Mahesh Navami: The Foundation Day of Maheshwari Community by Lord Shiva

“Mahesh Navami”, a very important day for the Maheshwari community, is dedicated to Lord Mahesh (another name of Lord Shiva). It's also celebrated by people by the name “Mahesh Jayanti.” As per Hindu Calendar, it falls on the ninth day, i.e. Navami, of Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of the moon) in the Hindu month of Jyeshtha. According to the Gregorian calendar, it lies in the month of either May or June. This year, we are commemorating this auspicious occasion on the ‘15th June ’24.’

As per “Drik Panchang”, the “tithi” for “Mahesh Navami” in the year ’24 is as follows:

Mahesh Navami on Saturday, 15th June ’24

• Navami Tithi Begins - 12:03 AM on 15th June ’24
• Navami Tithi Ends - 02:32 AM on 16th June ’24

Significance of “Mahesh Navami”:

The day of “Mahesh Navami” is of utmost importance as it is connected with Bhagwan Mahesh, the God of Gods: Mahadeva. Many Vedic texts mention that on this day, the holy union of Shiva and Shakti has happened.

Other than holy connections of the day with Lord Shiva, “Mahesh Navami” is believed to be the day when the Maheshwari community was founded by Lord Shiva & Mata Parvati. According to the descriptions in Hindu Shastras, it was on the day of Jyeshtha Shukla Navami of ‘Yudhishthira Samvat 9’ when the Maheshwari community came into effect in the society. That's why, people of Maheshwari community celebrate this festival with utmost zeal and fervor throughout the country, India.

Also, there are beliefs that “Mahesh Navami” was the very first day when the devotees experienced Darshan of Lord Shiva, i.e. it was the day of the first appearance of Supreme Consciousness Shiva.

Legend related to “Mahesh Navami”:

There is a very beautiful story behind “Mahesh Navami” that narrates how Shiva & Shakti became the founders of Maheshwari community:

The religious texts say that the ancestors of the Maheshwari community related to the ‘Kshatriya’ dynasty. Basically, they were Rajput rulers.

Once, there lived a Suryavanshi ruler named Khadgal Sen who ruled the city of Khandela. He was a very devoted and religious person. His praja also stayed happily in his dominion. But the ruler was childless. He always used to stay worried about his lineage. One day, he conducted the “Putresti Yagya'' & he was blessed with a very powerful, i.e. Chakravarti, son named Sujansen. But at his birth, the sages warned Raja Khadgal Sen that he would need to prevent his son from going in the north direction at sixteen years of age. Otherwise, he will die.

Despite this prophecy, Sujansen was very wise and intelligent in handling the responsibilities of his father's kingdom. Later on, he was married to Chandravati.

One day, he went hunting with 72 Umraos (a sub-caste of Rajputs) in the north direction of the forest itself. There, six Rishis were doing a Yagya near Surya Kund. While hunting, Sujansen, along with his Umraos, disturbed Rishis’ Yagya. To this, the sages got very angry and cursed all of them to be transformed to stones.

On getting to know about this, the wives of 72 Umraos, along with Chandravati, went to the sages & requested them to take back his curse. Upon so many humble requests, the sages suggested that they worship Gauri Shankar while chanting the Ashtakshara mantra of Bhagwan Mahesh, ‘Om Namo Maheshwari.’ All the women worshiped Shiva & Shakti whole heartedly. Pleased by their penance, Shiva-Shakti arrived there. The women pleaded with them to turn their husbands back to consciousness. They agreed but on a condition that their husbands would not perform hunting thereafter ever. Instead of that, they can perform some other works for living, for example: business. The women consented. Then, Shiva & Shakti blessed their husbands by saying, “from today onwards, our imprint on your lineage will remain forever. And your community will be known by the name ‘Maheshwari’.”

This is how Shiva and Shakti gave birth to the Maheshwari community.

Rituals & Observances of “Mahesh Navami”:

On “Mahesh Navami”, the people, particularly from the Maheshwari community, celebrate the festival by following certain traditional rituals as mentioned below:

• As Shiva & Shakti gave rise to the Maheshwari community on this day, the Maheshwaris honor and worship them on this day.
• The devotees get up very early in the morning, take a holy bath & begin Puja preparations. Getting up in Brahma Muhurat is considered very auspicious.
• Special Shiva mantras are recited.
• Many devotees perform Yajnas at temples or at homes.
• Rudra Abhishekam of the Shivling, an important ritual of this festival, is also done with Milk, Gangajal, bel leaves, and lotus flowers.
• The devotees apply Tripund with ashes on the Shivling. It's a symbol of renunciation and detachment.
• Shiva’s Trishul is also worshiped on this day.
• Damru is played in Shiva's honor.
• People read Shiva Chalisa, Shiva Mantra, and Shiva Aarti.
• Many observe fasts on this day.
• Bhajan Sandhya is planned at temples.
• People witness special Jhankis of Shiva Shakti.

Benefits of Observing “Mahesh Navami”:

Observing the festival of “Mahesh Navami” ushers so many benefits on the devotees. Some of them are as follows:

• If newlyweds worship Shiva Shakti on this day, they are blessed with bliss in their lives & harmony in their relationship.
• The festival blesses couples with children.
• It bestows health, money, success, happiness, prosperity, and satisfaction in life.

So, let us also worship Shiva Shakti on “Mahesh Navami” to receive their divine blessings.

|| Shubh Mahesh Navami ||