Navratri Worship: The Sages Who Practised It and Its Tantric Paths

हिंदी में पढ़ें

In this article, you will read about:

• The Lineage of Navratri Worship in Tantric Tradition

• Navratri in the Kaula and Nath Traditions

• Ma Matangi: The Refinement of Divine Expression

• Ma Matangi’s Connection With Navadurga, Devi Siddhidatri

• Worship Ma Matangi This Chaitra Navratri

Chaitra Navratri represents a structured journey of Shakti awakening through nine stages of inner transformation. Each day corresponds to a specific form of the Divine Mother and reflects a shift in the seeker’s spiritual awareness.

• Day 1 — Ma Kali: Dissolution of inertia and ego

• Day 2 — Ma Tara: Guidance during transformation

• Day 3 — Ma Tripura Sundari: Emergence of harmony and balance

• Day 4 — Ma Bhuvaneshwari: Expansion of consciousness into cosmic space

• Day 5 — Ma Bhairavi: Awakening of discipline and tapas

• Day 6 — Ma Chinnamasta: Cutting through ego and redirecting life energy

• Day 7 — Ma Dhumavati: Realisation of impermanence and detachment

• Day 8 — Ma Bagalamukhi: Mastery over speech, thought, and action

• Day 9 — Ma Matangi: Refinement of wisdom, speech, and sacred knowledge

By the ninth day, the seeker reaches a stage where the awakened energy becomes refined and expressed through clarity of knowledge, speech, and inner awareness.

The Lineage of Navratri Worship in Tantric Tradition

Navratri worship has deep roots in both Tantric and Puranic traditions. Several sages and traditions preserved and transmitted structured forms of Devi worship.

Sage Durvasa and the Sri Vidya Tradition

Sage Durvasa is considered one of the earliest transmitters of Sri Vidya, the Tantric worship of Lalita Tripura Sundari.

Traditional accounts state that he:

• Received the knowledge of Lalita Upasana

• Propagated Sri Chakra worship

• Taught structured cycles of Devi sadhana

Many Sri Vidya Tantric Paddhatis prescribe intensified Devi worship during Navratri following the Durvasa Krama, making him one of the strongest traditional links to Tantric Navratri practice.

Sage Agastya and the Lalitopakhyana Tradition

The Brahmand Puran, in the Lalitopakhyana dialogue, describes Sage Agastya receiving the secret teachings of Lalita worship.

In this dialogue:

• Lord Hayagriva instructs Agastya in the glory of Sri Vidya

• The methods of Devi Upasana and mantra practices are explained

Many Navratri ritual traditions symbolically trace their lineage to this Agastya–Hayagriva transmission.

Agastya is therefore regarded as a key figure in:

• Mantra Shastra traditions

• Devi worship methodologies

• Southern streams of Sri Vidya Tantra

Sage Matanga and the Origin of Matangi Worship

According to Purashcharya Arnava and Tantrasara, Sage Matanga Rishi performed intense tapas dedicated to the Divine Mother and obtained the grace of Devi Matangi.

While texts do not explicitly state that he performed Navratri rituals, his worship included:

• Devi Sadhana

• Mantra Purashcharan cycles

• Mahavidya worship

Navratri in the Kaula and Nath Traditions

The Kaula Tantric tradition and the Nath Sampradaya also emphasise Navratri night practices.

One of the earliest masters associated with these traditions is Matsyendranath.

These traditions highlight:

• Night-focused Shakti worship

• Cycles of Mahavidya Sadhana

• Internal spiritual practices performed during Navratri

Navratri is therefore regarded as a particularly powerful period for Tantric spiritual practice.

The Kalika Puran also describes the concept of Akal Bodhana, the untimely awakening of the Goddess.

A verse states:

ऐं रावणस्य वधार्थाय रामस्यानुग्रहाय च ।
अकाले ब्रह्मणा बोधो देव्यास्त्वयि कृतः पुरा ॥

Meaning:
O Goddess, you were awakened by Brahma at an untimely hour to grant grace to Rama for the destruction of Ravana.

This narrative forms an important basis for many Navratri traditions observed today.

Ma Matangi: The Refinement of Divine Expression

On the ninth day of Navratri, the Divine Mother manifests as Ma Matangi.

She represents:

• Inner speech

• Sacred knowledge

• Perfection of mantra and sound

Tantric texts often describe her as the Tantric Ma Sarasvati.

At this stage of the spiritual journey:

• The seeker is no longer struggling with purification

• The mind becomes refined and stable

• Spiritual practice becomes inward and effortless

Ma Matangi governs the subtle power of vibration and expression, which arises once the mind has been purified.

Ma Matangi’s Connection With Navadurga, Devi Siddhidatri

The final Navadurga worshipped on Navratri is Devi Siddhidatri.

She represents:

• Spiritual accomplishment (Siddhi)

• Fulfilment of the spiritual journey

• Realisation of Divine wisdom

Her energy aligns with Ma Matangi, who governs refined knowledge and sacred speech.

Together they represent:

• The flowering of divine knowledge

• Mastery of mantra

• Completion of the spiritual journey

Ma Matangi’s Bij Mantra

The primary Bij Mantra associated with Ma Matangi is:

ऐं (Aiṃ)

A verse from Mantra Mahodadhi states:

ऐं बीजं मातङ्ग्याः सर्वविद्याप्रदायकम् ।

Meaning:
Aiṃ is the seed mantra of Matangi, the bestower of all knowledge.

The sound Aing represents the awakening of higher intelligence, refined speech, and spiritual wisdom.

Worship Ma Matangi This Chaitra Navratri

The ninth day of Chaitra Navratri marks the stage where spiritual knowledge becomes fully refined.

After the stages of purification, guidance, harmony, expansion, discipline, ego-transformation, detachment, and stabilisation, the seeker reaches the refined wisdom of Ma Matangi.

Her teachings emphasise:

• Mastery of speech and mantra

• Refinement of knowledge

• Expression of divine wisdom

Through Her Grace, the seeker approaches the culmination of the Navratri journey — the realisation of divine knowledge and spiritual accomplishment.

This Chaitra Navratri, the Tantra Sadhana App by Himalayan monk, Om Swami, offers Shakti Sadhaks access to its Secret Shrine.

Each day of Navratri, the Shrine allows seekers to recite the Dhyan Shlok and Mool Bij Mantra of a Mahavidya. The Shloks and mantras, awakened and consecrated by Om Swami, make the worship potent, safe and in accordance with the scriptures.

Once your Chaitra Navratri Sadhana is done on 15 April 2027, you can also begin your worship of the Das Mahavidyas, awakening each Mahavidya with their Tantric Bij mantra and esoteric Sadhana, one at a time - starting from Ma Kali to Ma Kamalatmika.

The app is free and ad-free, with an entirely optional Dakshina.

The Chaitra Navratri of the Das Mahavidyas begins on Amavasya, 6 April 2027.

Enter the Secret Shrine to worship Ma Matangi with Her Dhyan Shlok and Mool Bij Mantra.

May the blessings of the Das Mahavidyas make this Chaitra Navratri a transformative period in your life.