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Shailaputri

Shailaputri, meaning "daughter of the mountain," is the first form of the Hindu goddess Durga (Navadurga) and is worshipped on the first day of Navratri. In Hindu tradition she is identified as a form or incarnation of Parvati, the wife of Shiva, and is regarded as the daughter of the Himalayas (Shaila). She personifies the divine feminine energy and the primal forces of nature.

Iconography and attributes: She is commonly depicted with two arms, holding a trident in one and a

Worship and significance: Shailaputri is invoked for strength, stability, and spiritual discipline. Her day marks the

Literary and symbolic context: In scriptures, she is described as the manifestation of Parvati within the goddess

lotus
in
the
other,
and
she
rides
a
bull
named
Nandi.
A
crescent
moon
may
appear
on
her
forehead.
These
attributes
symbolize
asceticism,
purity,
and
nature's
abundance.
beginning
of
the
nine-night
festival
of
Navratri,
during
which
devotees
observe
vows,
fasts,
and
perform
prayers
and
devotional
songs
to
Durga
and
her
nine
forms.
The
worship
of
Shailaputri
serves
as
a
preparation
for
the
more
dynamic
forms
of
Durga
that
follow
in
the
festival.
Durga
and
is
listed
among
the
Navadurga,
the
nine
forms
of
Goddess
Durga.
Her
symbolism
emphasizes
rootedness,
humility,
and
maternal
power,
reflecting
the
connection
between
the
divine
feminine
and
the
natural
world.