9 GODDESS OF NAVARATRI

For navratri, the 9 forms of Goddess Durga are worshiped. However many of us do not even know the history behind each of Navratri nine goddesses.
The adoration and worship of goddess Durga assumes
special
significance for Hindu devotees. Goddess Durga manifests herself in
countless forms. Devotees enjoy Her grace by worshipping Her diverse
forms. Twice a year the Nine Manifestations of goddess Durga are
specially adored and worshipped.  These religious rites which continue
for nine nights go by the name of ‘Nine – Night
Worship’.  The worship of goddess Durga is celebrated with great gaiety and devotion throughout the length and breadth of the whole country.

During these Nine Nights (Navaraatri), nine different incarnations of goddess Durga
are adored.  These nine diverse forms of goddess Durga embody all her
powers.  They fulfill all the desires of the devotees and enable them to
enjoy honour and reverence here in this world and salvation hereafter
in the other world.

The Nine Manifestations of goddess Durga are as follows:

1. Shailputri
2. Brahmachaarini
3. Chandraghantaa
4. Kushmaandaa
5. Skandmaataa
6. Kaatyaayani
7. Kaalaraatri
8. Mahagauri
9. Siddhidaatri

 

Mother Shailputri (The Daughter of Mountain)

Among the
Nine Durgas, Mother Shailputri is considered to be the fi...

The narrative regarding her birth has been described in the Scriptures as follows:

Mother Shailputri in her previous birth was born as a daughter to Patriach Daksha.  She
was named ‘Sati’.  She had been deeply devoted to Lord Shiva since
her childhood.  When she grew into a maiden, she propitiated
Lord Shiva by her penance and devotion and desired to beget him as her
consort.  Lord Shiva bestowed the desired boon on her and accepter her
as his consort.

Once Patriarch Daksha organized a great sacrifice in which all the gods including
Brahma, Vishnu, Indra and saints and sages were invited but Lord Shiva
was excluded.  When Goddess Sati came to know of it, she could not
tolerate the disgrace of Lord Shiva.  She felt extremely agitated.  So,
she decided to pay a visit to her father.

Getting angry Sati spoke to Lord Shiva, “O Dear Lord! My father Patriarch Daksha is
performing a grand sacrifice.  All the gods, saints, seers and
sages have been invited to participate in this sacrifice, but he has
disgraced you openly by not inviting you.  I can never bear your
insult.  So, you kindly let me go to my father to speak out my mind to
him.”

Seeing the infuriated Sati, Lord Shiva said to her, “O Goddess!  It does not
behove you to lose your temper over such a trifle.  Patriarch Daksha is
the performer of this great sacrifice.  It is his sweet will to invite
or ignore any one.  You must not poke your nose into his affairs.  Such
trivial steps may cause bitterness in relations.”

Sati’s anger did not subside even after such a sermon given to her by Lord Shiva.
Seeing her great obduracy, Lord Shiva ultimately granted her the
permission to see her father.

When Goddess Sati reached the site of the sacrifice, she heard everybody denouncing
Lord Shiva.  Even Patriarch Daksha, her father, surrounded by
his servants was busy with the denunciation of Lord Shiva.  All her
sisters were mocking at Sati.  Such a hostile situation fanned the fire
of her fury all the more.  She failed to endure such a horrible disgrace
of her Lord and consigned herself to the sacrificial flames.  When Lord
Shiva heard of Sati’s self-immolation, he sent his attendants to
destroy the sacrifice.

Sati in her next birth was born as a daughter to Himalaya, the Lord of
Mountains.  She was named Parvati.  Since she was born as a daughter to
the mountain-king Himalaya, she is also known as Shailputri.  She
propitiated Lord Shiva by her severe penance and begot him has her
husband.  Among the Nine Durgas, the importance and powers of Mother
Shailputri are unlimited.  On the first day of auspicious Navaraatri,
she alone is adored and worshipped.

 

Mother Brahmchaarini

The second
manifestation of ‘Nine Durgas’ is Mother Brahmchaari...

Having immolated herself in the sacrificial fire, Sati was born of Maina as a daughter
to the Mountain-King Himalaya.  Keeping in view her auspicious traits,
she was given the name of ‘Parvati’.  When she had grown up into
a beautiful maiden, the celestial sage Narada while roaming about
happened to reach the court of king Himalaya.

Sage Narade was warmly welcomed by the Lord of mountains.  Thereafter Himalaya and
Maina prayed to Sage Narada to predict the future of Parvati by reading
her palms.  Sage Narada agreed to their request.  So,
Parvati was brought to the court in no time.

Seeing Goddess Parvati, Sage Narada stood up and bowed to her with great reverence.
The mountain-king Himalaya and queen Maina were amazed at such an
unusual behavior of Sage Narada.

They were curious to know the cause of this unique behavior from Sage Narada.
Thereupon he spoke with a smile, “O Lord of Mountains!  This daughter
of yours in her previous birth was Sati, the daughter of Patriarch
Daksha and the consort of Lord Shiva.  She had cast off her body in the
sacrificial fire as Daksha hurled disgrace on Lord Shiva.  Now she is
born again as your daughter Parvati.  That is why I bowed to her.  By
virtue of her merits, she shall again beget Lord Shiva as her
husband.”

Having listened to the prediction of Sage Narade, Goddess Parvati inquired of him how
to beget Lord Shiva as her consort.  Thereupon Sage Narade advised her
to perform an austere penance.

Acting upon the advice of Sage Narada, Goddess Parvati renounced all the pleasures
of the palace and started performing penance to beget Lord Shiva as her
husband.

She spent the first thousand years of her penance by living on fruit and roots.
Thereafter she lived on leaves for another three thousand years of her
penance.  Then she lived on water and then air alone braving heat
and cold, rain and storms and all kinds of sufferings.

Goddess Parvati meditated on Lord Shiva for thousands of years.  The austere penance
performed by her reduced her to a mere skeleton.  A great hue and cry
prevailed in the three worlds because of her severe penance.  All the
Gods including Indra and Saints and Sage were terrified by her penance.
They approached Brahma in a body and prayed to him to bestow the
desired boon on Parvati.

At last Brahma, the Great Grandfather, appeared before Parvati and said to
her, “O Goddess!  All the Gods bow to you in deep reverence.  Such an
austere penance can be performed only by you.  Your cherished desire
shall soon be fulfilled.  You shall beget Lord Shiva as your consort.
By virtue of this austere penance you shall be known as
“Brahmchaarini” –
a woman of celibacy.  Thereafter Brahma restored her physical charm and
grace.

Thus Goddess Parvati begot Lord Shiva as her husband by virtue of her penance.  She earned the reputation of being a Brahmchaarini.

The worship of Mother Brahmchaarini is conducive to penance, renunciation, virtue
and nobility.  Her devotees are endowed with peace and prosperity.  On
the second of the Navaraatri, Mother Brahmchaarini is adored and
worshipped.

 

Mother Chandraghanta

On the
third day of the Navaraatri, the Third Power (Shakti) that e...

By her grace all the sins, distresses, physical sufferings, mental
tribulations and ghostly hurdles of the devotees are eradicated.  Riding
on the lion the Mother inspires her devotees with fearlessness.  She is
the very embodiment of serenity.  The devotees who adore and worship her
with their deeds, minds and speech develop an aura of divine splendor.
Their persons emit out invisible power-waves which exercise a
great impact on those who come in contact with them.  They easily
achieve success in every walk of life.  Mother Chandraghantaa is ever
ready to destroy the wicked, but to her devotees she is ever visible as
the kind and compassionate Mother showering peace and prosperity.

The complexion possessed by Mother Chandraghantaa is golden.  She possesses
ten arms which wield weapons and missiles like the sword, the bow, the
mace, the arrows and the like.  During the battle between the gods and
the demons, the horrible sound produced by her ghantaa had sent
thousands of wicked demons to the abode of the Death-god.  She is ever
in a warring posture which shows her eagerness to destroy the foes of
her devotees so that her devotees may ever live in peace and
prosperity.  Divine vision is acquired by her grace.  If a devotee
happens to enjoy divine fragrance and hears diverse sounds, he is said
to be blessed by the Mother.

Mother Chandraghantaa should be adores and worshipped with great purity in mind and heart
observing all the rites properly.  Having acquired her grace, we get rid
of all worldly turmoil and enjoy Supreme bliss.  Devotees should always
have her gentle form in their minds while meditating on her.

 

Mother Kushmaandaa

The fourth
manifestation of Goddess Durga is called Mother Kushmaan...

When this universe was non-existent and darkness prevailed everywhere, it was
Mother Kushmaandaa who produced the Cosmic Egg with her mild smile.
That is why she is called Mother Kushmaandaa as she created the universe
by a mere mild smile of hers.

At the time of the creation of the universe, it was none but Mother
Kushmaandaa who infused her own refulgence into the sun and the stars.
Since then each and every object and creature in this universe has been
getting its energy from her.

As she possesses eight arms, she is called the eight-armed Mother.  She wields
the kamandalu, the bow, the arrow, the lotus, the pot of nectar, the
disc, the mace and the  rosary bestowing all Perfections and Treasures
in her holy hands.  Her vehicle is the lion.  Mother Kushmaandaa confers
all achievements, powers, pelf and salvation on her devotees.  Her true
devotion is instrumental in destroying all ailments,
troubles and hurdles of devotees.

Mother Kushmaandaa is the bestower of all pleasures.  She gets please with service and
devotion and fulfills all desires.  Her regular worship is conducive to
prosperity, pleasures, power and finally salvation.  Her adoration and
worship delivers a person from all kinds of ailments and leads him on to
the path of prosperity and pleasures.  So, a devotee should adore and
worship her with a purified mind and intellect.

 

Mother of Skanda (Skandamaataa)

Skandamaataa is
the fifth manifestion of Goddess Durga.  She is wor...

Lord Skanda can be seen in her lap.  She possesses four arms out of which two hold
the lotus flowers.  One of her hands is always in the boon-conferring
gesture and with the other she holds her son Skanda in her lap.  Her
complexion is white and she is seated on the lotus.  So, she is also
called the Goddess with a lotus-seat.  The Lion also is her vehicle.

Skandamaataa who possesses the brilliance of the sun fulfills all the desires of her devotees.  He who is selflessly devoted to her attains all the achievements and treasures of life.

The worship of Skandamaataa purifies the heart of a devotee.  While worshipping her
devotee should have absolute control over his senses and
mind.  He should free himself from worldly bondage and worship her with
a single-pointed devotion.  Her worship is twice blessed.  When the
devotee worships her, Lord Skanda, her son in her lap, is automatically
worshipped.  Thus the devotee happens to enjoy the grace of Skandamaataa
along with the grace of Lord Skanda.

If devotee worships her devoid of selfishness, the Mother blesses them with power
and pelf.  The devotees who worship Skandamaataa shine with divine
splendor.  Her worship is ultimately conducive to salvation.

 

Mother Kaatyaayani

Mother Kaatyaayani
is worshipped as the sixth manifestation of Godd...

The world-renowned sage Kaatyaayana was born in the dynasty of sage Kaatya.  He was an
excellent devotee of Goddess Durga.  He performed an austere penance for
many years to propitiate her.  Being delighted by his devotion, Goddess
Durga appeared before him and asked him to demand the desired boon.
Thereupon the great Sage Kaatyaayana demanded that she should be born as
a daughter to him.  Goddess Durga granted his wish.

When the atrocities committed by Mashisha, the wicked demon, became intolerable
on the Earth, Goddess Durga’s sixth manifestation appeared as a
daughter to sage Kaatyaayana.  She came to be known as ‘Kaatyaayani’
as she was the daughter of Sage Kaatyaayana.

As soon as Mother Kaatyaayani was born, she assumed a huge and massive form.
Seeing her Universal Form, sage Kaatyaayana bowed to her with great
reverence and adored and worshipped her for three days from the Bright
seventh to ninth.  Having accepted the adoration and worship of the
sage, Mother Kaatyaayani assassinated demon Mashisha.

Another version in the Puraanas is that the sixth incarnation of Goddess Durga was due
to the combined splendor emanating from the persons of Brahma, Vishnu
and Mahesha.  Since sage Kaatyaayana was the first to worship her, she
came to be called ‘Kaatyaayani’.

Mother Kaatyaayani can give everything to her devotees.  The gopis of Braja too worshipped
her on the banks of the Yamuna in order to beget Lord Krishna as their
husband.  The four-armed Mother Kaatyaayani rides the Lion.  She is
easily propitiated by devotion and destroys all sins of her devotees.
Her worship is conducive to Dharma, wealth, pleasures and
salvation.

 

Mother Kaalaraatri

The seventh
manifestation of Goddess Durga is Kaalaraatri (Night of...

The hair on her head is very dense but disheveled.  She is bedecked with a
glorious garland round her neck which emits great refulgence.  She
breathes out horrible and terrible flames of fire.  Although her person
is absolutely black yet refulgent rays keep on emanating from it.

Her vehicle is the Donkey.  She is the four-armed Goddess.  She wields the sword
and a pointed weapon in her two hands while her other two hands can be
seen in the boon-conferring gesture and the gesture of fearlessness.

Although the outward form of Mother Kaalaraatri is extremely frightening yet she
always bestows boons on her devotees.  So, she is also called
Shubhankari as she always brings about the welfare of her devotees.  All
sins are washed off by her adoration and worship.  Devotees  deserve all
kinds of merits by having her vision.  Those who adore and worship her
selflessly are relieved of all distresses and turmoil.  They enjoy
prosperity and pleasures.

Mother Kaalaraatri is the destroyer of demons, ghosts, goblins and evil-minded
persons.  All planetary hurdles are removed if a devotee chants her name
with devotion.  She confers the state of fearlessness on her devotees.
A devotee should worship her with a purified mind and intellect in
order to derive full merit by his devotion.

 

Mother Mahagauri

Goddess Parvati
made up her mind to perform an austere penance as a...

Her severe penance continued for many years.  She braved heat and cold, rains and
drought and terrible storms.  Her body was covered with dust, earth,
soil and leaves of trees.  She had developed a blackish skin over
her body.  At last, Lord Shiva appeared before her and gave his solemn
word that he would marry her.  He bathed her vigourously by the holy
waters of the Ganga emanating from his matted hair.

The holy and sacred waters of Ganga washed off all the dirt clinging to
Parvati’s person with the result she became white-complexioned and
glorious.  Thus by virtue of having acquired a white complexion, Parvati
came to be known as Mahagauri (Extremely Fair).

Mother Mahagauri is worshipped on the eighth day of the Navaraatri.  She is the
four-armed Goddess.  Her vehicle is the Bullock.  This manifestation
of hers is very placid and serene.  All the sins of the devotees are
burnt to ashes by her adoration and worship.  She possesses invincible
powers and bestows merits on her devotees.  She destroys all the
distresses of her devotees and blesses them with all kinds of merits and
virtues.

Mother Mahagauri’s medidation, her adoration, her worship, and her devotion are conducive
to the welfare of devotees.  He who concentrates his mind on her enjoys
her blessings.  He who enjoys her grace achieves perfection in every
walk of life.  Mother Mahagauri fulfils all the desires of her
devotees.  She enables them to enjoy prosperity and pleasures here in
this world and salvation hereafter.

 

Mother Siddhidaatri (Bestower of Perfection)

On the
ninth and final day of the Navaraatri Mother Siddhidaatri (t...

When the Universal Mother was gripped with the idea of projecting Creation, She,
first of all, created Lord Shiva who prayed to Her to endow him with
perfections.  For this purpose, the Universal Mother (Durgaa) produced
Goddess Siddhedaatri from Her own person.  As the behest of the
Universal Mother, Goddess Siddidaatri bestowed eighteen kinds of rare
perfections and powers and potentialities on Lord Shiva.  By virtue of
these siddhies, Lord Shiva happened to develop a divine splendor.

Having acquired the siddhies from Goddess Siddhidaatri, Lord Shiva created Lord Vishnu
who in turn created Lord Brahma who was entrusted with the task of the
Creation whereas Lord Vishnu got the task of Protection and Lord Shiva
that of Destruction.

Lord Brahma felt a great difficulty in his task of the Creation in the absence of
man and woman.  Thereupon he remembered Mother Siddhidaatri.
When she appeared before him, Lord Brahma said to her, “Oh Great
Mother!  I cannot carry on with the task of the Creation in the absence
of man and woman.  You kindly solve this problem of mine through your
supernatural attainments (siddhies).”

Having heard Lord Brahma, Mother Siddidaatri converted half the person of Lord
Shiva into a woman.  Thus Lord Shiva became half-male and half-female
and came to be known as Ardhanaarishwara.  Thus the problem of Lord
Brahma was resolved and the task of the Creation went on smoothly.

The vehicle of Mother Siddhidaatri is the Lion.  She is seated on the lotus also.  Devotees get all their desires fulfilled by her adoration.  She bestows supernatural attainments on her devotees.

According to the Puraanas, Mother Siddhidaatri confers eighteen kinds of
supernatural attainments (siddhies) : Anima, Laghima, Praapti,
Praakaamya, Mahimaa, Ishitva (Vaashitva), Sarvakaamaavasaayitaa,
Sarvagyatva, Doorshravana, Parkaayapraveshana, Vaaksiddhi,
Kalpavrikshtva, Srishti, Sanhaarkaranasaamarthya, Amaratva,
Sarvanyaayakatva, Bhaavanaa, and Siddhi.

Mother Siddhidaatri possesses four arms.  She carries the mace, the lotus, the
conch-shell and the disc in her four hands.  He who acquires her grace
attains salvation after enjoying the pleasures of life.  She fulfils all
the mundane and divine aspirations of her devotees.  Her worship
destroys all distresses.