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 second day of Navratri is celebrated to worship the manifestation of Goddess Durga known as Brahmacharini. The word Brahma in Brahmacharini refers to 'Tapa' (Penance). After Uma (Parvati's previous manifestation) went to her father Daksha's house and saw that her husband Lord Shiva is not invited and not given a place in the Yagya, she sets herself on fire in the same Yagya. In her next birth, she was born to Himalaya and Maina. Once Devrishi Narada came to their house and influenced her thoughts and as a result, she practised tough penances for some thouosand years as she was determined to obtain Lord Shiva as her divine consort. Maa Brahmacharini also eaten a leaves in order to carry on her Tapa, then she stopped eating leaves too and thats why she is also known as Aparna. Sapatarshi's came and tested for her divinity and she passed all the results. Her penance was so pure and had so much strength, power that it caused great disturbance in all the three worlds. Her desire to obtain Lord Shiva as her divine consort was eventually fulfilled. In Hinduism , the image of Maa Shailputri is extremely radiant and majestic and considered as a divine lady, holding a rosary in her hight hand and a Kamandal in her left hand. She wears Rudraksha mala, wear white clothes and is a tapaswini roop of goddess, who gives freedom from all ill wills like Kama and Krodha. She is a unique blend of radiance who can be seen performing rigorous austerity and meditation. The effect of rigorous austerity can be seen on her face which highlights all the three worlds.

As per Tantra spiritual practice, Maa Brahmacharini is the goddess of the Swadhisthana Chakra. This is the second chakra as per Tantra and is the chakra of creativity, pure attention and pure knowledge. It is the one which connects us to the inner source of inspiration, and enables us to experience the beauty around us. The pure knowledge given by this chakra is not mental, but it is direct perception of the Reality, that can be felt in our palms and indicates our subtle blockages. Also this is the center of pure, steady attention and power of concentration." The Yogi, who makes his mind stay in this Chakra gets the devotion and blessings of the Goddess.

Chant this mantra to worship Maa Brahmacharini

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ ब्रह्मचारिणी रूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नम:।।
दधाना कर पद्माभ्याम अक्षमाला कमण्डलू।
देवी प्रसीदतु मई ब्रह्मचारिण्यनुत्तमा।।