Navamī Vratas (Nārada Purāṇa)
Navamī Vrata, simply known as Navami Vratas, Sanskrit: नवमी व्रत, Telugu: నవమి వ్రతాలు, Hindi: नवमी व्रत.
Navamī is the ninth lunar day (tithi) of each fortnight. Its presiding devī is Devī in her many forms: Bhadrakālī, Caṇḍikā, Pārvatī, Śacī, Durgā, Jagadambā and Mahāmāyā. Sanātana Maharshi teaches the Navamī vratas of the twelve months in the Nārada Mahā Purāṇa, Pūrvārdha, chapter 118.
Special Navamīs are Śrī Rāma Navamī (Caitra Śukla), Mahā-navamī (Āśvayuja Śukla, the day before Vijayadaśamī) and Akshaya Navamī (Kārtika Śukla). Keeping these vratas gives Vishṇu-loka, svarga and akshaya-phala (undying result) for all that one desires.
Month-by-month vratas
Caitra Śukla Navamī: Śrī Rāma Navamī
This is Śrī Rāma Navamī, the birthday of Śrī Rāma. Those who are able should fast (upavāsa). Those who are not able may eat once, after the utsava (festival) at midday.
Feed brāhmaṇas with mishṭānna (sweet food) to please Śrī Rāma. Honour the viprās with gifts of cows, land, gold, sesame, cloth, ornaments and the like (go-bhū-hiraṇya-tila-vastra-ālaṅkaraṇādi).
On this day there is also the Mātṛ-vrata. Honour the sixty-four yoginīs together with Bhairava, with prak (sandal paste), gandha, cloth and naivedyas. On this day Bhadrakālī was consecrated (abhishikta) as the supreme leader of all the yoginīs. So on this day fast with indriya-jaya (victory over the senses) and honour Bhadrakālī.
Phala: freedom from all pāpas; Śrī Vishṇu-loka.
Vaiśākha: Navamī of both pakshas
In both fortnights of Vaiśākha, honour Caṇḍikā by the proper procedure (yathā-vidhāna).
Phala: one boards a vimāna (celestial car), reaches the world of the devas (Deva-loka) and enjoys with the devas.
Jyeshṭha Śukla Navamī: Umā vrata
Fast. Honour Pārvatī Devī. Feed kanyakās (young girls) and brāhmaṇas. Give dakshiṇā according to one’s means. Eat kaṅgu (foxtail millet) with cooked rice.
Phala: all enjoyment (bhoga) in this world; svarga at death.
Āshāḍha: Navamī of both pakshas
At night on both Āshāḍha Navamīs, honour Śacī Devī, who rides on Airāvata.
Phala: the pleasures of Deva-loka; travel in a divine vimāna.
Śrāvaṇa: Navamī of both pakshas, the Kaumārī vrata
Fast. Honour Kumārī Caṇḍikā with gandha, pushpa (flowers), dhūpa (incense), dīpa (lamp) and naivedya (food offering). Feed kanyakās.
Phala: one boards a vimāna and reaches Deva-loka.
Bhādrapada Śukla Navamī: Nandā
Honour Durgā Devī with all sixteen upacāras (shoḍaśopacāra).
Phala: the phala of the Aśvamedha; a home in Vishṇu-loka.
Āśvayuja Śukla Navamī: Mahā-navamī
This is the great Mahā-navamī, the ninth day of Navarātri.
- In the afternoon (aparāhṇa), perform the Śamī-pūjā, the honouring of the Śamī tree, facing east.
- At night, in the first watch (prathama-yāma), perform the āyudha-pūjā, the honouring of weapons and other things. Honour them with gandha and the upacāras. They are: the sword (khaḍga), the bow (dhanu), arrows (śaras), the gadā (mace), śūla (spear), śakti, paraśu (axe), a small knife, the shield (carma), the kheṭaka, the chattra (umbrella), the dhvaja (banner), the elephant, the horse, the bull, the book (pustaka), the tulā (balance), the daṇḍa and pāśa, and the śaṅkha and cakra.
- Offer a bali of a mahisha (buffalo) to Bhadrakālī.
- Feed brāhmaṇas with pakvānna (cooked food), give dakshiṇā, then eat and complete the vrata.
Phala: all bhoga in this world; svarga at death, by the grace of Durgā.
Kārtika Śukla Navamī: Akshaya Navamī
This day is called Akshaya Navamī. At the root of the tree the text names raagacettu (it may mean the aśoka tree), make tarpaṇa to the devas, the ṛshis and the pitṛ-devatās (the devatās of the forefathers). Give arghya to Bhagavān Sūrya with the mantras of one’s own śākhā of the Veda (svaśākhokta-mantra). Feed brāhmaṇas with mishṭānna, give dakshiṇā, eat, and enjoy.
All japa, dāna and dvijārcana (honouring of brāhmaṇas) done on this day give akshaya-phala, results that never end.
Mārgaśīra Śukla Navamī: Nandī
This Navamī is called Nandī. Fast. Honour Jagadambā.
Phala: the phala of the Aśvamedha.
Pushya Śukla Navamī
Honour Mahāmāyā with devotion (bhakti).
Phala: poja-peya-phala, the phala of all feasting.
Māgha Śukla Navamī: Mahānandā
This day is called Mahānandā, the giver of great bliss. All snāna, dāna, japa, homa and upavāsa done on this day become akshaya (without end).
Phālguna Śukla Navamī: Ānandā
This day is called Ānandā. It is mahā-puṇyā (very meritorious) and takes away all pāpa (sarva-pāpahara). Fast and honour Ānandā Devī.
Phala: all that one desires (vāñchitārthāḥ). This is declared to be certain.
The general rule
Every Navamī is linked with the worship of Devī in her various forms. The usual procedure is upavāsa (or eka-bhukta, one meal), Devī-pūjā, the feeding of brāhmaṇas and kanyakās, and dāna.
Sources
- Nārada Mahā Purāṇa, Pūrvārdha, chapter 118