māṇikyavīṇāmupalālayantīṃ
madālasāṃ mañjulavāgvilāsām
māhendranīladyutikomalāṅgīṃ
mātaṅgakanyāṃ manasā smarāmi
caturbhuje candrakalāvataṃse
kuconnate kuṅkumarāgaśoṇe
puṇḍrekṣupāśāṅkuśapuṣpabāṇa-
haste namaste jagadekamātaḥ
Navaratri:
Navaratri is celebrated to honor the divine goddess. Four seasons of Navaratri are celebrated in a year they are
- During Magha month (January-February) - Matangi/Shyama or Gupta Navaratri.
- During Chaitra month (March-April) – Vasantha/Chaitra Navaratri
- During Ashada month (July-August) – Ashada/Varahi Navaratri
- During Aswayuja month (September-October) – Sharad Navaratri
Matangi/Syama Navaratri:
This Navaratri is known by Magha Gupta Navaratri or Raja Matangi Navaratri or Rajasyama Navaratri. This is celebrated during the Magha masam and is performed nine days from prathama to navami. During the Syama Navaratri, one worships the below nine forms of Syamala:
Day 1 - Laghu Syamala
Day 2 - Vagvadini
Day 3 - Nakulisvari
Day 4 - Kalyana Syamala
Day 5 - Jagadranjini
Day 6 – Vasya matangi
Day 7 – Sarika
Day 8 – Suka Syamala
Day 9 – Raja Syamala
Raja Matangi / Syamala Devi:
Raja Matangi is greenish in colour and dark in complexion, hence her other name is Syamala. She has a crescent moon on her forehead with long hair. She has a smiling expression with intoxicated eyes and wears a garland of Kadamba flowers along with various ornaments. Her limbs have the glow of sapphire. By birth that she is born to Sage Matanga, hence known as Candala Kanya. Matangi is the mahamantri and adviser of Sri Lalitha mahaa tripurasundari. She is the amsa of Saraswati. She has two parrots and represents chatusshasti kalas (64). She plays veena, wears conch shell earrings and flower garlands. Her total physical personification has unique meaning like:
Green colour represents knowledge
Veena represents music
Parrot represents speech
Floral bow – Success in Art
Paasam - Attraction
Ankusham – Control
Sugarcane – worldly desires.
Sri Raja Mathangi travels in Geyachakra, a chariot which when moves, the wind/surroundings will be vibrating with sweet music. She is the embodiment of Nada(sound). She is the symbol of Jnana (knowledge), art, education, music etc. She is an amsa of Sri Saraswathi and Sri Meenakshi. Praying to her makes one fulfill ones desires. Syamala is the 9th vaagdevi and being veda maata she is represented as adhi devata.
Here we have to mention about Sri Varahi Devi who is also known as Dandini. Both Sri Raja Mathangi and Sri Maha Varahi are closely identified with Sri Lalitha Maha Tripurasundari and are found next to her in the form of Sri Lakshmi (Varahi) and Sri Saraswathi (Mathangi).
Avirbhavam (birth):
In order to rescue the world from the Asura Bhanda, who was creating maha pralaya, Prashakti evolved from Chidagni in the form of Sri Lalitha Maha Tripurasundari . Sri Lalitha sitting on her chariot Chakra Raja Ratha carrying her four important weapons (1) Ikshu dhanus – a bow of sugar cane (ii) Five pushpa banas – flower arrows (iii) Paasha – noose (iv) Ankusha – a hook – more of an elephant driver’s hook kills Bhandasura. In that process, different shaktis like Mantrini, Dandini, Sampathkari, Aswarooda arose from them respectively. Different rathams or auspicious Chariot like Geya Chakra Ratham, Giri Chakra Ratham also came. So, Manthrini has come from Sri Lalitha’s weapon ankusham and uses the chariot Geya Chakra.
Celebration of Symala Navaratri:
Syamala devi is one of the Vaagdevi hence she blesses the sadhaka with Vaaksidhi and Astama Siddhi. Praying goddess Syamala during this Navaratri will enhance the talent of art, speech, knowledge and improve marital relationship etc. Syamala devi is known as Jnanan Shakti and Akarshana Shakti of Sri Lalitha Maha Tripurasundari. Hence, praying Syamala devi during these navaratris will fulfill the desires of the Sadhaka
