Atha Navarna Vidhi (The Navarna Procedure)

The Navarna Vidhi is one of the important spiritual procedures performed before the recitation of the Durga Saptashati. After reciting the Ratri Sukta and the Shri Devi Atharvashirsha, the viniyoga of the Navarna mantra, the various nyasas and meditation on the Goddess are performed. In this procedure, the power of the Goddess is remembered through the mantra in the different parts of the body and in the directions. Then, after meditating on the forms of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati, the Navarna mantra is chanted. The whole process is carried out with faith and concentration.

Atha Navarna Vidhih (॥ अथ नवार्णविधिः ॥)

After reciting the Ratri Sukta and the Devi Atharvashirsha in this way, perform the viniyoga, nyasa, meditation and so on of the Navarna mantra as follows.

Viniyoga (॥ विनियोगः ॥)

श्रीगणपतिर्जयति। "ॐ अस्य श्रीनवार्णमन्त्रस्य ब्रह्मविष्णुरुद्रा ऋषयः, गायत्र्युष्णिगनुष्टुभश्छन्दांसि,श्रीमहाकालीमहालक्ष्मीमहासरस्वत्यो देवताः, ऐं बीजम्,ह्रीं शक्तिः, क्लीं कीलकम्, श्रीमहाकालीमहालक्ष्मीमहासरस्वतीप्रीत्यर्थे जपे विनियोगः।"

Shri-Ganapatir Jayati | "Om Asya Shri-Navarna-Mantrasya Brahma-Vishnu-Rudra Rishayah, Gayatry-Ushnig-Anushtubhash Chhandamsi, Shri-Mahakali-Mahalakshmi-Mahasarasvatyo Devatah, Aim Bijam, Hreem Shaktih, Kleem Kilakam, Shri-Mahakali-Mahalakshmi-Mahasarasvati-Prityarthe Jape Viniyogah | "

After reciting this, let water fall from the hand. Pronounce each of the nyasa phrases given below, one by one, and with the fingers of the right hand touch, in order, the head, the mouth, the heart, the anus, both feet and the navel.

Rishyadi Nyasa (॥ ऋष्यादिन्यासः ॥)

ब्रह्मविष्णुरुद्रऋषिभ्यो नमः, शिरसि। गायत्र्युष्णिगनुष्टुप्छन्दोभ्यो नमः मुखे।महाकालीमहालक्ष्मीमहासरस्वतीदेवताभ्यो नमः, हृदि। ऐं बीजाय नमः, गुह्ये।ह्रीं शक्तये नमः, पादयोः। क्लीं कीलकाय नमः,नाभौ।

After purifying the hands with the root mantra “ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे”, perform the karanyasa.

Karanyasa (॥ करन्यासः ॥)

In karanyasa, the mantras are placed (nyasa) on the different fingers, the palms and the backs of the hands; in the same way, in anganyasa the mantras are placed on the heart and the other parts of the body. Regarding the mantras as living and embodied, one names each part of the body and touches and salutes those mantra-deities themselves. By doing this, the person reciting or chanting becomes filled with the mantra and is fully protected by the mantra-deities. He is purified outwardly and inwardly, gains divine strength, and his spiritual practice is completed without obstacles and becomes supremely beneficial.

ॐ ऐं अङ्गुष्ठाभ्यां नमः। ॐ ह्रीं तर्जनीभ्यां नमः। ॐ क्लीं मध्यमाभ्यां नमः। ॐ चामुण्डायै अनामिकाभ्यां नमः। ॐ विच्चे कनिष्ठिकाभ्यां नमः। ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे करतलकरपृष्ठाभ्यां नमः।

Hridayadi Nyasa (॥ हृदयादिन्यासः ॥)

In this, the heart and the other parts of the body are touched with all five fingers of the right hand.

ॐ ऐं हृदयाय नमः। ॐ ह्रीं शिरसे स्वाहा। ॐ क्लीं शिखायै वषट्। ॐ चामुण्डायै कवचाय हुम्। ॐ विच्चे नेत्रत्रयाय वौषट्। ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे अस्त्राय फट्।

Akshara Nyasa (॥ अक्षरन्यासः ॥)

Recite the following phrases and touch, in order, the shikha and the other parts with the fingers of the right hand.

ॐ ऐं नमः, शिखायाम्। ॐ ह्रीं नमः, दक्षिणनेत्रे। ॐ क्लीं नमः, वामनेत्रे। ॐ चां नमः, दक्षिणकर्णे। ॐ मुं नमः, वामकर्णे। ॐ डां नमः, दक्षिणनासापुटे। ॐ यैं नमः, वामनासापुटे। ॐ विं नमः, मुखे। ॐ च्चें नमः, गुह्ये।

Having performed the nyasa in this way, touch the whole body eight times with the root mantra (vyapaka nyasa — touching all the limbs from head to foot with both hands). Then perform the nyasa in each direction while snapping the fingers.

Dignyasah (॥ दिङ्न्यासः ॥)

ॐ ऐं प्राच्यै नमः। ॐ ऐं आग्नेय्यै नमः। ॐ ह्रीं दक्षिणायै नमः। ॐ ह्रीं नैर्ऋत्यै नमः। ॐ क्लीं प्रतीच्यै नमः। ॐ क्लीं वायव्यै नमः। ॐ चामुण्डायै उदीच्यै नमः। ॐ चामुण्डायै ऐशान्यै नमः। ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे ऊर्ध्वायै नमः। ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे भूम्यै नमः।

Dhyanam (॥ ध्यानम् ॥)

Verses

Verse 1

खड्गं चक्रगदेषुचापपरिघाञ्छूलं भुशुण्डीं शिरः शङ्खं संदधतीं करैस्त्रिनयनां सर्वाङ्गभूषावृताम्। नीलाश्मद्युतिमास्यपाददशकां सेवे महाकालिकां यामस्तौत्स्वपिते हरौ कमलजो हन्तुं मधुं कैटभम्॥1॥

Khadgam Chakra-Gadeshu-Chapa-Parighan Chhulam Bhushundim Shirah Shankham Sandadhatim Karais Trinayanam Sarvanga-Bhushavritam | Nilashma-Dyutim Asya-Pada-Dashakam Seve Mahakalikam Yam Astaut Svapite Harau Kamalajo Hantum Madhum Kaitabham || 1 ||

Meaning: I meditate on and remember Goddess Mahakali, who holds weapons such as the sword, discus, mace, bow, parigha (iron club), trident, bhushundi and conch in her hands. She has three eyes, and her whole body is adorned with divine ornaments. Her radiance shines like a blue gem, and she is described as having ten faces and ten pairs of feet. I worship that very Goddess Mahakali whom Brahma praised for the slaying of the demons Madhu and Kaitabha while Lord Vishnu was in yoganidra.

Verse 2

ॐ अक्षस्रक्परशुं गदेषुकुलिशं पद्मं धनुष्कुण्डिकां दण्डं शक्तिमसिं च चर्म जलजं घण्टां सुराभाजनम्। शूलं पाशसुदर्शने च दधतीं हस्तैः प्रसन्नाननां सेवे सैरिभमर्दिनीमिह महालक्ष्मीं सरोजस्थिताम्॥2॥

Om Akshasrak-Parashum Gadeshu-Kulisham Padmam Dhanush-Kundikam Dandam Shaktimasim Cha Charma Jalajam Ghantam Surabhajanam | Shulam Pasha-Sudarshane Cha Dadhatim Hastaih Prasannananam Seve Sairibha-Mardinim Iha Mahalakshmim Saroja-Sthitam || 2 ||

Meaning: I worship Goddess Mahalakshmi, seated on a lotus, whose face is joyful and serene and who slew Mahishasura. In her many hands she holds numerous divine weapons and objects, such as a rosary, an axe, a mace, an arrow, a thunderbolt, a lotus, a bow, a water pot (kamandalu), a staff, a spear (shakti), a sword, a shield, a conch, a bell, a vessel of nectar, a trident, a noose and the Sudarshana discus. She protects her devotees and destroys evil forces.

Verse 3

ॐ घण्टाशूलहलानि शङ्खमुसले चक्रं धनुः सायकं हस्ताब्जैर्दधतीं घनान्तविलसच्छीतांशुतुल्यप्रभाम्। गौरीदेहसमुद्भवां त्रिजगतामाधारभूतां महा- पूर्वामत्र सरस्वतीमनुभजे शुम्भादिदैत्यार्दिनीम्॥3॥

Om Ghanta-Shula-Halani Shankha-Musale Chakram Dhanuh Sayakam Hastabjair Dadhatim Ghananta-Vilasach Chhitamshu-Tulya-Prabham | Gauri-Deha-Samudbhavam Trijagatam Adharabhutam Maha- Purvamatra Sarasvatim Anubhaje Shumbhadi-Daityardinim || 3 ||

Meaning: I meditate on Goddess Mahasaraswati, who holds in her lotus-like hands a bell, a trident, a plough, a conch, a pestle, a discus, a bow and arrows. Her radiance is cool and bright like the moon shining among the clouds. She emerged from the body of Goddess Gauri and is the support of the three worlds. She is the great Goddess who destroyed Shumbha and the other demons.

Then worship the rosary with the mantra “ऐं ह्रीं अक्षमालिकायै नमः” and pray with dharma and faith:

ॐ मां माले महामाये सर्वशक्तिस्वरूपिणि। चतुर्वर्गस्त्वयि न्यस्तस्तस्मान्मे सिद्धिदा भव॥

Om Mam Male Mahamaye Sarva-Shakti-Svarupini | Chaturvargas Tvayi Nyastas Tasman Me Siddhida Bhava ||

ॐ अविघ्नं कुरु माले त्वं गृह्णामि दक्षिणे करे। जपकाले च सिद्ध्यर्थं प्रसीद मम सिद्धये॥

Om Avighnam Kuru Male Tvam Grihnami Dakshine Kare | Japakale Cha Siddhyartham Prasida Mama Siddhaye ||

ॐ अक्षमालाधिपतये सुसिद्धिं देहि देहि सर्वमन्त्रार्थसाधिनि साधय साधय सर्वसिद्धिं परिकल्पय परिकल्पय मे स्वाहा।

Om Akshamaladhipataye Susiddhim Dehi Dehi Sarva-Mantrartha-Sadhini Sadhaya Sadhaya Sarvasiddhim Parikalpaya Parikalpaya Me Svaha |

After this, chant the mantra “ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे” 108 times, and recite:

गुह्यातिगुह्यगोप्त्री त्वं गृहाणास्मत्कृतं जपम्। सिद्धिर्भवतु मे देवि त्वत्प्रसादान्महेश्वरि॥

Guhyatiguhya-Goptri Tvam Grihanasmat-Kritam Japam | Siddhir Bhavatu Me Devi Tvat-Prasadan Maheshvari ||

Reciting this verse, offer the japa (chanting) into the left hand of the Goddess.

Conclusion

The Navarna Vidhi sets out the viniyoga, nyasas, meditation and the chanting of the Navarna mantra that prepare the practitioner for the recitation of the Durga Saptashati.