Shakambhari Navaratri / Shakambhari Purnima / Poshi Poonam

Goddess Shakambhari/Shatakshi

This year – Shakambhari Navaratri dedicated to Goddess Shakambhari begins on 26th December 2017 (Tuesday) and ends on 2nd January 2018 (Tuesday).

Shakambari Navaratri celebrated from Paush Shukla Ashtami till Paush Purnima. This is one of the five main Navatatris of Devi Bhagavati – Chaitra, Ashadh, Ashwin, Poush (Shakambhari) and Magh.

Shakambhari Devi is the same as the Vedic Goddess Aranyaani, the Goddess of the forest praised in the Rigveda (10th Mandala 146th Suktam). Shakambhari means She who nourishes by vegetation and herbs. She is also called Vanashankari or the Goddess of the forest. She is also Shataakshi because She has one hundred eyes, and sees all things. She is called Durga because she killed Durgamasura and protects the devotees by removing all difficulties. Shakambhari Devi protects people in all places, averting all sorts of danger, and so people pray to her for safe passage through forests.

Shakmbhari Devi is meditated as having a beautiful blue-colored body and eyes like blue lotuses. She sits on a lotus and carries a bow and arrows, a lotus, grains, flowers, leaves, sprouts, roots, herbs and medicines, fruits and an abundant pile of vegetables. She removes hunger, thirst (desire), and the fear of death. Meditating on her this form quickly removes sorrows, averts difficulties and darkness, and destroys all troubles and sorrows. She grants eternal nourishment and fulfillment to Her devotees and grants Moksha.

Shakambari Navratri begins on Paush Shukla Ashtami and ends on Paush Purnima. This is one of the five main Navatatris dedicatd to Mother Goddess – Chaitra, Ashadh, Ashwin, Poush (Shakambhari) and Magha.

Most Navaratri begins on Shukla Pratipada except Shakambari Navaratri which begins on Ashtami and ends on Purnima known as Shakambhari Purnima/Jayanti – the day of incarnation of Devi Shakambhari. It is also celebrated as Poshi Poonam/Ambaji Pragatyotsava as the day of incarnation of Shri Arasuri Ambaji Mata of Hridaya Shakti Peetha in Gujarat.

Shakambhari Panchakam (five-verse prayer) dedicated to Goddess Shakambhari composed by Shri Adi Shankaracharya; may be recited to fetch Devi’s blessings for fulfillment of desires, good health, happiness and liberation. The beauty of this stotram is, it begins with “Shri Shri….”!

॥ शाकंभरी पञ्चकम् ॥

श्री श्रीवल्लभसोदरी श्रितजनश्र्चिद्दायिनी श्रीमती ।
श्रीकंठार्धशरीरगा श्रुतिलसन्माणिक्यताटंकका ॥
श्रीचक्रांतरवासिनी श्रुतिशिरः सिद्धान्तमार्गप्रिया ।
श्रीवाणी गिरिजात्मिका भगवती शाकंभरी पातु माम् ॥ १ ॥
शान्ता शारदचन्द्रसुन्दरमुखी शाल्यन्नभोज्यप्रिया ।
शाकैः पालितविष्टपा शतदृशा शाकोल्लसद्विग्रहा ॥
श्यामांगी शरणागतार्तिशमनी शक्रादिभिः शंसिता ।
शंकर्यष्टफलप्रदा भगवती शाकंभरी पातु माम् ॥ २ ॥
कंजाक्षी कलशी भवादिविनुता कात्यायनी कामदा ।
कल्याणी कमलालया करकृतां भोजासिखेटाभया ॥
कादंवासवमोदिनी कुचलसत्काश्मीरजालेपना ।
कस्तुरीतिलकांचिता भगवती शाकंभरी पातु माम् ॥ ३ ॥
भक्तानन्दविधायिनी भवभयप्रध्वंसिनी भैरवी ।
भर्मालंकृतिभासुरा भुवनभीकृद् दुर्गदर्पापहा ॥
भूभृन्नायकनंदिनी भुवनसूर्भास्यत्परः कोटिभा ।
भौमानंद विहारिणी भगवती शाकंभरी पातु माम् ॥ ४ ॥
रीताम्नायशिखासु रक्तदशना राजीवपत्रेक्षणा ।
राकाराजकरावदातहसिता राकेन्दुबिंबस्थिता ॥
रुद्राणी रजनीकरार्भकलसन्मौली रजोरुपिणी ।
रक्षः शिक्षणदीक्षिता भगवती शाकंभरी पातु माम् ॥ ५ ॥
श्लोकानामिह पञ्चकं पठति यः स्तोत्रात्मकं शर्मदं ।
सर्वापत्तिविनाशकं प्रतिदिनं भक्त्या त्रिसंध्यं नरः ॥
आयुःपूर्णमपारमर्थममलां कीर्ति प्रजामक्षयां ।
शाकंभर्यनुकंपया स लभते विद्यां च विश्र्वार्थकाम् ॥ ६ ॥

॥ इति श्रीमतच्छंकराचार्यविरचितं शाकंभरीपंचकं संपूर्णम् ॥