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Shakambari Navratri

Shakambari Navratri is a nine-day festival celebrated during Paush Month as per Hindu calendar. This Navratri, also known as Paush Navratri in the North, begins on Ashtami in Shukla Paksha of Paush Maas and ends on Paush Purnima. In the concluding day, Shakambari Jayanti is celebrated.


Shakambari is an incarnation of Ishwari, consort to Shiva. She is called "The Bearer of the Greens." The Demon Durgam had acquired all four books of total knowledge (The Veda) from Lord Brahma through penance. He became very arrogant and started tormenting the whole world. As a consequence, it did not rain for one hundred years and the whole world was hit by a very severe drought.

The rishis and munis took refuge in the caves of the Himalayas and the Goddess appeared in front of them. She had countless eyes that gave her the name Satakshi, and was carrying grain, cereals, vegetables, greens, fruits and other herbs and because of this was called Shakambari. The goddess was so moved by their plight that tears rolled down from her eyes for nine continuous days and nights. The tears became a river, which ended the drought. At last the goddess Shakambari killed Durgam with her trident and recovered the Vedas from his possession. Ishwari is also knowns as Durga because she killed the demon Durgam.

The story of Shakambari is told in Chapter 28 of the Devi Bhagavatam Purana, titled, "On the glory of Shatakshi Devi", and also in The Devi Mahatmyam. 

Shakambari Navratri is observed with great gusto at Shakambari temples across India, especially in states like Karnataka - it is celebrated in Shakambari temples located in Badami. It is popular also in Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and some other states where Shakambari Temples are located. In Nagewadi, Maharashtra, Kumbhoj near Satara, Sharanpur in Uttar Pradesh and Sambhar in Rajasthan.