Gupt Navratri of Magh month is starting from Sunday, 22nd January. In the Gupta Navaratri year, ten Mahavidya forms of the Goddess are worshipped. Navratri comes four times in a year in Hindi Panchang. First in Chaitra month, second in Ashadha, third in Ashwin and fourth in Magha month. Navratri of Magha and Ashadh month is considered secret. Navratri of Chaitra and Ashwin month is considered manifest.

According to Ujjain’s Jyotishacharya Pt. Manish Sharma, in Gupta Navratri, Gupta practices are performed for the forms of the ten Mahavidyas of the Mother Goddess. These Mahavidyas include Maa Kali, Tara Devi, Shodashi, Bhuvaneshwari, Bhairavi, Chinnamasta, Dhumavati, Baglamukhi, Matangi, and Kamala Devi.

Navratri time is related to seasons

Pt. Sharma says that the time of Navratri is related to the sandhikal of the seasons. Sandhikal means the end of one season and the beginning of another season. During Navratri of Chaitra month spring season ends and summer season begins. During the Navratri of Ashadh month, the summer season ends and the rainy season begins. At the time of Ashwin Navratri, the rainy season ends and the winter season begins. During the Navratri of Magh month, the winter season ends and the spring season begins.

Fasting during the season’s junction gives health benefits

Fasting is done during the days of Navratri. Devotees of Mother Goddess sacrifice food and satisfy their hunger with fruits. Worship, chanting, penance and meditation calm the mind, negative thoughts go away. Eating fruits benefits the body and meditation benefits the mind. Fasting gives rest to our digestive system. By maintaining restraint in food and drink, we avoid weather related diseases. The immunity of the body keeps on increasing. When we keep restraint in eating and drinking, then laziness does not come and the mind remains engaged in worship, does not wander. After worship, there is success in other works done with a concentrated mind.

Caution has to be kept in the practices of Gupta Navratri

The practices of Mahavidyas are different from normal worship. That’s why these practices should not be done with incomplete information. It will be better if you do Devi Sadhana with the help of an expert Brahmin.