Four types of Navaratri occur in a year. These are Ashada (falling in the Tamil months of Aadi-Aavani), Sharad (during Purattasi month), Vasant (Panguni-Chittirai months) and Magha (Tamil month of Maasi), with Ashada Navaratri being the most significant one, said B. Damodhara Deekshithar.Janamejaya, the son of Parikshit, asked his guru on the efficacy of celebrating Navaratri, its importance and the correct manner of offering prayers on these auspicious days. The nine days of prayers should be dedicated to Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati, and households display a collection of dolls on steps made of wood or steel, commonly called, golu. The order in which one should display dolls is also expressly stated. It is recommended that one have a five-step golu as a bare minimum, if not seven and nine, indicative of the five aspects of a human body. The top shelf is given to Vishnu, as visualised reclining on Adisesha in the Milky Ocean, Parameswaran and Parasakthi.The second step on the ladder should contain grassland and grassland-based animals. Display of humans engaged in their daily activity, be it trading or engaged in sports, or farmers tilling land, etc, should be the third in order. The fourth step can display archa murtis, such as Rama, Krishna and other deities. The fifth step is dedicated to Sakti, as She is the one holding the power over all the ones displayed above. Tamil saint poet Manickavasagar’s verse is also a perfect guide. His verse, ‘Pullai, poondai, puzhuvai, maramai, kallai, manidharai, asurasarai, devarai, ella pirappum,” (as grass, as garlic pod, as worm, as tree, as stone, as asura, as deva, the entire gamut of birth and rebirth) is evocative of how a golu should be displayed. One should also instal a kalasam prominently.On all nine days, reading or reciting of Lalitha Sahasranamam is highly effective for a devotee to achieve their goals. Conducting both Kannika puja and Suwasini puja is also part of the festival. Praying to the three goddesses will help a devotee gain all that is required for a peaceful and prosperous life.Published - September 20, 2025 04:00 am IST