2. Brahmacharini

Dhyana Mantra

दधाना करपद्माभ्यामक्षमालाकमण्डलू। देवी प्रसीदतु मयि ब्रह्मचारिण्यनुत्तमा॥

May the peerless Devi Brahmacharini be pleased with me, who holds a rosary and a water-pot in her lotus hands.

The second of Mother Durga's nine powers is the form Brahmacharini. Here the word 'Brahma' means austerity (tapasya). Brahmacharini means the one who practises tapas — who follows austerity. It is said: 'the Vedas, truth and tapas are the meanings of the word Brahma.' The form of Devi Brahmacharini is full of light and supremely magnificent. In her right hand she holds a rosary for japa and in her left a kamandalu.

In her previous birth, when she was born as a daughter in Himalaya's house, by Narada's counsel she performed extremely difficult austerities in order to obtain Lord Shankara as her husband. Because of this arduous tapasya she was called Tapashcharini, that is, Brahmacharini. For a thousand years she passed her days eating only fruits and roots. For a hundred years she sustained herself on vegetables alone. For some days she kept difficult fasts and endured the terrible hardships of rain and sun under the open sky. After this hard penance, for three thousand years she worshipped Lord Shankara day and night, eating only bel leaves that had fallen to the ground. After that she gave up eating even dry bel leaves. For many thousands of years she performed tapasya without water and without food. Because she gave up eating even leaves (parna), she also received the name 'Aparna'.

Because of this hard penance of many thousands of years, the body of Devi Brahmacharini from her previous birth became utterly emaciated. She became exceedingly thin. Seeing her condition, her mother Mena became extremely sorrowful. To dissuade her from that hard penance she called out, 'U Ma' — "O no! O no!" From that time Devi Brahmacharini also received the previous-birth name 'Uma'.

Her tapasya caused an uproar in all three worlds. Gods, rishis, siddhas and munis all began to praise Devi Brahmacharini's tapasya, calling it an unprecedented act of merit. At last Pitamaha Brahma, addressing her through a divine voice (akashvani) in a pleased tone, said — "O Devi! Until today no one has performed such severe tapasya. Such tapasya was possible only for you. Your extraordinary deed is being praised on every side. Your wish will be fulfilled in every way. Lord Chandramauli Shiva will be yours as your husband. Now turn away from tapasya and return home. Very soon your father is coming to call you."

This second form of Mother Durga grants infinite fruit to devotees and siddhas. By her worship, austerity, renunciation, detachment, good conduct and self-restraint grow in a person. Even amid life's difficult struggles his mind does not waver from the path of duty. By the grace of Mother Brahmacharini he attains success and victory everywhere. On the second day of Durga Puja it is her form that is worshipped. On this day the seeker's mind is established in the 'Svadhisthana' chakra. The yogi whose mind is fixed in this chakra receives her grace and devotion.