Brahmacharini

Who is Brahmacharini?

Brahmacharini is the second incarnation of Navadurga. It means a dedicated female student who lives in an ashram with her guru along with other students. She is the second form of Navadurga forms of Mahadevi and is worshiped on the second day of Navratri.

The Form of Brahmacharini

Goddess Brahmacharini is a form of Parvati and wears white clothes, holds a rosary in her right hand and a “Kamandalu” in her left hand.

How Brahmacharini Name Come?

The word “Brahmacharini” is derived from two Sanskrit words. The word “Brahma”, which is shortened from Brahm, means "a self-existent soul, absolute reality, universal self, personal God, and sacred knowledge".

The word “Charini” is the feminine form of the person who is “Charya”, which means "to do business, to engage, to proceed, to behave, to conduct, to follow, to go in, to go after". In Vedic Mythology, the word Brahmacharini refers to a woman who pursues sacred religious knowledge. As per various versions of her story found in Shiv Puran, Ram Charit Manas, Devi Bhagavat, the maiden Parvati vowed to marry Shiva. Her parents try to discourage her, but she perseveres and performs penance for nearly 5,000 years.

How Tarakasura Killed?

Meanwhile, the gods approach Kamadeva, the Hindu god of love and lust, and ask him to induce desire for Parvati in Shiva. They are ruled by a demon named “Tarakasura” who can only be killed by a child of Shiva. “Kamadeva” shot the “Kama Arrow” at Shiva. Then Shiva opened his Third Eye in his forehead and burnt “Kamadeva” within a moment to ashes.

Everyone in the universe except Shiva is impressed by the penance performed by Goddess Parvati. Eventually Shiva went to meet Parvati in the guise of an illusionist. He then tests Parvati by giving her riddles, which she answers correctly.

How Brahmacharini Killed Prakandasura?

During this time, a demon named “Prakandasura” attacks Parvati along with millions of his demons. Parvati is in the final stages of her penance, and is unable to protect herself. Seeing Parvati helpless, Goddesses “Lakshmi” and “Saraswati” intervene but they are outnumbered by the demons. After several days of fighting, the Kamandalu near Parvati falls and all the demons are swept away in the flood. Finally, Parvati opened her eyes, released fire, and burnt the demon to ashes.

Shiva Married Parvati

Then after praising Parvati's brain and beauty, a brahmachari come and proposed to her. Parvati realizes that he is Lord Shiva and accepts. Shiva appears in his own true form and finally accepts him and breaks his penance. During the entire penance, Parvati was filling her stomach with Bael Leave and river water.

Brahmacharini and Svadhishthana Chakra

Goddess Brahmacharini abode is in the “Svadhishthana Chakra”. Brahmacharini signifies a pure unmarried matured girl. Her costumes and colour is totally white, because white color is basically signifies the purity.

Brahmacharini Vedic Mantra