The Manifestations of Maa Durga

Sarva Mangal Mangalye Shive Sarvartha Sadhike

Sharanye Tryambake Gauri Narayani Namostute

Oh Mother, you are the source of auspiciousness. And the support of Shiva.Possessing the third eye of enlightenment, O Gauri, O Narayani, I surrender to you.

This year during Navratri, there were beautiful DPs (Display Pictures) used in one of the groups that I am a member of. My younger son's class group where we all mothers are connected, for the obvious reasons; sharing important messages, notes and updates from the class teacher. Like a lot of people I too fast during the auspicious period. I liked the DP of the group, didn't really open it to check thinking that it'd be a picture taken from the internet. The picture changed on the second day of the Navratri, then the third and so on. Finally I opened the DP to enlarge it and have a better view. I discovered that these were actually paintings of one of the mothers, Swapna. I loved her form of devotion very much. I asked her if she could send me her renditions of the manifestations of Maa Durga, Which she gladly did. They have been my treasured possessions since then; safe on my phone and email. Finally, got them here on my Blog to share with you all. I found each picture to be live and as if it was talking to me. Thought of creating a little write up so that I could use the beautiful paintings as illustrations.

Navratri in Sanskrit translates to ‘nine nights’. Hindus all across the world celebrate these nine nights with great fervor and enthusiasm. These nine nights of festivities are marked with ritualistic fasting and performing poojas, while leading a calm, spiritual  and meditative lifestyle. This festival is dedicated to Goddess Durga and her 9 manifestations or avatars. On each of these nine days, her devotees worship the nine different avatars of Goddess Durga or Shakti. The ‘Nav Durga’ or the nine manifestations are pleased with special offerings and prayers. The significance of Nav Durga is narrated and reiterated in every Hindu household especially during the Navratri;  as this is the time when Goddess Durga descends from the heaven to bless her devotees. Here are the nine manifestations of Goddess Durga that are worshiped on each day of Navratri.

Shailaputri

Goddess Parvati is Maa Shailaputri (daughter of the mountains). Her First Incarnation was that of Maa Sati. From the time Maa Sati was a Child, She had only one focus and aim in life, Lord Shiva. As She grew up Her Love and devotion for The Lord grew deeper. She began Her penance to please Lord Shiva and She did that. The Lord manifested in front of Her to grant Her a boon. Maa Sati asked The Lord for His eternal companionship as Man and Wife. It was granted. She is the absolute form of Mother nature.

Brahmacharini

Maa Brahmacharini is Maa Parvati. Brahmacharini means a devoted female student who lives in an Ashrama with her Guru along with other students. This second form of Nav Durga is the one related to the most severe penances connected with worship of Devi Maa. This manifestation of the Goddess is associated with the penance done by Maa Sati or Maa Parvati to get the boon of eternal companionship with Lord Shiva. Maa Parvati’s penance for Lord Shiva went on for thousands of years. 

Candraghanta

Maa Durga in Her third avatar for the first time shows Herself as the ferocious One. Maa Chandraghanta (She has a bell-shaped half moon on Her forehead, thus the word Ghanta, meaning bell). She is worshiped on the third day of Navratri. She has ten arms and rides a lion. She is worshiped by those who seek Her blessings to ward off their opponents and foes who resort to corrupt or evil means. Her third eye is always opened and she always ready for war against demons.

Kushmanda

Maa Durga’s fourth avatar is that of Kushmanda. She is considered as the Mother of all creations, all planets, stars, galaxies, and the universe. The Sun is her home and dwelling. Kushmanda means ‘The one who created the universe as a tiny celestial egg’. She has created the Universe, and thus is also known as the Primordial One, or the ‘Adi Shakti’. She has breathed life into all things and beings; and by praying to her, the devotee is bestowed with resplendent glory, success, fame and well being. She resides in the Sun and only she can; as she has created it. Her form is luminous and has resplendent glow like the Sun. She has eight hands hence gets the name Ashtabhuja.

Skanda Mata

Skanda Mata is the fifth form of Maa Durga. She gets her name from her son; Kartikeya, who among other names is also called Skanda. Hence Skanda Mata would mean the mother of Skanda. Lord Skanda is also known as Subramanya or  Murugan and worshipped by these names.

Katyayani

This is the sixth manifestation of Maa Durga. She is the destroyer of Mahishasura. Maa Katyayani’s name is derived from a sage called Kaatyaayana. Sage Kaatyaayana was a devotee and disciple of Maa Durga. He worshiped Her with dedication, love,  and sincerity. Maa Durga pleased with Him, appeared before Him, and told Him to ask for a boon. The Sage asked Her to be born as his daughter. Maa blessed him and took birth as his daughter, Katyayani.

Kalaratri

This seventh form of Maa Durga is also called Maa Kali or Kalika. She is dark skinned and ferocious, She can seem very daunting to those who go just by her physical appearance. She fights the enemy of her devotees. She is atop a donkey (her vahan), and has a sword, a trishul and a noose. Maa Kalaratri has a third eye on her forehead. Though She is depicted as dark skinned, black to be precise, luminous rays of light emit from her body. She is seen as The Power and the destroyer of all evil.

Mahagauri

The eighth manifestation of Nav Durga, is Maa Durga, represented as a young eight year old girl.

Due to thousands of years of penance that was undertaken by Maa Parvati to appease Lord Shiva, Her complexion became dark, almost black in colour. When Lord Shiva was convinced of Her devotion and love, He bathed Her with the holy water of the Ganga that flowed through His locks. Devi Maa regained her former complexion and radiance. Her name became Maha Gauri or Gauri, (the one who is very fair or radiant).

Siddhidatri

Devi Maa in her ninth manifestation is the giver of all siddhis. This is the final manifestation of Maa Durga; but in reality, creation as we know of, evolved from Siddhidatri avtar of the Nav Durga. Legend says, when the Universal Mother, the creator of all creators, created Lord Shiva,  the Lord prayed to Her to bestow Him with all boons that would lead to perfection. Maa Durga; from herself created Maa Siddhidayani or Siddhidatri. She is the ultimate giver and blesses everyone who prays to her.

It's not only during Navratri that we invoke Her, She is Omnipresent and blesses all of us in the form of our own mothers!

PS  A big thank you to Swapna Deshpande for the mesmerising pictures of  Goddess Durga.