shiva in front of all the guests. Sati could not bear the insult of her husband Lord Shiva by her father, hence she immolated herself. Lord Shiva upon knowing this plucked a lock of his hair and thrashed it onto the ground thus giving birth to Virabhadra, and Bhadrakali, who then destroyed and decapitated Prajapati Daksha.Upon seeing a grieving Lord Shiva, Sati appeared in front of him in her divine form and assured him that she will return as Parvati, in her next birth.Hence, Maa Shailputri is prayed on the first day Navratri, to depict the birth of Maa Parvati, the daughter of Himavant, and Mianavati.