The first day of Navratri, Sunday, 11 October 2026, is dedicated to Maa Shailputri. Her bhog today is pure cow's ghee, and those reading the Saptashati in its seven-day order read Chapter 1 (The Slaying of Madhu and Kaitabha).
Today's panchang
- Tithi
- Shukla Pratipada, until 9:31 PM
- Sunrise / sunset
- 6:19 AM / 5:56 PM
- Abhijit Muhurat
- 11:44 AM to 12:31 PM
- Rahu Kaal
- 4:28 to 5:56 PM
The puja is best done in the morning, after sunrise. By tradition no new auspicious work is begun in Rahu Kaal (4:28 to 5:56 PM), while the Abhijit Muhurat is considered the most auspicious window of the day.
Who is Maa Shailputri?
Shailputri means daughter of the mountain. In her previous birth the Goddess was Sati, who gave up her body in her father Daksha's sacrifice rather than bear the insult to Shiva. In her next birth she was born to Himalaya, king of the mountains, and won Shiva as her husband once again. Riding a bull, she is also called Vrisharudha, and Hemavati and Parvati are her names too.
Navratri's worship begins with Shailputri because the mountain stands for steadiness: as a mountain does not move, the devotee holds firm to the nine-day vow. This is also the day the kalash is installed at home and the akhand jyoti is lit, to burn through all of Navratri. Her worship is believed to bring health, stability and long life, and to ease troubles linked to the Moon.
- Mount
- Bull, hence also called Vrisharudha
- Form
- Two hands, a trishul in the right and a lotus in the left
- Bhog
- Pure cow's ghee
- Favourite flower
- Jasmine
- Planet (belief)
- the Moon (Chandra)
How to worship today
Today is Ghatasthapana. In the 6:19 to 10:12 AM muhurat, or the Abhijit Muhurat of 11:44 AM to 12:31 PM, set up the kalash on a clay pot sown with barley and light the akhand jyoti. The day's worship of the Goddess begins after that.
After the morning bath, worship the kalash and the akhand jyoti, then meditate on Maa Shailputri with the prayer below. Offer her jasmine and pure cow's ghee as bhog, chant her mantra at least 108 times, recite the stuti and perform the aarti in the evening. Those keeping the fast take only fruit and permitted foods during the day.
Om Devi Shailaputryai Namah
ॐ देवी शैलपुत्र्यै नमः॥
वन्दे वाञ्छितलाभाय चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखराम्।वृषारूढां शूलधरां शैलपुत्रीं यशस्विनीम्॥
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ शैलपुत्री रूपेण संस्थिता।नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Today's Durga Saptashati reading
If you are reading the Saptashati in its seven-day order, today's portion is Chapter 1 (The Slaying of Madhu and Kaitabha). Read them after the Kavach, Argala and Keelakam.
The first chapter opens the Saptashati's story. Two unhappy men, a king who has lost his kingdom and a merchant thrown out by his family, ask the sage Medhas why their minds still cling to the people who abandoned them. In reply the sage explains the power of Mahamaya and tells the story of Madhu and Kaitabha: at Brahma's hymn the Goddess lifts Vishnu's yogic sleep, and Vishnu slays the two demons. This chapter is the First Charitra, presided over by Mahakali.
Tomorrow
Tomorrow, Monday, 12 October 2026, is the second day of Navratri, when Maa Brahmacharini is worshipped with a bhog of sugar or sugar candy. In the seven-day order, tomorrow's reading is Chapter 2, Chapter 3.
Dates and times checked against Drik Panchang and our own panchang, for New Delhi.
