Navaratri: Nine Forms of Mother Goddess
During Navaratri (the nine days), devotees solemnly worship the nine manifestations or forms of Goddess Durga, also known as Shakti. The Sharad Navratri or autumn Navratri is celebrated in the lunar month of Ashwin according to the Hindu calendar. Each day has a special significance, and one form of the Goddess is worshipped. Each day is also associated with one colour and one planetary body.
Nine Forms for Nine Days which culminates in Vijayadasami – the victorious 10th day:
Day 1 – Goddess Shailputri
This incarnation of Goddess Durga is the incarnation of the collective power of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara. The Goddess in this avatar is worshipped as the companion of Shiva. The literal meaning of Shailputri means the daughter (putri) of the mountain (Shaila). She is differently acknowledged by the names of Sati, Bhavani, Parvati, and Hemwati. She is the absolute embodiment of the power of Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahadev. The Goddess is represented with a crescent moon on the forehead, trident in right and lotus in the left hand. She rides on Nandi bull.
Colour orange is devoted to the day of Shailaputri. It represents enthusiasm, success, and happiness.
Day 2 – Goddess Brahmcharini
The second incarnation of Maa Durga. She is blissful and endows peace, prosperity, grace and happiness. Filled with bliss and happiness, she is the way to liberation or moksha. She is the Maa of austerity and penance as her name Brahmacharini represents the female who practices Brahmacharya (renunciation from worldly pleasures). She walks on bare feet, carrying a Japa mala in her right hand and kamandalu in her left hand. She endows her devotees with grace, blissfulness, peace, and prosperity.
White is the color of Brahmacharini synonymous with purity, virginity, inner peace, and sacredness.
Day 3 – Goddess Chandraghanta
She represents beauty and grace and is worshipped on the third day for peace, tranquillity and prosperity in life. She is the symbol of bravery. Chandraghanta wears a half-moon shaped like a bell on her forehead, which describes the etymology of her name. She adorned her forehead with the half-moon after marrying Lord Shiva. She is revered by the followers on the third day for tranquillity and prosperity in life. She mounts on a tigress and is described with ten hands and three eyes. She carries Trishul, Gada, sword, and Kamadalu in her four left hands while her fifth hand is in Varadamudra. She holds a lotus, arrow, Dhanush, Japa mala in her right fourth hand and keeps her fifth right hand in Abhaya Mudra.
On the third of Navartri, red color is worn by the devotees for passion, fearlessness, and sexuality.
Day 4- Goddess Kushmunda
This incarnation of the Goddess is considered the creator of the universe. It is believed that she created this universe with her laughter. Having a luminous body as that of the sun, she is credited to create a world with her divine and radiant smile. The Navratri importance of this Goddess is that she bestows her worshippers with good wellbeing, strength, and strength. She is represented with eight hands, therefore known by the name of Ashtabhuja Devi. Her form is pictured with eight to ten hands holding a trident, discus, sword, hook, mace, bow, arrow, two jars of honey and blood. Her one hand is always in the Abhaya mudra form she blesses all her followers. She rides on a tiger.
Royal blue is the hue of this day and Goddess stating elegance and richness
Day 5 – Goddess Skand Mata
She is the mother of Skanda, or Karthikeya, who was hand-picked by all the gods as their commander-in-chief in the war against demons. The Goddess represents the vulnerability of a mother who can fight to any extent against anyone when the need arises to protect her child. It is believed that she was chosen as the commander in chief of war against the demon, thereby she is also recognized as “Goddess of Fire.” The iconography of this female God is depicted with four hands, lotus flower in her upper two hands, one hand in Abhaya Mudra, and one right hand, she carries Skanda. She is often pictured seated on a lotus flower and is referred to as Padamasani.
Wear a yellow color as it will keep you cheerful and energized.
Day 6 – Goddess Katyayani
The Goddess was born to the great sage, Kata, as an incarnation of Durga. Dressed in orange, she exhibits immense courage. Katyayani was born to destroy bull demon Mahishasura. Her defining characteristics include anger, vengeance, and ultimate victory over evils. All those who remember her with a pure heart and utmost faith are blessed with boons. She sits on a magnificent lion and is portrayed with four hands. Sword and lotus in her left hands and rights hands in Abhaya Mudra and Varadamudra.
Green color is associated with new beginnings. It is worn to evoke a sense of fertility and growth.
Day 7 – Goddess Kalratri
This incarnation of the Goddess has a dark complexion, dishevelled hair and a fearless posture. She is the most fierce form of goddess Durga, and she is dressed in white, a colour that represents peace and prayer. Her big red eyes, sticking out blood-red tongue and sobre on hand makes her the Goddess of death. Also, she is well-known by the names of Kali Maa and Kalratri. She is seen seated on a donkey adorning scattered black hair and three round eyes. She has four hands. Right hand in Abhaya Mudra and Vardara Mudra and sword and iron hook in the left hand.
On this day, the grey color is worn. It balances the energy and keeps the people down to earth.
Day 8 – Goddess Maha Gauri
The eighth avatar of Maa Durga represents intelligence, peace, prosperity and calm. Her beauty glows like pearl purity. Being the Goddess of purity, cleanliness, endurance, and peace, her worshipper’s flaws and mistakes are burnt to ashes. Mahagauri has four arms. She keeps her right hand in the pose of alleviating suffering and trident in the lower right hand. Her upper left arm holds tambourine and the lower-left provides blessings.
For Mahagauri pooja, wear purple color which epitomizes opulence, nobility, and power.
Day 9 – Goddess Siddhidatri
The Goddess is known for having supernatural healing powers. The Goddess is represented as a blissful state of mind, just like the sky on a clear day. She sits in a blissfully happy and enchanting pose. She is the Goddess Siddhidharti either journeys on a lotus or a tiger or lion. She has four hands. She holds Gada in one and chakram in the other. A lotus flower in one and shankha in the other.
Wear peacock green color and manifest grace, integrity, and watchfulness.
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