Navratri is the festival of Maa Durga which is also the ocassion celebrated to worship nine goddess form of Maa Durga each single day. Navratri is a special occasion, a time for new beginnings and offering your dedication and reverence to the Goddess Shakti. The first day of Navratri is celebrated to worship the form of Goddess Durga known as Shailputri. Maa Shailputri was born to the King of Mountains. "Shail" means mountain and "putri" means daughter. Hence, she is called Shailputri – the daughter of mountain. Maa Shailputri, an absolute form of Mother Nature, is worshipped on the first day of Navratri. She is also referred to a form of Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva and mother of Lord Ganesha and Kartikeya. In Hinduism , the image of Maa Shailputri is considered as a divine lady, holding a trishul in her right hand and lotus flower in her left hand. She rides on Nandi, a bull which is also the vehicle of the divine Lord Shiva.

As per Tantra spiritual practice, Maa Shailputri is the goddess of the Mūlādhāra Chakra (Muladhara Chakra) or the Root chakra, and upon awakening this Shakti Chakra, one begins their journey to the spiritual awakening and to their root purpose in life. Just as the womb of the mother creates the basic requirement for the growth of the embryo, the Mūlādhāra Chakra forms the basis and the starting point for our spiritual development. It is the foundation from which we climb the ladder of the Chakras; the root from which we receive the nourishment for our spiritual development. For this reason, and because it lies at the lowest point of the spinal column below the Coccyx, it also bears the name "Root Chakra". Without energising the muladhara chakra one doesn't have the power and strength to do anything worthwhile. It is said that one should worship Maa Shailputri to make full use of this precious human life. Therefore, this Avatar of Goddess Durga is worshipped on the very first day of Navratri.

Chant this mantra to worship Maa Shailputri

वंदे वाद्द्रिछतलाभाय चंद्रार्धकृतशेखराम |
वृषारूढां शूलधरां शैलपुत्री यशस्विनीम्‌ ||