The 9 Appellations of Durga
(1) Shailaputri(
2) Bharmacharini
(3) Chandra Ghanta
(4) Kushmanda
(5) Skanda Mata
(6) Katyayani
(7) Kaal Ratri
(8) Maha Gauri
(9) Siddhidatri
Nava“ that also means 'new' “ denotes 'nine' the number to which sages attach special significance. Hence, we have Nava-ratri (9nights), Nava-patrika (9 leaves / herbs / plants), Nava-graha (9 planets), and Nava-Durga (9 appellations).Here is a slide show of the 9 manifestations of Goddess Durga. Each goddess has a different form and a special significance. Nava Durga,if worshipped with religious fervor during Navaratri, it is believed, lift the divine spirit in us and fill us with renewed happiness.All the nine names of goddess are narrated in 'Devi Kavacha' of the 'Chandipatha' scripture. Learn about the nine goddesses in thefollowing slides that include beautiful watercolor paintings of each appellation.(
1) Shailaputri:Shailaputri literally means the daughter (putri) of the mountains (shaila). Variously known as Sati Bhavani, Parvati or Hemavati, thedaughter of Hemavana - the king of the Himalayas, she is the first among Navadurgas. Her worship takes place on the first day ofNavaratri “ the nine divine nights. The embodiment of the power of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, she rides a bull and carries a trident and alotus in her two hands.
(2) Bharmacharini:She is worshipped on the second day of Navaratri and is the second form of Mother Goddess. Bharmacharini means one who practices devoutausterity. She enlightens us in the magnificent embodiment of Durga with great powers and divine grace. She holds a rosary in her right hand and a water utensil in her left hand. She is blissful and endows happiness, peace, prosperity and grace upon all devotees who worshipher. Filled with bliss and happiness, she is the way to emancipation - Moksha.
(3) Chandra Ghanta:The third facet of Goddess Durga is 'Chandraghanta', who is worshipped on the third day of Navaratri, for peace, tranquility and prosperityin life. She has a 'chandra' or half moon in her forehead in the shape of a 'ghanta' or bell. That is why she is called 'Chandraghanta'. Sheis charming, has a golden bright complexion and rides a lion. She has ten hands, three eyes and holds weapons in her hands. She is theapostle of bravery and possesses great strength to fight in the battle against demons.
(4) Kushmanda:Kushmanda is the fourth form of the mother goddess and is worshipped on the fourth day of Navaratri. The meaning of the name 'Ku-shm-anda' is as follows: 'Ku' = a little; 'ushma' = 'warmth'; 'anda' = 'the cosmic egg'. So she is considered the creator of the universe. Theuniverse was no more than a void full of darkness, until her light spreads in all directions like rays from the sun. Often she is depicted as having eight or ten hands. She holds weapons, glitter, rosary, etc., in her hands, and she rides a lion.
(5) Skanda Mata:The fifth aspect of the Mother Durga is known as 'Skanda Mata' – the mother of Skanda or Lord Kartikeya, who was chosen by gods as theircommander in chief in the war against the demons. She is worshipped on the fifth day of Navaratri. She is accompanied by the Lord Skanda inhis infant form. Skanda Mata has four arms and three eyes, holds the infant Skanda in her right upper arm and a lotus in her right handwhich is slightly raised upwards. The left arm is in pose to grant boons with grace and in left lower hand which is raised also holds alotus. She has a bright complexion and often depicted as seated on a lotus.
(6) Katyayani:The sixth form of Mother Durga is known as 'Katyayani', who is worshipped on the six day of Navaratri. The legend behind her namegoes thus: Once upon a time, there was a great sage called Kata, who had a son named Katya. Kata was very famous and renowned in thelineage of saints. He underwent long austerities and penance in order to receive the grace of the Mother Goddess. He wished to have adaughter in the form of a goddess. According to his wish and desire the Mother Goddess granted his request. Katyayani was born to Kata asan avatar of Durga.
(7) Kaal Ratri:This is the seventh form of Mother Durga and is worshipped on the seventh day of Navaratri. She has a dark complexion, disheveled hairand a fearlessness posture. A necklace flashing lightning adorns her neck. She has three eyes that shine bright and terrible flames emanatefrom her breath. Her vehicle is the donkey. Her raised right hand always seems to grant boons to all worshippers and all her right lowerhand is in the pose of allaying fears. Her left upper hand holds a thorn-like weapon, made of iron and there is a dragger in the lowerleft hand. She is black like Goddess Kali and holds a sparkling sword in her right hand battle all evil. Her gesture of protection assuresus of freedom from fear and troubles. So she is also known as 'Shubhamkari' รข€“ one who does good.
(8) Maha Gauri:She is worshipped on the eighth day of Navaratri. Her power is unfailing and instantly fruitful. As a result of her worship, all sins of past, present and future get washed away and devotees get purified in all aspects of life. Maha Gauri is intelligent, peaceful and calm. Due to her long austerities in the deep forests of the Himalayas, she developed a dark complexion. When Lord Shiva cleaned her with the water of the Ganges, her body regained its beauty and she came to be known as Maha Gauri, which mean extremely white. She wears white clothes, has four arms, and rides on a bull. Her right hand is in the pose of allaying fear and her right lower hand holds a trident. The left upper hand holds a 'damaru' (a small rattle drum) and the lower one is in the pose of granting boons to her devotees.
(9) Siddhidatri:Siddhidatri is the ninth form of Goddess. She is worshipped on the ninth day of Navaratri. Siddhidatri has supernatural healing powers.She has four arms and she is always in a blissful happy enchanting pose. She rides on the lion as her vehicle. She blesses all Gods,saints, yogis, tantrics and all devotees as a manifestation of the Mother Goddess. In 'Devi Bhagvata Purana' it is mentioned that LordShiva worshipped her and was blessed with all Siddhis (supernatural powers). By her blessings his half body became female and other halfbody male in the avatar of Ardhnarishvara."Nava-Ratri" literally means "nine nights." This festival is observed twice a year, once in the beginning of summer and again at the onsetof winter.
What's the Significance of Navratri?During Navaratri, we invoke the energy aspect of God in the form of the universal mother, commonly referred to as "Durga," which literallymeans the remover of miseries of life. She is also referred to as "Devi" (goddess) or "Shakti" (energy or power). It is this energy, which helps God to proceed with the work of creation, preservation and destruction. In other words, you can say that God is motionless, absolutely changeless, and the Divine Mother Durga, does everything. Truly speaking, our worship of Shakti re-confirms the scientific theory that energy is imperishable. It cannot be created or destroyed.It is always there.Why Worship the Mother Goddess?We think this energy is only a form of the Divine Mother, who is the mother of all, and all of us are her children. "Why mother; why notfather?", you may ask. Let me just say that we believe that God's glory, his cosmic energy, his greatness and supremacy can best bedepicted as the motherhood aspect of God. Just as a child finds all these qualities in his or her mother, similarly, all of us look uponGod as mother. In fact, Hinduism is the only religion in the world, which gives so much importance to the mother aspect of God because webelieve that mother is the creative aspect of the absolute. Why Twice a Year?Every year the beginning of summer and the beginning of winter are two very important junctures of climatic change and solar influence. Thesetwo junctions have been chosen as the sacred opportunities for the worship of the divine power because:(1) We believe that it is the divine power that provides energy for the earth to move around the sun, causing the changes in the outernature and that this divine power must be thanked for maintaining the correct balance of the universe.(2) Due to the changes in the nature, the bodies and minds of people undergo a considerable change, and hence, we worship the divine powerto bestow upon all of us enough potent powers to maintain our physical and mental balance.Why Nine Nights & Days?Navaratri is divided into sets of three days to adore different aspects of the supreme goddess. On the first three days, the Mother is invoked as powerful force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects. The next three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth.The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the mother as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order have all-round success in life,we need the blessings of all three aspects of the divine mother; hence, the worship for nine
What's the Significance of Navratri?During Navaratri, we invoke the energy aspect of God in the form of the universal mother, commonly referred to as "Durga," which literallymeans the remover of miseries of life. She is also referred to as "Devi" (goddess) or "Shakti" (energy or power). It is this energy, which helps God to proceed with the work of creation, preservation and destruction. In other words, you can say that God is motionless, absolutely changeless, and the Divine Mother Durga, does everything. Truly speaking, our worship of Shakti re-confirms the scientific theory that energy is imperishable. It cannot be created or destroyed.It is always there.Why Worship the Mother Goddess?We think this energy is only a form of the Divine Mother, who is the mother of all, and all of us are her children. "Why mother; why notfather?", you may ask. Let me just say that we believe that God's glory, his cosmic energy, his greatness and supremacy can best bedepicted as the motherhood aspect of God. Just as a child finds all these qualities in his or her mother, similarly, all of us look uponGod as mother. In fact, Hinduism is the only religion in the world, which gives so much importance to the mother aspect of God because webelieve that mother is the creative aspect of the absolute. Why Twice a Year?Every year the beginning of summer and the beginning of winter are two very important junctures of climatic change and solar influence. Thesetwo junctions have been chosen as the sacred opportunities for the worship of the divine power because:(1) We believe that it is the divine power that provides energy for the earth to move around the sun, causing the changes in the outernature and that this divine power must be thanked for maintaining the correct balance of the universe.(2) Due to the changes in the nature, the bodies and minds of people undergo a considerable change, and hence, we worship the divine powerto bestow upon all of us enough potent powers to maintain our physical and mental balance.Why Nine Nights & Days?Navaratri is divided into sets of three days to adore different aspects of the supreme goddess. On the first three days, the Mother is invoked as powerful force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects. The next three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth.The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the mother as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order have all-round success in life,we need the blessings of all three aspects of the divine mother; hence, the worship for nine
( THanks to KK for contributing to this)
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