During Navratri, devotees worship each of the nine forms of Durga over nine days. That is known as navdurga
Shailputri –first form of Navdurga
Shailputri is the first form of Navdurga. According to Hindu mythologies. Shailputri was first born as a sati. Sati is Shiva’s first wife. After Sati’s death, she is reborn to King Himavan as a shailputri. Worshippers honour her on the first day of Navratri. She represents purity and strength. she hold lotus in her left hand and a trishul in her right hand. Shailputri means the daughter of the mountain.
Worshippers see her riding a bull known as Nandi. Nandi is the vehicle of lord shiva. She is the beginning of a spiritual journey. She inspires purity, calmness, and all her devotees. Shailputri came from two sanskrit word, shail, which mean moutain, and putri mean mountain. She worshipped on the first day of Navratri, that bring stability, pureness, and calmness.
She was born as Sati. People know that Shiva married Sati before Shailputri’s birth.. And her father’s name is King Daksha, and he does not respect shiva but Sati is in true love with Shiva. Once, Sati’s father organised a yajna, but he did not invite Shiva, and Sati did not like this and felt insulted by Shiva. She felt so hurt and sacrifice her in the fire. when shiva hear about this, after Sati’s death, Sati was born as Shail Putri
Brahmacharini–Second form of Navdurga
She is another form of Navdurga. Brahmacharini is the form of Parvati when she is in deep penance for marrying Shiva. On the second day of Navratri, people worship her, and she represents devotion and penance. Her name means the one who practices deep penance. Brahmacharini comes from two sanskrit word: brahma, meaning supreme truth or knowledge, and “Charini,” meaning one who follows or practices. Bhrhmacharini is unique because she does not carry any weapons, she hold water pot and rosery she is walking on foot.
To win Shiva’s love, she performed a very great penance
She survived on fruit,
Later on leaves
After this great penance, she is known as Brhmacharini.
Chandraghanta
Chandraghanta is taken from two Sanskrit words, chandra, which means moon, and ghnta, that mean bell. He was worshipped by people on the third day of Navratri. She represents bravery and grace. She is known for her piece of moon that was placed on her head. After marrying shiva goddes take the form of Chandraghant.
She destroys all evil energy and protects their devootee. The moon-shaped bell on her head is a symbol of a divine bell that tell devootees she protects everyone from evil energies. Her facial expression is calm and peaceful, which represents strength, also has calmness. Chandraghanta is worrshiped or third day of Navratri because
She is the remover of fear. Chandraghanta is represented with 10 hands, and each hand has different weapons that show she can protect her devotee from every direction. She rides on a lion that symbolises
Kushmanda
Kushmanda is also a form of Navdurga. Before the creation of this universe their was complete darkness. There was no sun, no earth. At that time she came with a great smile, and she create whole world. She was worshipped by people on the fourth day of Navratri. She is also known as Adi Shakti. Mean original energy behind creation. the sun light came from her divine power.
It is believed that she lived in the centre of the sun. Kushmanda is made up of three sanskrit word: Ku” – little or small “, Ushma” – energy or warmth “, and Anda” – cosmic egg or universe. She holds different weapons in her hand, like bows and arrows, and a lotus flower, etc. She is also known as Ashtabhuja Devi because she has eight arms, each arm has a different divine power. devotte chant their mantra “Om Devi Kushmandayai Namah.”
Skandamata
People worship Skandamata on the fifth day of Navratri. Her name comes from two Sanskrit words: Skanda, another name for Lord Kartikeya, and Mata, meaning “mother,” so Skandamata means the mother of Kartikeya. She has four hand two with a lotus flower, one hand in a blessing positionand in one hand her son Kartikey.
Worshippers refer to her as Padmasana Devi because she sits on a lotus flower. Lord Kartikeya sits on her lap, symbolising her protection and blessings toward her son. People also chant a common mantra for her, Om Devi Skandamatayai Namah. She teaches us love, calmness, and strength. When Kartikey was born, Parvati became a Sankandamata.
Katyayani
On the sixth day of Navratri, people worship her. She symbolises courage and strength. Worshippers call her Katyayani as her father is named Katyayana. She is one of the most powerful forms of Durga. According to ancient belief, there was a demon, Mahishasur, who made trouble all over the earth or heaven.
No god can defeat him because of his special power, so all the gods make one strong power with their powers in the form of Durga Katyayani, who is born to the sage Katyayana. She did fight with a great demon and destroyed him. Her story proves that people can overcome evil with courage and unity.
Kalaratri
Devotees worship Kalaratri on the seventh day of Navratri, and she removes fear and negativity. She rides on a donkey, and she is very dark in colour, and her hair is long and open. She has three bright eyes, and she is very powerful. People call Kalaratri Shubhankari because she brings good and blessings.
Her name came from two Sanskrit words: kaal, which means death, and ratri mean night. So kalaratri means the one who is the night of destruction. She represents the remover of fear, the destruction of darkness. People chant “Om Devi Kalaratryai Namah” to worship her. She teaches us that fear cannot control us.
Mahagauri
Devotees worship her on the eighth day of Navratri. She represents purity and calmness. Mahagauri’s name means extremely fair and pure. Her appearance is very fair, and she wears white clothes. She has four handspeople worshipped her to remove past sins, bring peace and happiness, and fulfil desire.
She did great penance to achieve Shiva’s love, and she did not care about her great and fair appearance. When he accepted her love, she bathed in the holy river Ganga, and her experience became extremely fair. After this movement, she became a mahagauri. People chant “Om Devi Mahagauryai Namah” to worship her. She is eights form of Navdurga
Siddhidatri
Devotees worship her on the ninth day of Navratri, the she is ninth form of Navdurga, and she grants wisdom and spiritual powers. Devotees worshipped her for her success; she also blessed lord shiva. Her name means. “Siddhi” means spiritual power or achievement. Datrimeans giver. So, Siddhidatri means the goddess who gives divine powers and blessings. Shiva worshipped Siddhidatri to gain power. After he gained power, he became an Ardhanarishvara, that mean half male and half female
She has four hands, sits on a lotus flower and rides on a lion. She represents perfection, completion and divine knowledge. Om Devi Siddhidatryai Namah is her mantra that people chant for her.
Final words
Navdurga refers to the nine forms of the Goddess, which devotees worship during Navratri. People worship a different form of Goddess Durga each day, and each form represents unique powers and qualities.
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