Find out the significance of Gupt Navratri Festival in Hinduism!

Navratri literally means nine nights. During the nine nights and ten days of the Navratri festival, nine forms of Shakti or Goddess Durga are worshipped.

The festival is very significant as it is the time when the seeds of inner renewal are sown. Goddess Durga, Mahanavami and Vijayashtami are worshipped on the 8th, 9th and 10th days,. The tenth day is Vijayadashami or "Dussehra", and it celebrates the victory of Shakti over Mahishasura, and also of Lord Rama over Ravana, and of Durga over the demons Madhu-Kaitav, Chanda-Munda and Shumbha-Nishumbha. It symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. The last 3 days of Navratri are Durgashtami (8th day), Mahanavami (9th day) and Vijayadasami (10th day).

The beginning of spring and autumn seasons are important intersections of climatic and solar influences. Hence these two periods are seen as sacred opportunities for worshipping Mother Durga. Navratri is a major festival in the western states of India: Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. This festival is celebrated with great zeal in North India as well, including states like West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and the northern state of Punjab.

Four Navratris are celebrated in a year-the Chaitra, Vasanth, Magha and Ashadha Navratri. Of these, the first two are more popular and widely celebrated. The last two are called Gupt Navratris. Gupt means ‘hidden’ or ‘unknown’. They are called so, because they are not well known. In fact, they are celebrated mainly by sadhaks who perform very specialized tantric rituals like vashikarans, uchatans, stambhan, videshan and maran.

Navratri festival celebrates Goddess Durga with nine days of colorful and exuberant worship, music, and dance. Durga Pooja creates an extraordinary ambience . Idols of the goddess are worshipped in colorful tents or elaborate pandals. While Chaitra and Vasanth Navratri are well known and celebrated grandly, Magha and Ashadha Navratri are more low key.

Of the two Gupt Navratris, Magha Gupt Navratri is celebrated in northern India –Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal, Haryana, and Punjab, while Ashadha Gupt Navratri is celebrated prominently in Southern states of India.

As opposed to the grand and extravagant celebrations for Chaitra and Vasanth Navratri, Gupt Navratri ceremonies are done secretly and without much fanfare. This period is believed to be the best time to introspect on one’s actions, eliminate negative thoughts, and gain riddhi-siddhi (wisdom and wealth).

Gupt Navratri is very important for Tantrik practitioners. The Pooja of Gupt Navratri is performed in a closed room, and no one is supposed to watch it. Also, the Pooja of Goddess Durga should not be done in open spaces during Gupt Navratri. According to mythology, Gupt Navaratri is for attaining perfection in Tantra and Mantra practices. Durga is worshipped during Gupta Navaratri for becoming adept in such practices.

During Gupt Navratri, Goddess Durga and her 9 forms are worshipped by Hindus who seek protection from dangers. Texts like Devi Mahatmya, Shrimad Devi Bhagwat, and the sanctified “Durga Saptashati” mantras which find mention in Markayandeya Purana are chanted. The “Durga Saptashati” mantras describe the story of Goddess Durga and her powers and divine weapons, which were given by Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, to kill Mahishasura.

Gupt Navratri festival is marked by fasts, meditation and recitation of slokas. It is said that during these nine days the devotee’s wishes will be fulfilled. She is revered as the One who removes vices, bestows wealth and prosperity, and as the goddess of wisdom. On the last day, a grand Homa is performed at the place of worship.

Like most other festivals, some things that are prohibited during this time. It is said that any work begun during this time will not reach completion or produce the desired results. One should not cut one’s nails or hair. The lamp should not be extinguished for the nine days. After the Pooja, the sacrificial flame should be put out with flowers only. During this period, we should not wear black clothes, or use leather products. Neither should we consume onion, garlic, alcohol, and tobacco.

Secret of Gupt Navratri

In Gupt Navratri, Mother Durga is worshipped, as in the other two Navratris, but the worship is done secretly at secluded places, like river banks. The Pooja is done by sadhus, sanyasis, tantriks, and Aghoris, and its aim is to seek tantric knowledge and powers by pleasing Goddess Durga. The Pooja involves many kinds of secret rituals, Havan and Yajna. As this Pooja is for attaining siddhi through tantra-mantra, the rituals are performed in isolation, as siddhis are obtained only through secret worship, and hence it is called Gupt Navratri. The nine forms of Durga that are worshipped in Gupta Navaratri are Kalike, Tara Devi, Tripura Sundari, Bhuvaneshwari, Chitramasta, Tripura Bhairavi, Dhumavati, Baglamukhi, Matangi, and Kamala Devi.

In Gupt Navratri, Poojas for the ten Mahavidyas are very important. There are 10 Mahavidyas and they are believed to bestow siddhis. The 10 Mahavidyas are said to be the 10 forms of Goddess Durga. Each Mahavidya has the power to solve devotees’ problems by assuming different forms. The Mahavidyas play a key role in tantra sadhna.

Ashadha Gupt Navratri 2021 is from July 11 – 19.