Gupt Navratri/ Ashada Navratri
Navratri festival occurs 4 times a year in India. This festival celebrates the glory of Goddess Durga and her 9 manifestations. The 4 Navratris are Gupt Navratri/Ashada Navratri, Ashwin/Sharad Navratri, Magh/Gupt Navratri, and Vasantha/Chaitra Navratri. Of these, Ashwin Navratri and Vasantha Navratri are very popular and grandly celebrated in many parts of India. But the other 2 festivals are called ‘Gupt Navratri’ because not many people know about them and they are not widely celebrated. “Gupt’ means ‘secret’ or ‘unknown’.
Gupt Navratri/Ashada Navratri 2022 is from June 30 – July 8. The 2 Gupt Navratris are important mainly for sadhaks (spiritual aspirants) and those who wish to perform special and powerful Tantrik rituals. Practitioners of Shatkarma Tantrik Prayog, which may include Shantikaran, Vashikaran, Uchatan, Videshan, Stambhan, and Maran, celebrate Gupt Navratri.
During the 9 days of Navratri, devotees worship Goddess Durga to invoke her blessings. They recite sacred texts like Shrimat Devi Bhagawatam, Shri Durgasaptshati, Devi Mahatmyam, etc., on this occasion.
Ashada Navratri Rituals
Ashada Navratri is also called Varahi Navratri. This festival honors the boar-faced Goddess Varahi. It occurs during the Shukla Paksha (waxing lunar phase) of of Ashada (June-July) month. This 9-day period is highly auspicious for Tantriks (people who perform occult rituals) and sadhaks (people who meditate), and also for those who want to do some specific rituals.
Devotees also observe vrat/fast and chant Slokas and Mantras to please the Goddess. The belief is that during Navratri, the Goddess is very open and receptive to devotees’ prayers and will fulfill their wishes. As the one who removes vices and bestows wealth, prosperity, and wisdom, the Divine Mother’s blessings are invoked by her devotees.
Benefits of Ashada/Gupt Navratri Pooja
Ashada Navratri Pooja is is a Tantrik Pooja. The main aim of this Pooja is propitiating Goddess Shakti, who has the power to bestow all that we desire in terms of material and spiritual wealth.
Goddess Durga can alleviate our suffering and she displays compassion toward those who are in misery. Certain rituals are performed daily for the Goddess, along with the recitation of the Durga Saptashati.
Devotees do the maximum number of Japa of the Navarna Mantra: “Aim hreem kleem chaamundaayai vichche” or they chant the Mantra of their own tutelary god. Some devotees keep fast on all 9 days, or at least once in each of the 3 three-day periods. They take only fruits and milk.
Samput Path
‘Samput’ refers to the explicitly stated words or Mantras or Slokas. These are followed with a specific path of any Hindu scripture that is used in the beginning, middle, or end of the Mantra path.
Samput helps to make the Mantra stronger and more intense. The path, when done with Samput Mantra, becomes a thousand times more powerful than the original and brings better results.
The Samput vidhis meant to be used with the sacred scriptures are distinctly separate. But one can use every scripture with a Samput Mantra. The Samput has a special significance in Durga Saptashati Path and other Mantras. So one should use them carefully.
Samput Path of Durga Saptashati
Special Durga Saptashati Samput Paath is conducted during Ashada Navratri. There will be consecrated chants of Durga Saptashati, which are part of the Markandeya Purana.
The Mantras in the book describe how the Trimurtis (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva) empowered Goddess Durga by providing her divine weapons to kill the buffalo demon, Mahishasura, and other demons.
By using the Samput Mantra correctly, along with Shri Durga Saptashati Path, you can acquire anything you want.
Benefits of Samput Path of Durga Saptashati
Assures wealth and welfare
Removes debts and poverty
Removes obstacles in business
Eliminates problems in getting monetary benefits
Removes problems in acquiring and retaining ancestral wealth
Brings success and progress in education and career
Prevents frequent job loss, delay in promotion, and destruction of career
Removes problems in married life and love life
Bestows a good spouse
Protects from betrayal by partners, epidemics, and fear
Destroys sins, bestows salvation, and enhances spirituality.
Ashtami and Navami of Ashada Navratri
On Ashada Ashtami day, a Pooja is performed in all the Shakti Peeths located in India. The next day is Maha Navami. A grand havan takes place on this day at the place of worship. It comprises an edifice for worship and the recitation of Durga Saptashati and other verses praising Goddess Durga. On Dashami day, Kanya Pooja is done for nine girls below the age of ten. The girls represent Goddess Durga. Devotees serve food to the ‘kanyas’ and gift them new clothes and other things.
