Navratri

Maa Shailaputri

Navaratri is a Hindu festival that spans over nine nights (and ten days). The post-monsoon autumn festival called Sharada Navaratri, is observed in the honor of the divine feminine Devi Durga. The word Navaratri means 'nine nights' in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights.

Maa Brahmacharini

ORIGINS

The story associated with Navratri is the battle that occurred between Goddess Durga and the demon Mahishasura. Mahishasura had been granted immortality by Lord Brahma and had been told that he could only be defeated by a woman. He attacked Trilok (Earth, Heaven and Hell), and the Gods were not able to defeat him.

Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva together created Goddess Durga, who finally defeated Mahishasura. She fought with him for 15 days, and the demon kept changing his form. Mahishasura would take various forms to confuse Goddess Durga. 

Finally, when he turned into a buffalo, that is when Goddess Durga killed him with her trishul. It is on the day of Mahalaya, that Mahishasura was killed. Each day of Navratri has a separate colour attached to it. 

Maa Chandraghanta

CELEBRATIONS

Celebrations include worshipping nine goddesses in nine days, stage decorations, recital of the legend, enacting of the story, and chanting of the scriptures of Hinduism. The nine days are also a major crop season cultural event, such as competitive design and staging of pandals, a family visit to these pandals, and the public celebration of classical and folk dances of Hindu culture. Hindu devotees often celebrate Navaratri by fasting. On the final day, called Vijayadashami, the statues are either immersed in a water body such as a river or ocean, or the statue symbolizing the evil is burnt with fireworks, marking the destruction of evil. The festival also starts the preparation for Diwali, the festival of lights, which is celebrated twenty days after Vijayadashami.

Maa Kushmanda

SIGNIFICANCE OF EACH DAY

The festival is associated to the prominent battle that took place between Durga and demon the Mahishasura and celebrates the victory of good over evil. 

Day 1 – Shailaputri

Known as Pratipada (first day), this day is associated with Shailaputri ("Daughter of Mountain"), an incarnation of Parvati. It is in this form that Durga is worshiped as the wife of Shiva; she is depicted as riding the bull, Nandi, with a trishula in her right hand and lotus in her left. Shailaputri is considered to be the direct incarnation of Mahakali. She is also considered to be a reincarnation of Sati and is also known as Hemavati.

Day 2 – Brahmacharini

On Dwitiya (second day), Goddess Brahmacharini, another incarnation of Parvati, is worshiped. In this form, Parvati became Yogini, her unmarried self. Brahmacharini is worshiped for emancipation or moksha and endowment of peace and prosperity. Depicted as walking bare feet and holding a japamala (rosary) and a kamandala (pot) in her hands, she symbolizes bliss and calm. 

Day 3 – Chandraghanta

Tritiya (third day) commemorates the worship of Chandraghanta – the name derived from the fact that after marrying Shiva, Parvati adorned her forehead with the ardhachandra (lit. half-moon). She is the embodiment of beauty and is also symbolic of bravery. 

Day 4 – Kushmanda

Goddess Kushmanda is worshiped on Chaturthi (fourth day). Believed to be the creative power of the universe, Kushmanda is associated with the endowment of vegetation on earth. She is depicted as having eight arms and sits on a Tiger.

Day 5 – Skandamata

Skandamata, the goddess worshiped on Panchami (fifth day), is the mother of Skanda (or Kartikeya). She is symbolic for the transforming strength of a mother when her child is confronted with danger. She is depicted riding a ferocious lion, having four arms, and holding her baby.

Day 6 – Katyayani

Born to sage Katyayana, she is an incarnation of Durga and is shown to exhibit courage. Known as the warrior goddess, she is considered as one of the most violent forms of Devi. In this avatar, Katyayani rides a lion and has four hands. She is a form of Parvati, Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati. She is celebrated on Shashtami (sixth day).

Day 7 – Kaalaratri

Considered the most ferocious form of Goddess Durga, Kalaratri is revered on Saptami (seventh day). It is believed that Parvati removed her fair skin to kill the demons Sumbha and Nisumbha. The Goddess appears in a red coloured attire or tiger skin with a lot of rage in her fiery eyes, her skin turns black. The red color portrays prayer and ensures the devotees that the Goddess will protect them from harm. 

Day 8 – Mahagauri

Mahagauri symbolizes intelligence and peace. It is believed when Kaalaratri took a bath in the Ganga river, she became extremely fair from her darker complexion. She is celebrated on Ashtami (eighth day).

Day 9 – Siddhidatri

On the last day of the festival also known as Navami (ninth day), people pray to Siddhidhatri. Sitting on a lotus, she is believed to possess and bestows all types of Siddhis. Here she has four hands. Also known as Mahalakshmi. Siddhidatri is Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva. Siddhidhatri is also seen as the Ardhanarishvara form of Shiva and Shakti. It is believed that one side of Lord Shiva’s body is that of Goddess Siddhidatri. Therefore, he is also known by the name of Ardhanarishwara. According to Vedic scriptures, Lord Shiva attained all the siddhis by worshiping this Goddess.

Source : Wikipedia Navaratri

Maa Mahagauri

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