NAVADURGA

NAVADURGA

Goddess Durga is the symbol of power. She is worshipped in nine different

forms and is therefore termed Nava Durga. Each goddess has a different

form and a special significance.

Nava Durga, if worshipped with utmost devotion during NAVARATRI, is

believed to bestow spiritual fulfilment to the devoted.

॥ नव- ॥

व ।

।

॥

न ।

॥

नव नव ।

न न न व न ॥

Contd..2

-2-

॥ nava-durgā stotra ॥

brahmovāca ।

prathamaṁ śailaputrīti dvitīyaṁ brahmacāriṇī ।

tr tīyaṁ candraghaṇṭeti kūṣmāṇḍeti caturthakam ॥

pañcamaṁ skandamāteti ṣaṣṭhaṁ kātyāyanī tathā ।

saptamaṁ kālarātriśca mahāgaurīti cāṣṭamam ॥

navamaṁ siddhidātrī ca navadurgāḥ prakīrtitāḥ ।

uktānyetāni nāmāni brahmaṇaiva mahātmanā ॥

Lord Brahma gives these nine names of Nava Durgā in Devi Mahatyam

(Devi Kavacham) -

1) Śailaputrī (Daughter of the Himālayas)

2) Brahmachāriṇī (One who observes the state of celibacy doing penance)

3) Chandraghaṇṭā ( One who bears the moon in her necklace )

4) Kūṣmāṇḍa (the creator of the universe)

5) Skanda-Mātā (The mother of Skanda, Kārttikeya, born out of her powers)

6) Kātyāyanī (The daughter of sage Kātyāyana, who incarnated to help the

Devas)

7) Kālarātrī (black as night, destroyer of demon entities and negative

energies)

8) Mahāgaurī (the wife of Lord Shiva, doing great penance)

9) Siddhidātrī (Provider of Siddhis, giver of mystic powers)

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NAVADURGA - 1/9 - Maa Shailaputri

"Shail" means mountains and “Putri" means daughter, is the first Nava

Durga. Parvathi, the daughter of the King of Mountains, married to Lord

Shiva after performing a severe penance. In her previous birth she was the

daughter of Daksha Prajapathi. In order to marry Lord Shiva she sacrificed

her life in Yagna Vatika to incarnate as Maa Shailaputri.

Moon is believed to be the provider of all fortunes and is governed by

Goddess Shailaputri. It is believed that by worshipping this form of Adi

Shakti one can overcome any bad effect of the Moon.

Day of worship: 1st day of Navarathri

Governing planet: Moon

Mantra :

Om Devi Shailputryai Namah (108 times recitation of this mantra)

Vande Vanchhit Laabhaay, Chandrardhkritshekharaam |

Vrisharudham Shooldharaam Shailputriim Yashaswinim ||

Meaning: I worship Goddess Shailputri to fulfill my wishes, who is adorned

with crescent moon on her head, rides on a Nandi (bull), carrying a trishul

and is illustrious.

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NAVADURGA - 2/9 - Maa Brahmacharini

'Brahma' implies penance and 'Charini' means female follower.

Brahmacharini thus means one who performed ‘Tapasya’.

Goddess Parvati, after being born to Himavan, the King of Himalayas, went

for severe Tapasya for over several thousands of years, in order to attain

Lord Shiva as her partner.

It was Rishi Narada who advised Devi Parvati to perform penance. In the

course, she suffered many hazards from nature. She gave up water, food

and survived by consuming leaves, towards the end she had nothing. For

this reason, she is also known as Aparna. Later, Lord Shiva accepted Devi

Parvati as his wife.

Maa Brahmacharini is believed to govern the planet of Lord Mangal which

brings good fortune. By worshipping the goddess, devotees believe to be

rewarded with peace, virtue, prosperity, happiness and emancipation,

which serve us an inspiration to move forward in life. She is also known as

Tapascharini and Uma.

Contd..2

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Day of worship: 2nd day of Navratri

Governing planet: Mangal (Mars)

Mantra :

Om Devi Brahmcharinyai Namah (108 times recitation of this mantra)

Dadhaanaa Kar Padaabhyaamakshmala Kamandalu |

Devi Prasidati Mayi Brahmcharinyanuttamaa.

Meaning: O Goddess Brahmcharini, who holds rosary and Kamandalu in her

hands, please shower your grace on me.

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NAVADURGA - 3/9 - Maa Chandraghaṇṭā

‘Chandra’ means moon and ‘ghanta’ here means bell-shaped. The Goddess

wears a half-moon on her head which is in the shape of a bell and thus the

name. She is also known as Chandika because of her ferocious form and

warrior-like stance.

As per legend, after years of penance performed by Goddess Parvati, when

Lord Shiva agreed to marry her, they both were overwhelmed and were

soon to celebrate their union. Shiva went to Parvati’s house with an army of

gods, mortals, ghosts, sivaganaas, sages etc. As soon as Parvati’s parents

saw Shiva they fainted in terror as he had a huge body, long hair, serpent

around his neck and wore tiger skin as clothes.

Parvati to match up to his description then took a form of Chandraghanta as

to not let him feel insulted. But she soon requested Shiva to take charming

form so that her parents could accept him as a son-in-law. Shiva then

appeared as a prince, well dressed and decorated with jewels. Parvati

brought her parents back into consciousness. A marriage ceremony then

took place.

Contd..2

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Day of worship: 3rd day of Navratri

Governing planet: Venus

Mantra: Om Devi Chandraghantayai Namah (108 times recitation of this

mantra)

Pindaj Pravara Rudha Chand Kopastra Keyurta |

Prasadam Tanute Maham Chandra Ghanteti Vishruta ||

Meaning : Goddess Chandraghanta who rides a tiger and holds weapons in

ten hands, please shower your blessings on us.

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NAVADURGA - 4/9 - Maa Kushmanda

Ku means "a little", Ushma means "warmth" or "energy" and Anda means

"cosmic egg". Maa Kushmanda created the universe with her divine smile.

When the universe was non-existent and darkness prevailed everywhere,

Maa Kushmanda produced the Cosmic egg with her smile, bringing light to

the universe. Maa Kushmanda has the power and strength to live in the

core of the Sun. Her luminosity gives the Sun its brightness.

Day of worship: 4th day of Navratri

Governing planet: Sun

Mantra: Om Devi Kushmandayai Namah (108 times recitation of this

mantra)

Sura-sampurn-kalasham Rudhiraplutmeva Cha |

Dadhana Hast-padhmabhyaam Kushmanda Shubhdaastu me ||

May Kushmanda Maa who holds two pitchers full of blood in her lotus

hands and the universe is created, sustained and drawn within Devi’s

ownself, in a wink be propitious for me.

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NAVADURGA - 5/9 - Maa Skandamatha

'Skanda' is the name given to Kumara Kartikeya (aka Lord Muruga). Goddess

Parvati is the mother of Skanda and thus revered with name 'Skandamatha

'.

Devotees who worship this form of the Mother Goddess gets the added

benefit of blessings of Lord Skanda, the God of War.

Day of worship: 5th day of Navratri

Governing planet: Mercury (Budha)

Mantra: Om Devi Skandamatayai Namah (108 times recitation of this

mantra)

Sinhaasangataam Nityam Padmaanchit Kardwayaa |

Shubhdaastu Sadaa Devi Skandmata Yashaswini ||

Meaning : Skandmata who rides on Lion with Kartikeya, holds lotus in her

two hands and Varmudra in one hand, be propitious to me.

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NAVADURGA - 6/9 - Maa Katyayani

Sage Katyayana performed severe penance for several years to Maa

Bhagawathi for having the goddess as his daughter. Finally his wish was

granted and Maa Durga took birth in his clan due to which she is referred as

Maa Katyayani.

Goddess was worshipped by Lord Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma to destroy

demon Mahishasura, who was creating misery in the abode of gods. Maa

Katyayani, as the powerful and fierce form of goddess Durga vanquished

Mahishasura on the Vijaya Dashmi day.

Mantra : Om Devi Katyayanyayi Namah (108 times recitation of this mantra)

Chandrahaasojjval Karaa Shaardoolvarvaahanaa |

Katyayani Shubham Dadyaad Devi Daanavghatini ||

Meaning: Devi Katyayani, who holds Chandrahaas Sword, rides on Lion, and

destroying demons, be propitious to me.

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NAVADURGA - 7/9 - Maa Kalaratri

Kalaratri means the One who is “the Death of Kaal”. Here Kaal is dedicated

as time & death. Kalaratri is the one who destroys ignorance and removes

darkness. This form primarily depicts that life also has dark side – the

violent Mother Nature creates havoc and removes all dirt.

In this form Goddess Kalratri killed Raktabeej. Raktabeej was a demon who

could multiply from every drop of his blood which fell on the ground. The

Goddess Kaalratri killed him by consuming the blood before it could reach

the ground and hence conquered him.

Mantra : Om Devi Kalratryayi Swaha (108 times Recitation)

Ekveni Japakarnpoora Nagn Kharaasthita |

Lamboshthi Karnika karni Tailaabhyaktshariirini ||

Vaam Paadollasallohlata Kantakbhushanaa |

Bardhan Moordham Dhwajaa Krishnaa Kalratribhayankari ||

Meaning: She is naked, rides on a donkey with a long tongue, lustrous body,

wearing ornaments in the legs like lightning, black in color, untied hair, big

eyes and ears and very formidable looking. Meditating on this form of

Kalratri removes all obstacles as well as removes all effects of magic woven

by others.

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NAVADURGA - 8/9 - Maa Mahagauri

‘Gauri’ refers to clean and pure, so Mahagauri is the bright ray of hope

spreading the waves of love in the universe.

The severe penance performed by her to receive Lord Shiva as her consort

was finally cherished by her in this form, when Lord Shiva cleaned her with

Ganga jal.

Ganga ji acted as an enhancer to the beauty of Goddess Parvati and so her

shining white appearance was named as Mahagauri.

Day of worship: 8th day of Navratri

Governing planet: Rahu

Mantra: Om Devi Mahagauryayi Namah (108 times Recitation of Mahagauri

Mantra)

Shwete Vrishesamarudha Shwetaambardhara Shuchih |

Mahagauri Shubham Dadyanmahadev Praodadaa ||

Meaning: Goddess Mahagauri who rides on white bull, wears pure white

clothes, giver of happiness, be propitious to me.

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NAVADURGA - 9/9 - Maa Siddidhatri

Lord Rudra worshipped Adi-Parashakti (Formless Sakthi) for creation in the

beginning of the universe. Adi-Parashakthi the supreme Goddess of Power

appeared in the form of Siddidhatri from the left half of Lord Shiva.

As per “Devipuran” it is said that Lord Shiva got all the Eight Siddhis by

worshipping Maha Shakti.

Day of worship: 9th day of Navratri

Governing planet: Ketu

Mantra: Om Devi Siddhidatryayi Namah (108 times Recititation of

Siddhidatri Mantra)

Siddha Gandharva Yakshdyairasurairamarairapi |

Sevyamaanaa Sadabhuyaat Siddhida Siddhidayini ||

Meaning: Goddess Siddhidatri who is worshipped by Siddha, Gandharva,

Yaksh, Gods, Demons etc., holds Conch, Chakra, Gada and Lotus in her

hands, giver of all siddhis and victory all over, be propitious to me.

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