Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28
The Narration of the Navamī Vow Observed Across the Twelve Months
गंधाद्यैः सोऽश्वमेधस्य फलभाङ्नात्र संशयः । पौषे शुक्लनवम्यां तु महामायां प्रपूजयेत् ॥ २८ ॥
gaṃdhādyaiḥ so'śvamedhasya phalabhāṅnātra saṃśayaḥ | pauṣe śuklanavamyāṃ tu mahāmāyāṃ prapūjayet || 28 ||
En offrant des parfums et autres présents semblables, il devient bénéficiaire du mérite du sacrifice Aśvamedha—sans aucun doute. Au neuvième jour (Navamī) de la quinzaine claire du mois de Pauṣa, qu’on vénère Mahāmāyā avec une révérence totale.
Narada (teaching in the Narada Purana’s anukramanika-style summary of vrata and ritual fruits; dialogue frame traditionally with Sanatkumara lineage)
Vrata: Mahāmāyā-pūjā on Navamī (tithi-mahātmya style observance; specific vrata-name not explicitly given)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It elevates simple devotional offerings (like fragrance) into a high-merit act, declaring that sincere worship—especially on Pauṣa bright Navamī—can confer Aśvamedha-like spiritual fruit, emphasizing inner devotion expressed through ritual.
Bhakti is shown through accessible upacāras (offerings such as gandha). The verse teaches that focused worship of the Divine Power (Mahāmāyā) on an auspicious tithi yields great merit, highlighting devotion supported by disciplined observance (vrata/kalā-niyama).
Kalā and tithi-based observance is central: it specifies Pauṣa month, bright fortnight, and Navamī tithi—reflecting applied Jyotiṣa-style calendrical timing used in vrata and pūjā scheduling.