After writing a post on the festival of Navratri, As it is fast approaching, I feel like dedicating another post to Gddesss Durga describing all her nine forms. Navratri means 9 nights and 9 forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped during this period. Each day a different form of Goddess is worshipped. Each form has a beautiful story of how she got that name and how she is worshipped. Ofcourse this is just a gist of it.
1. Shailputri: Shailputri means the daughter of the mountain, Himalaya. In this form we see the divine Mother holding a trident in her right hand and a lotus on her left. She is seen seated on an ox.
2. Brahmacharini: Brahmacharini or Tapasyacharini is Goddess’s second form.
The name holds the meaning of true penance and meditation. This form depicts
her holding a rosary beads in the right hand and a Kamandalu, a pot containing
holy water in her left.
3.Chandraghanta:Chandraghanta or Shakti. Chandra means moon and Ghanta is the bell. This name finds its explanation in the half-circular moon on the temple of the Goddess that resembles a bell. She is three eyed with ten hands. Each hand holds ten different weapons. She is seated on a lion and is worshipped on the third day of the Navratri . Her hue is golden and her appearance always spreads a calm and eternal peace all round. She is unprecedented image of bravery.
4. Kushmanda: Kush means happiness and she created the universe with a smile. She is radiant as the Sun and rides a lion. She is Ashtabhuja or eight handed. Her seven hands hold the holy pot, Kamandul, a bow, an arrow, a lotus, a pot containing wine, a disc and a club. The eighth hand holds a string of rosary beads that is believed to provide success and prudence.
5. Skanda : Lord Kartik or Karthikeyan is also known as Skanda. As Goddess Durga is his mother, she is referred to as Skanda Mata. She is a deity of fire with four arms. She holds her son Skanda with the top right hand and lotus in her lower hand. The top left hand is positioned in a blessing gesture or Abhaya Mudra. She is fair complexioned, seated on a lotus and so also referred to as Padmasana.
6. Katyayani : Sage Katyaayan was the son of the great sage Kat. He observed rigorous penance and worship of Bhagavati Paramba with a desire to get Paramba as his daughter. His wish was granted. The daughter born was named Katyayani. She has four hands. The top right hand is positioned in a gesture of providing courage while the other hand is positioned in a gesture of rendering a boon. The top left hand holds a sword and the other a lotus. The goddess rides a lion and worshiped on the sixth day of Navratri.
7. Kalratri : Ratri means night so her complexion is as dark as the night. She has long, unmated hair with her three eyes that are shiny and bright. She has four arms and is seen mounted on a Shav/Shava or dead body. Her right hand holds a sword, while her lower hand is in a blessing stance. The left hand holds a burning torch and the lower left hand is in fearless position. She is known as Shubhamkari or the auspicious one. Her form encourages her devotees to be fearless.
8. Maha Gauri : It is said that when the body of Goddess Gauri got dirty due to dust and earth while she was observing penance to attain Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva cleansed her with the holy waters of Ganges. Her body transformed into bright and luminous like lightening and so her eighth form is known as Maha Gauri. Her clothes and ornaments are also white. Her visage is calm and peaceful and she is three eyed. She rides on a bull. Her four hands denote different meanings, like the left hand is in the fearless gesture and the lower one holds a trident. The above right hand has tambourine and lower right hand is in blessing form.
9. Siddhidatri : The ninth form is Siddhidatri. There are eight Siddhis (Special powers which can only be attained from severe penance and meditation)-Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakamya, Iishitva & Vashitva. Maha Shakti gives all these Siddhies.
May Goddess always bless everyone! Happy Navratri.
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