शैलपुत्री
Shailaputri
Iconography
Daughter of the mountain. She rides the bull Nandi, holds a trident in her right hand and a lotus in her left, and wears a crescent moon on her brow.
Significance
The first of the nine forms — Parvati as the daughter of Himavan, the mountain king. She represents the foundation of the path: rootedness and the resolve to begin. Her worship opens the nine-day Navratri sadhana.
Worship mantra
Mantra text
oṁ devī śailaputryai namaḥ
Transliteration is under scholarly review — treat as provisional.
Om, salutations to Goddess Shailaputri.
Dhyana shloka
Mantra text
vande vāñchitalābhāya candrārdhakṛtaśekharām | vṛṣārūḍhāṃ śūladharāṃ śailaputrīṃ yaśasvinīm ||
Transliteration is under scholarly review — treat as provisional.
I worship the glorious Shailaputri — the half-moon her crest, mounted on the bull, bearing the trident — for the gaining of what is desired.
Bhog for the day
Pure cow ghee