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Navadurga
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Navadurga, depicted surrounding Durga, worshipped in Varanasi

Navadurga(Devanagari: ), which literally means Nine forms of Goddess Durga, constitute

according to Hindu mythology, the manifestation of Goddess Durga, the Mother Goddess, in nine
different forms. These nine forms of manifestation are:

ailaputr

Brahmachrin

Candraghant

Kuamnd

Skandamt

Ktyyan

Klartr

Mahgaur

Siddhidtr

These nine forms are worshipped together during the Navratri(Nine Divine Nights) celebrations, that
occur four times throughout the year, namely:

Chaitra Navratri

Sharad Navratri(most significant and widely celebrated)

Maha Gupta Navratri

Ashadha Gupta Navratri

Contents
[hide]

1Forms Of Manifestation

2Individual Characteristics Of Navadurga

3References

4External links

Forms Of Manifestation[edit]
Durga is the Mother Goddess of the Hindus. She is known by a variety of names including Devi, Shakti, Adi Parashakti and Parvati.The Navadurga are the different forms of Devi:
1. Devi Siddidhatri - In the beginning of the universe, Lord Rudra worshipped the unmanifest
form of the Mother Goddess, Adi Parashakti for creation. As Adi Parashakti, the Mother
Goddess was pure energy and had no form. She thus appeared in the form
of Siddhidatri from the left half of Shiva.
1. Devi Kushmanda - After taking the form of Siddhidatri, the Mother Goddess started living
within the Sun thereby liberating the Sun's energy to the universe. Since then, this form of
the Goddess has been known as Kushmanda, namely for her power and capability to live
inside the Sun. The glow and radiance of her body is as luminous as that of the Sun.
1. Devi Brahmacharini - After the Kushmanda form, the Mother Goddess took birth at the home
of Daksha Prajapati, as his daughter, Sati, who was born to marry Shiva. This unmarried
form of the Mother Goddess is worshipped as Brahmacharini.
1. Devi Shailputri - After self-immolation in Her form as Sati, the Mother Goddess took birth as
the daughter of Lord Himalaya. In Sanskrit, Shail means "the mountain", due to which this
form is known asShailputri, the daughter of the mountain.
1. Devi Mahagauri - According to Hindu mythologies, the Goddess Shailputri at the age of
sixteen was extremely beautiful and blessed with a fair complexion. Due to her extremely
fair complexion, she was known as Goddess Mahagauri.
1. Devi Chandraghanta - Goddess Chandraghanta is the married form of the Mother Goddess
following on from Shailputri and Mahagauri. After getting married to Shiva, Goddess
Mahagauri started adorning her forehead with a half moon(Chandra) shaped like a
bell(Ghanta) due to which, she became known as Goddess Chandraghanta.
1. Devi Skandamata - In her form as mother of the God of War, Lord Skanda(also known
as Kartikeya), she is known as Goddess Skandamata.

1. Devi Katyayani - To destroy demon Mahishasura, the Mother Goddess manifested

as Goddess Katyayani. This is one of the more violent forms of the Mother Goddess in
which she manifests as a Warrior Goddess.
1. Devi Kalaratri - This is the fiercest and the most ferocious form of the Mother Goddess, in
which she manifests to destroy the demons, Sumbha and Nisumbha.

Individual Characteristics Of Navadurga[edit]

Each one of Navadurga is known by a particular name and each goddess has Her respective
governing planet, iconography(in the form of a mount, number of hands and items held), mantra for
invocation (usually repeated 108 times at each sitting during the period of Navratri), dedicated day of
Navratri worship and respective prayers(pratharna, stuti, dyana, etc.):

Shailaputri

Day of worship: 1st day of Navratri

Governing planet: Moon
Mantra: Om Devi Shailaputryai Namah
Iconography: She rides a bull, carrying a Trishul(trident) in her right hand and a lotus flower in Her
left hand.

Brahmacharini

Day of worship: 2nd day of Navratri

Governing planet: Mars
Mantra: Om Devi Brahmacharinyai Namah
Iconography: Walks on bare feet, carrying a japa mala in Her right hand and a kamandalu in Her left
hand.

Chandraghanta

Day of worship: 3rd day of Navratri

Governing planet: Venus
Mantra: Om Devi Chandraghantayai Namah
Iconography: Goddess Chandraghanta mounts the tigress. She wears the semi-circular
moon(Chandra) on her forehead. The half-moon on her forehead looks like the bell(Ghanta) and
hence, Her name. She is depicted with ten hands. Goddess Chandraghanta carries Trishul, Gada,
sword and kamandalu in Her four left hands and keeps the fifth left hand in Varadamudra. She
carries a lotus flower, arrow, Dhanush andJapa Mala in Her four right hands and keeps the fifth right
hand in Abhaya Mudra.
Special powers: This form of the Mother Goddess is ready for war with all her weapons, to protect
the peace and welfare of Her devotees.It is believed that the sound of the moon-bell on her forehead
drives all types of spirits away from Her devotees.

Kushmanda

Day of worship: 4th day of Navratri

Governing planet: Sun

Mantra: Om Devi Kushmandayai Namah
Iconography: Rides on a lioness and has eight hands. She holds a kamandalu, Dhanush, Bada and
Kamal in Her right hands. Her left hands hold Amrit Kalash(pot of nectar), japa mala(prayer beads),
Gada and Chakra - in that order.
Specific power: She created the universe in the flash of Her smile and is believed to bestow
siddhis(supernatural powers) and niddhis(wealth) to Her devotees.

Skandamata

Day of worship: 5th day of Navratri

Governing planet: Mercury
Mantra: Om Devi Skandamatayai Namah
Iconography: Goddess Skandamata mounts the ferocious lion. She carries baby Skanda in her lap.
Lord Skanda(also known as Kartikeya or Lord Murugan) is the brother of Ganesha. Goddess
Skandamata is depicted with four hands. She carries lotus flowers in Her upper two hands. She
holds baby Skanda in one of Her right hands and keeps the other right hand in Abhayamudra. She
sits on a lotus flower and because of that, is also known as Goddess Padmasana.
Special powers: Devotees who worship this form of the Mother Goddess get the added benefit of
blessings of Lord Skanda, the God of War(also known as Kartikeya).

Katyayini

Day of worship: 6th day of Navratri

Governing planet: Jupiter
Mantra: Om Devi Katyayanyai Namah
Iconography: Goddess Katyayani rides on a magnificent lion and is depicted with four hands. She
carries a lotus flower and sword in her left hands respectively and keeps her right hands
in Abhayamudra andVaradamudras.

Kaalratri

Day of worship: 7th day of Navratri

Governing planet: Saturn
Mantra: Om Devi Kalaratryai Namah
Iconography: Her complexion is dark black and She rides on a donkey. She is depicted with four
hands. Her right hands are in Abhayamudra and Varadamudra. She carries a sword and deadly iron
hook in her left hands.

Mahagauri

Day of worship: 8th day of Navratri

Governing planet: Rahu
Mantra: Om Devi Mahagauryai Namah

Iconography: She rides the bull, just like Goddess Shailputri. She has four arms, holding a Trishul in
one of her right hands and depicts the Abhayamudra with the other right hand. She carries
a Damaru in one left hand and depicts the Varadamudra in her other left hand.

Siddhidaatri

Day of worship: 9th day of Navratri

Governing planet: Ketu
Mantra: Om Devi Siddhidatryai Namah
Iconography: Goddess Siddhidatri sits on Kamal and rides on the lion. She is depicted with four
hands. She has Gada in the one right hand, Chakra in the other right hand, lotus flower in the left
hand and Shankh in the other left hand.
Specific power: She bestows all types of siddhi(supernatural powers) to her devotees and hence is
worshipped by humans, ghandarvas, asuras and devas alike.