Nava Durga - Significance

Stage Nava Durga Form Legend For a Commoner Associated Chakra For a Spiritual Practitioner

1 Śailaputrī She’s the daughter (putrī) of King This form glorifies our childhood days. Mūlādhāra / Root Spiritually, this stage deals with the limiting
Himavan and Queen Mainavati, who tendencies of our mind, which are typically
ruled over a mountainous (śaila) region. formed during childhood.

2 Brahmachāriṇī
To fulfill her desire of marrying Lord
Shiva, Devi observed Brahmacharya
and performed severe penance.
Working on our personality and maintaining Svādhiṣṭhāna / Sacral
discipline with our pursuits helps us
succeed in life. This form of Devi reminds
the youth of this necessity.
Brahmacharya is a state of mind and body
where one follows self-restraints. Discipline is
the key to regulate our physical and emotional
urges that are associated with this stage of
spiritual progress.

3 Chandraghaṇṭā
Parvati's wedding gets stalled because This form denotes marriage and the Maṇipūra / Solar The next stage of spiritual progress is about
her mother faints at the mere sight of associated challenges. Plexus eliminating fears, exhibiting courage while
the groom, an unkempt hermit from the handling challenges and as a result, feeling a
jungle. To encourage Lord Shiva to sense of peace and calm.
appear in his princely form,
Chandrasekhar, and convince her
parents, she adorns herself as a bride
with a bell (ghaṇṭā) shaped moon
(chandra) on her forehead.

4 Kūṣmāṇḍa
Ku means ‘little’, ūshma is ‘warmth or This form of Devi celebrates the process Anāhata / Heart Syncing of our heart and mind is essential for
energy’ and aṇḍa means ‘egg’. Together and elements associated with reproduction. our harmonious living. This syncing brings
this name means ‘A little energy egg’ or about equanimity, which in turn helps us
the ‘Cosmic Egg’ which indicates that realize the seed of Divinity that exists in us.
she is the source of this creation.

5 Skanda-Mātā
Devi is now the mother (Mātā) of the
warlord Kārtikeya (Skanda).
This form cherishes parenthood.
Viśuddhi / Throat This stage refers to the cleaning up of
subconscious impurities. Skanda’s six heads
signify control over the six negative emotions:
kāma (detrimental desires), krōḍa (anger), lōḅa
(greed), mōha (attachment), mada (ego) and
mātsarya (jealousy).

6 Kātyāyanī Kātyāyanī, an avatar of Devi, is the It is the duty of parents to protect their child Ājñā / Third Eye This is a stage when wisdom sprouts and we
daughter of sage Kātyāyana. She takes from negativities and help them develop start seeing things from a different perspective.
this form to protect the Devas (loosely positive qualities. This form of Devi This change in perspective has the potential to
translated as the angels). emphasizes that requirement. bring out the divine in us.

7 Kālarātrī
Devi assumed this form for the Children don’t do as their parents say, they
annihilation of the demons Shumbh and do as their parents do! Kālarātrī denotes the
Nishumbh. removal of ignorance by building
awareness, which enables us to live
responsibly and inspire our children.
Sahasrāra / Crown Shumbh and Nishumbh represent
auspiciousness and inauspiciousness. Getting
over this duality which is caused by ignorance
and experiencing the Divine in everything is
the ultimate spiritual attainment.

8 Mahāgaurī
She is a wife and a mother, but she is While the family and world are important,
also a Yogini, practitioner of austerities. it’s essential to focus on self-care too. This
form of Devi reminds us to maintain our
serenity by working on our mind and taking
care of ourselves.
Sahasrāra / Crown Typically termed as Enlightenment, this is the
stage where we become radiant, compassionate
and firmly established in the Supreme
Consciousness.

9 Siddhidātrī Devi is the provider of Siddhi-s in this Siddhi in this context refers to our Beyond the Chakras In this state, known as Samādhi, we become
form. attainments through creative power. Only a one with the creator and can use our creative
focused mind, free from distractions, can energies for the betterment of this world.
create or do anything worthwhile.

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