![\"5](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-132577660,imgsize-408974,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/toi-image__-3.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nGupt Navratri may be growing in popularity, but astrologer and spiritual mentor Dr. Jai Madaan says that with the rise in interest has come a rise in confusion.\u201cEvery year around this time, I get the same set of questions, and unfortunately, the same set of errors,\u201d she says. \u201cPeople are enthusiastic, which is wonderful, but enthusiasm without the right understanding sometimes does more harm than good.\u201dHere are five mistakes Dr. Madaan sees most often and how to avoid them. <\/span>1. Treating it like a public celebration. The very word \u201cGupt\u201d means secret. This Navratri, observed in the Ashadha and Magha months, was traditionally kept low-key by tantric practitioners and serious sadhaks, in contrast to the widely celebrated Chaitra and Sharad Navratris. \u201cTurning it into a social media moment defeats the purpose,\u201d Dr. Madaan points out. \u201cThe power of this period comes from restraint and privacy, not display.\u201d2. Attempting advanced tantric sadhana without guidance. Because Gupt Navratri is closely associated with the worship of the Dus Mahavidyas, Dr. Madaan says she frequently encounters people who try to perform elaborate rituals they have picked up from unverified sources online. \u201cSome of these practices genuinely require a guru\u2019s supervision. Doing them incorrectly is not just ineffective, it can be unsettling for the practitioner. When in doubt, stick to simple, well-established remedies.\u201d3. Skipping the sankalp, or intention-setting. Many people jump straight into rituals without first setting a clear sankalp. \u201cA ritual without intention is just a routine,\u201d she says. \u201cBefore lighting a diya or offering flowers, take a moment to be honest with yourself about what you are asking for and why.\u201d4. Ignoring diet and lifestyle discipline. Gupt Navratri calls for a certain degree of restraint, not necessarily a full fast, but at least mindful eating, avoiding excess and impurity. Dr. Madaan often sees people continue with irregular sleep, heavy food, or short tempers, then wonder why their remedies are not yielding results. \u201cThe external puja and the internal state need to move together.\u201d5. Giving up midway. The nine days are meant to build cumulatively. Starting with enthusiasm and abandoning the practice by day three or four, Dr. Madaan says, is one of the most common patterns she observes. \u201cConsistency, even in a small daily act like lighting a lamp, matters far more than one grand gesture on day one.\u201dHer closing advice is refreshingly practical. \u201cYou do not need elaborate rituals to benefit from Gupt Navratri. You need sincerity, a little discipline, and the humility to ask for guidance when something is beyond your understanding.\u201dInputs by:- Dr. Jai Madaan \u2013 Celebrity Spiritual Mentor, Entrepreneur & Motivational Speaker.<\/div>\n