Gupt Navratri- Ideology, Practices and Benefits
In the Hindu rituals, Navratri is a holy festival celebrated twice a year with full zeal. It is nine-days festivity that is celebrated all over India to honour Goddess Durga in her various forms.
Largely known Navratras are Sharada and Chaitra Navratri, which are celebrated in different ways in different regions.
What is interesting about Navratri is the lesser known fact that the Hindu scripture mentions four types of Navratri.
Sharada Navratri, Chaitra Navratri, Magha Navratri and Ashada Navratri. The widely celebrated ones are Sharada and Chaitra navratri while the other two are known as Gupt Navratri or Hidden Navratri.
When is Gupt Navratri Observed
According to the Hindu scriptures Gupt Navratri is celebrated twice every year, once in the ‘Maagh maas’ known as Magha Gupt Navratri and once in the ‘Ashada maas’ known as Ashada Gupt Navratri.
According to english calendars the Magha Navratri is observed during the months of January-February while the Ashada Navratri is observed during the month of June-July.
The Ideology Behind Gupt Navratri
The Different forms of Goddess Durga known as ‘Shakti’ are worshipped secretly during Gupt Navratri. The main ideology behind Gupt Navratri is that the goddess is worshipped secretly, hidden from the rest of the world. It is also mainly celebrated by sadhus and tantriks for tantra sadhna to please the Goddess of Shakti.
Secret rituals are performed during Gupt Navratri where goddess is worshipped with the help of secret sadhna to please 10 forms of Goddess Durga during this time.
It is believed that devotees can fulfill all their wishes during this festival by worshipping the goddess but the rituals need to be kept a secret as the success of the pooja depends on the amount of secrecy behind it.