Significance of Kanyapujan (worship of young girls) during Navaratri festival
According to Indian thought, Shiva and Shakti are one. Their unity is compared to word and meaning. A word is empty without meaning and it is the meaning that imparts life to the word. And the meaning has no existence without the word. Both are inter-dependent and inseparable.
Shiva as the Supreme is responsible for the birth and dissolution of this life and Shakti, the Mother takes care of all things that happen during this life by providing the necessary nourishments like strength, wealth and health, prosperity, freedom from diseases, learning and knowledge, marriage, progeny and happiness.
In any family though dependent ,it is the woman who is the foundation and pillar of it by her adorable qualities of love, compassion , sacrifice ,selfless service and care.
The scriptures always hold women in high esteem. It is the woman who make a house, a home. The scriptures also declare that women are delicate, and as a daughter , sister, wife and mother, they should be protected by father, brother, husband and son and their relationship is also sacred. It is also said,
' Where woman are respected , the deities remain pleased there.
Where they are not respected, all actions done there will be fruitless.'
Woman personifies Nature also. Nature is the sustainer of every thing in the world. In fact, the worship of the Goddess is nothing but the worship of Nature.Kanyas especially young girls from the age of two to ten are supposed to be in pristine form, unaffected by the worldly taints.So they are worshipped as Goddess during Navaratri.
The Goddess herself has set an exemplary model of illustrious womanhood. As a daughter, she brought immense glory to her family by her ideal conduct and did welfare to the universe by destroying the demons. It is Haimavati Uma who imparted the highest knowledge of the Supreme to Indra in Keno Upanishad. As a baby sister Mahamaya, she escaped from the clutches of Kamsa who tried to kill her thinking her to be the eighth child of Devaki. She flew up in the sky telling Kamsa that his enemy Lord Krishna had already been born and was being brought up elsewhere. As a wife, Parvati attained a husband unique like herself by her sheer devotion and penance so much so she became inseparable from him. Shiva offered her left portion of the body to her. That is why he is famous as Ardhanarishvara. This divine couple is the ideal of conjugal love. Even now young unmarried girls worship Parvati to get a good husband. Not only did she participate in her husband's activities, she also destroyed many demons who could not be killed by the male deities , and restored the peace and happiness to the universe. As a mother also, she is par excellent. Her elder son Ganesha is worshipped at the beginning of all undertakings for over coming the obstacles and safe completion. Her second son Kumara was appionted as the commander- in -chief of deities to destroy Taraka and other demons for the peace and happiness of the universe.
In Kanya pujan ( worship of young girls ) before offering her food, she has to be invited, her feet should be washed ( a method of honoring as is done to the idols of deities ), offer her things of decoration like bindi ( vermillion to be applied on the fore-head ), alta, a red paste to be applied on hands and feet, bangles, flowers and then the worshipper should give her food. And then she is given beautiful gifts. A girl from any caste or class can be invited. If girls from poor families are worshipped, then the significance is more.
One year old baby girl is not considered as eligible as she cannot eat food properly and enjoy. Similarly girls above ten are considered as adult. There is a tradition of offering food to young girls on the eighth and ninth day during Navaratri. It is also said that one girl is worshipped on the first day, two girls on the second day, thus increasing one by one, nine girls are worshipped on the ninth day. By worshipping them, one gets the grace of the Goddess. The scriptures declare that worshipping of girls from the age of two to ten removes all the sins.
1 - Two year old girl is called Kaumari. It is believed that by worshipping her, grief and poverty are destroyed.
2 - The worship of three year old called Trimurti assures the welfare of the family and wealth of money and grains.
3 - Four year old Kalyani's worship yields happiness and prosperity.
4 - By honoring five year old Rohini, one gets rid of diseases.
5 - Six year old Kalika's worship confers knowledge and kingship on the worshipper.
6 - Seven year old Chandika gives sovereignity to the worshipper.
7 - By worshipping eight year old girl Shambhavi, one gets fame.
8 - Worship of nine year old Durga gives victory over the enemies and fulfillment of impossible tasks.
9 - Ten year old Subhadra 's worship leads to fulfillment of desires and happiness.
This worship is a unique way envisaged by our ancient wise men , followed by generations, to inculcate and perpetuate the values to realize the worth and give respect and care to the girl child.
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