On Navaratri’s first morning, Shailaputri appears. She is the “Daughter of the Mountain” and Parvati’s primal form, born from the Himalayas’ ancient embrace. She rides a bull, with steady calm, and holds a trident for strength and a lotus for grace, symbols of her mountain origins.
Mountains embody resilience, standing firm against storms with roots deep in the earth’s core. Shailaputri carries this strength—a grounding presence in life’s challenges, urging us to build stability step by step.
To invoke Shailaputri is to begin anew, whether seeking inner growth or facing daily struggles. It’s the first step on a steep path, where hesitation lingers, and progress requires effort and focus. Through her guidance, we release doubt, nurture balance, and build resolve. These qualities carry us toward our true selves, with each steady breath and each forward step.
The symbolisms underpin the deeper meaning of life. On the curve of growth, the most difficult step is the first step, which in this case is symbolised by the daunting mountain ahead of us. May Shailaputri grace us all with the power to conquer what lays ahead of us.
Here’s my interpretation of the different forms of the goddress Paravati. On Navaratri, the goddess dons one different form each day. Today’s day one.
The Wordsmith 