NavDurga -The nine forms of Goddess Durga

 NavDurga – The nine forms of Goddess Durga:

नवदुर्गा  

NavDurga – the nine Forms of Durga are pleased with special offerings and prayers. This Hindu festival is dedicated to Goddess Durga and her 9 avatars. On each of these nine days, Hindus worship the nine different manifestation of Durga or Shakti.

The significance of Nav Durga is narrated and reiterated in every Hindu household especially during the Navratris as this is the time when Goddess Durga descends from the heaven to bless her beloved devotees.

Nava also means ‘nine’ – it denotes the number to which sages attach special significance. Hence, we have Nava-rātri (9 nights), Nava-patrika (9 leaves / herbs / plants), Nava-graha (9 planets), and Nava-Durgā (9 forms of Durga).

According to vedic scriptures, Goddess Durgā is a symbol of power. She is worshipped in nine different forms and is therefore termed Nava-durgā. Each of the nine manifestation of Durgā is worshipped with full devotion during Navarātri.

1.) Śailaputrī (Daughter of the Himālayas) -First Day Pooja The first form of Goddess Durga is called Shailputri . She is considered the daughter of the Himalayas. She is a form of Maa Shakti, the consort of Lord Shiva.                                                                                        शैलपुत्री
                                                                                   1. Śailaputrī

2.) Brahmachāriṇī (One who observes the state of celibacy doing penance) – Second Day Pooja The second form of Goddess Durga is known as ‘Brahmacharini’. Her name is derivative of the word ‘Brahma’, which means ‘Tapa’ or penace. She is also a form of Uma or Parvati, a form of Mata Shakti. 

ब्रह्मचारिणी
2. Brahmachāriṇī

3.) Chandraghaṇṭā ( One who bears the moon in her necklace ) – Third Day Pooja On the Third form of  goddess is worshipped as Chandraghanta. She is the symbolic representation of beauty and bravery.                                                                                       चन्द्रघण्टा
                                                                                 3. Chandraghaṇṭā

4.) Kūṣmāṇḍa (the creator of the universe) – Fourth Day Pooja Kushmanda, is the Forth form of the goddess which is worshipped on the fourth day. It is believed that Kushmanda is the creator of the entire Universe and she has created the entire Universe by her laugh.

कूष्माण्डा
4. Kūṣmāṇḍa

5.) Skanda-Mātā (The mother of Skanda, Kārttikeya, born out of her powers) – Fifth Day Pooja On the fifth form of Goddess is called Skand Mata. She is actually called so because she is here represented as the mother of Skanda, the chief warrior of the Gods army.

स्कन्दमाता
5. Skanda-Mātā

6.) Kātyāyanī (The daughter of sage Kātyāyana, who incarnated to help the Devas) – Sixth Day On the sixth form of goddess is worshipped as Katyayani. Seated on her vehicle lion, Katyayani has three eyes and four hands.                                                                                         कात्यायनी
                                                                                      6. Kātyāyanī

7.) Kālarātrī (black as night, destroyer of Kālī) – Seventh Day Pooja On the seventh form of Goddess is worshipped as ‘Kalratri’. As the name suggests, Kalrati is as black as a dark night. She has four hands, she is meant to make the devotees fearless.

कालरात्रि
7. Kālarātrī

8.) Mahāgaurī (the wife of Lord Shiva, doing great penance) – Eighth Day Pooja On the eight form of Goddess Mata Rani is worshipped as ‘Maha Gauri’. She is considered to extremely beautiful, white like snow and accessorized with white colored ornaments. She represents calmness and exhibits wisdom.महागौरी
8. Mahāgaurī

9.) Siddhidātrī (Provider of Siddhis, giver of mystic powers) – Ninth Day Pooja On the ninth form of Goddes Durga is worshipped as Siddhidatri. It is believed she consists of all the eight siddhis. She lives on lotus and is worshipped by all the Rishis-Munis, Siddhas, Sadhakas and Yogis.

सिद्धिदात्री
9. Siddhidātrī

---