Navratri : Nine Days Festival dedicated to Mother Goddess Durga

Navratri is a nine-day festival during which 9 forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped. It is without doubt one of the most significant festivals celebrated by Hindus throughout India with great deal of fervour. In actuality, There are 4 Navratris in a year, however only two – Chaitra Navratri and Sharad Navratri are celebrated broadly. People in different parts of the India rejoice this same festival in a different ways. Though they worship the similar deity, performing different rituals.
‘Navratri’ in Sanskrit means ‘9 nights’. On these 9 nights, people observe fast and pray to the ‘9 Forms of Maa Durga’. Goddess Durga is an incarnation of Goddess Parvati. She took the avatar of Devi Durga to destroy Mahishasura.

According to a Hindu tradition, it is believed that there are three major forms in which Goddess Durga manifested herself, namely, Mahasaraswati, Mahalakshmi and Mahakali who are the active energies (Shakti) of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha respectively. Without these Goddesses the Gods will lose all their powers.

These three forms of Durga further manifested in three more forms each, and thus emerged the nine forms of Durga, which are collectively called Navadurga or Nine Durgas:

Maa Shailputri – The Navratri commences with the 1st night devoted to the puja of Maa “Shailputri”. “Shail” means mountains; “Parvati”, the daughter of king of Mountains Himavan, is known as “Shailputri”. Her two hands, display a trident and a lotus. She is mounted upon a bull.

Maa Shailputri - The First Form of Mother Durga — Maa Shailputri – The First Form of Mother Durga

Maa Brahmacharini – One hand holds a “Kumbha” or water port and the other rosary. She personifies love and loyalty. Maa Brahmacharini is a store-house of knowledge and wisdom. Rudraksha is her most adorned ornament.

Maa Brahmacharini - The Second Form of Mother Durga — Maa Brahmacharini – The Second Form of Mother Durga

Maa Chandraghanta – Worshipped on the 3rd night this Maa Durga “Shakti” is astride a tiger, displays a golden hue to Her skin, possesses ten hands and 3 eyes. Eight of Her hands display weapons while the remaining two are respectively in the mudras of gestures of boon giving and stopping harm. Chandra + Ghanta, meaning supreme bliss and knowledge, showering peace and serenity, like cool breeze in a moonlit night.

Maa Chandraghanta - The Third Form of Mother Durga — Maa Chandraghanta – The Third Form of Mother Durga

Maa Kushmanda – The 4th night begins the worship of Maa “Kushmanda”, possessed of eight arms, holding weapons and a mala or rosary. Her mount is a tiger and She emanates a solar like aura. “Kumbh Bhand” means to see cosmic vivacity in Pindi shape or knowledge of cosmic intricacies in human race. The abode of Maa “Kushmanda” is in Bhimaparvat.

Maa Kushmanda - The Forth Form of Mother Durga — Maa Kushmanda – The Forth Form of Mother Durga

Maa Skandamata – Using a lion as a vehicle She holds her son, “Skand” in her lap while displaying 3 eyes and 4 hands; two hands hold lotuses while the other 2 hands respectively display defending and granting gestures. It’s said, by the mercy of Maa “Skandmata”, even the imbecile “Kalidas” becomes an ocean of knowledge.

Maa Skandamata - The Fifth Form of Mother Durga — Maa Skandamata – The Fifth Form of Mother Durga

Maa Katyayani – As mother, Maa “Katyayani” stayed in the Ashram of sage Katyayan for penance, hence She named as “Katyayani”. This 6th Shakti also rides on a lion with 3 eyes and 4 arms. One left hand holds a weapon and the other a lotus. The other 2 hands respectively display defending and granting gestures. Her complexion is golden coloured.

Maa Katyayani - The Sixth Form of Mother Durga — Maa Katyayani – The Sixth Form of Mother Durga

Maa Kalaratri – Black skin with bountiful hair and 4 hands, 2 clutching a cleaver and a torch, while the remaining 2 are in the mudras of “giving” and “protecting”. She is mounted upon a Donkey. The destroyer of darkness and ignorance, Maa “Kalaratri” is the seventh form of Nav-Durga meaning scourer of darkness; enemy of darkness.

Maa Kalaratri - The Seventh Form of Mother Durga — Maa Kalaratri – The Seventh Form of Mother Durga

Maa Mahagauri – Four arms with the fairest complexion of all the Durga Shaktis. Peace and compassion radiate from Her being and She is often dressed in a white or green sari. She holds a drum and a trident and is often depicted riding a bull. Maa “Mahagauri can be seen in a temple at Kankhal near pilgrim centre Haridwar.

Maa Mahagauri - The Eighth Form of Mother Durga — Maa Mahagauri – The Eighth Form of Mother Durga

Maa Siddhidatri – Ensconced upon a lotus, most commonly, with 4 arms, and is the possessor of 26 different wishes to grant Her bhakts. Maa Siddhidatri’s famous pilgrim centre, is located in Nanda Parvat in the Himalayas.

Maa Siddhidatri - The Ninth Form of Mother Durga — Maa Siddhidatri – The Ninth Form of Mother Durga

The nine manifestations of Maa Durga that are worshiped with fervor during Navratri, are believed to lift divine spirit in us to help us overcome obstacles and get liberated from unnecessary qualities to be filled with new freedom and purity.