Shubhankara Navratra

The Gudhi Padwa marks the beginning of an extremely auspicious period i.e. the ‘Shubhankara Navratra’. This period extends from the festival of Gudhi Padwa until the Chaitra Pournima. It is celebrated with extreme piousness by all shraddhavans.

On the first day of this period, a warm welcome is carried out for the arrival of Mothi Aai’s (Adimata Mahishasurmardini) Tode(traditional thick metal anklet) at Shree Gurukshetram. These are then placed at Shree Gurukshetram for darshan throughout the Shubhankara Navratra.

Sadguru Shree Aniruddha has informed us regarding the importance of this period. He has said that we can gain extremely good vibrations during this period by performing the recitation of the Matruvatsalyavindanam grantha. This recitation or parayan is to be performed within the period from Gudhi Padwa to Ramnavmi. The instructions for this recitation have been mentioned in the grantha itself. The benefits derived from such recitation are multi-fold.

Sadguru Aniruddha Bapu has also told shraddhavans to perform the jaagaran (staying awake throughout the night doing upasana) during this period of nine days(until Ramnavmi) and has stressed upon its importance. Accordingly, we can perform this jaagran by staying awake throughout the night on any one of the first nine days of this Shubhankara Navratri. He further said that if it is not possible for someone to stay awake the entire night, then he/she may perform partial jaagran from 9:30 pm till 2:30 am. This jaagaran may be performed by reading the Matruvatsalyavindanam grantha, Matruvatsalyaupanishad grantha or any other stotras or mantras of one’s choice.

This year the Shubhankara Navratra begins on the March 18, 2018 and so the parayan can be performed from this day till Ramnavmi on 25th March, 2018. The Shubhankara Navratra period ends on the Chaitra Pournima i.e 31st March, 2018.

Shraddhavaans taking darshan at Gurukshetram during Shubhankara Navratra

Shraddhavaans taking darshan at Gurukshetram during Shubhankara Navratra