Navratri – a nine day festival dedicated to Maa Durga

Navratri is a Hindu festival that spans over nine nights (and ten days) and is celebrated every year in the autumn season.

Navratri 2022 Dates?

Navratri 2022 starts on September 26, Monday, and will end with Vijaya Dasami celebration on October 05, Wednesday.
Durgashtami is on October 03, Monday, Maha Navami is on October 04, Tuesday.

Spiritual significance of Navratri

The festival is associated with the prominent battle that took place between Maa Durga and the demon Mahishasura to celebrate the victory of good over evil. These nine days are solely dedicated to Maa Durga and her nine avatars – the Navadurga. Each day is dedicated to one avatar of Maa Durga.

Day 1 – Shailaputri

1st among nine Durgas and 1st night of Navratras is devoted to the puja of Shailputri. ‘Saila’ means ‘Mountain’ and ‘Putri’ means ‘Daughter. As she is a daughter of Himalaya and the first among nine Durgas. Her two hands display a trident and a lotus. Her mount is a bull. She is worshipped as ‘Sailaputri’. Shailaputri is considered to be the direct incarnation of Mahakali. The color of the day is yellow, which depicts action and vigor. She is also considered to be a reincarnation of Sati (Shiva’s first wife, who then reincarnates as Parvati) and is also known as Hemavati.

Day 2 – Brahamcharini

Brahamcharini is the 2nd Shakti of Durga. Brahma is who observes penance(tapa) and good conduct. Here “Brahma” means “Tapa”. One handhold a “Kumbha” or water pot, and the other holds a rosary. Bhramcharini is the storehouse of knowledge and wisdom. Rudraksha beads are Her most adored ornaments. She personifies love and loyalty. Brahmacharini is always depicted as a pious woman or Sannyasin. She is also worshipped as goddess Tara and is associated with the pious form of Goddess Shakti. She is believed to be that aspect of Mother Goddess, which was present in Sati and Goddess Parvati when they both did intense austerities to get Lord Shiva as a husband.

Day 3 – Chandraghanta

The 3rd Durga Shakti rides a tiger is Chandraghanta. Chandra + Ghanta, meaning supreme bliss and knowledge, showering peace and serenity, like a cool breeze in a moonlit night. There is a half-circular moon on her forehead. She is charmful and bright. She possesses ten hands, 3 eyes, and is Golden in color. Eight of her hands display weapons while the remaining two are respectively in the mudras of gestures of boon giving and stopping harm. She is seated on Lion and ready for going to war to fight. She is an unprecedented image of bravery. The frightful sound of her bell terrifies all the villains, demons, and danavas.

Day 4 – Kushmanda

The 4th Durga is Kushmanda. The meaning of the name ‘Ku-shm-and is as follows: ‘Ku’ = a little; ‘ushma’ = ‘warmth’; ‘anda’ = ‘the cosmic egg’. The Kawach Shloka of the goddess Kushmanda reads, “Kutsti Kushma Kushma -Trividhtapyut Sansaar, Sa Ande Maanspeshyamudarrupayana Yasya Sa Kushmanda”. It means that the goddess who is the creator of the universe is Kushmanda. She created the whole universe when there was no existence of any creation and there was eternal darkness everywhere. The Shakti creates egg, ie. Universe by mere laughing. She resides in solar systems. She shines brightly in all the ten directions like Sun. She has eight hands. Seven types of weapons are shining in her seven hands. Rosary is in her right hand. She seems brilliant riding on Lion. She likes the offerings of “Kumhde.” Therefore her name “Kushmanda” has become famous. Maa Kushmanda is also known as “Ashtabhuja”

“Sarva-mangala-mangalye Shive sarvartha-sadhike;
sharanye Tryambake Gauri Narayani namo’stu te.
Shristi-sthiti-vinashanam shakti-bhute sanatani;
gunasraye gunamaye Narayani namo’stu te.
Sharan’agata dinarta paritrana parayane
sarvasy’arti-hare devi Narayani namo’stu te ”

Day 5 – Skandamata

The 5th name of Durga is “Skanda Mata”. The daughter of Himalaya, after observing penance got married to Shiva. She has three eyes and four hands. She is white and seated on a lotus. Devi Maa is the mother of Kumara Skanda or Kumara Kartikeya also called Lord Murugan in South India. Kumar Skanda was chosen by gods as their commander in “Deva-Sura Sangram” (the war of gods & demons) against the demons. Lord Murugan’s glory has been narrated in the Puranas and he is referred to as Kumara and Saktidhar. His vehicle being peacock he is also called Mayuravahana.

Day 6 – Katyayani

The 6th Durga is Katyayani. The son of “Kat” as “Katya”. Rishi Katyayan was born in this “Katya” lineage. Katyayan had observed penance with a desire to get Paramba as his daughter. The legend behind her name goes 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 the lineage of saints. He underwent long austerities and penance in order to receive the grace of the Mother Goddess. He wished to have a daughter in the form of a goddess. According to his wish and desire, the Mother Goddess granted his request. Katyayani was born to Kata as an avatar of Durga. Therefore her name is “Katyayani”. She has three eyes and eight hands. These are eight types of weapons missiles in her seven hands. Her vehicle is Lion. Her worship done with devotion and faith leads to four objects – Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha.

Day 7 – Kaalaratri

The 7th Durga is Kalratri. She is black like night. Durga hairs are unlocked. The complexion of Maa Kalaratri is like dark night with plentiful hair. She has four hands. The left two hands hold a cleaver and a torch, and the right two are in the mudras of “giving” and “protecting”. Her necklace is shining like thunder. Her three eyes emanate rays like lightning. Her nostrils throw fire when she inhales or exhales air. Her mount is a donkey. Being auspicious she is called “Shubhamkari.” She is the most violent form of Maa Durga. Kalaratriis one of the most aggressive and intense form of Maa Durga Kalaratri means “the Death of Kaal”. Here Kaal represents time & death. Maa Kalaratri destroys ignorance and removes darkness. Kalratri killed Raktabeej who was a demon who could multiply from every drop of his blood which fell on the ground. The Maa Kaalratri killed him by licking the blood before it could reach the ground and hence conquered him. She endows her devotees with calm and courage. & her appearance is very dangerous but she always gives blesses her devotees.

Day 8 – Maha Gauri

The 8th Durga is “Maha Gauri.” She is as white as a conch, moon, and Jasmine. . 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 means extremely white. She has three eyes. She rides on a bull She has four hands. The above-left hand is in “Fearless – Mudra” and the lower left-hand holds “Trishul.” The above right hand has a tambourine and the lower right hand is in blessing style. She is calm and peaceful and exists in a peaceful style. The goddess appears faithful, affectionate, calm, and soft in nature. All the gods and sages worship this form of the goddess by chanting, “Sarva-mangala-mangalye Shive sarvartha-sadhike; sharanye Tryambake Gauri Narayani Namo Stute”.

Day 9 – Siddhidatri

The 9th Durga is Siddhidatri. The Goddess Siddhidatri is capable of giving all sorts of occult powers and is also the possessor of 26 different wishes to grant her worshipers. All these achievements [Siddhi], which according to the Markandaye Purana:- Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakaamya, Ishitva, and Vashitva are 8 siddhis. As per the Brahmavaivart Purana, there are 18 types of achievements which are Anima, Mahima, Garima, Ladhima, Prapti, Prakaamya, Ishitva, Vashitva, Sarvakaamaal, Saadhita, Sarvagynatva, DurShravana, Parkaayapraveshan, VakaSiddhi, Kalpavrushatva, Shrishti, Samharkaransaamarthya, Amaratva, Sarvanyayakatva, Bhavana and Siddhi. 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 Lord Shiva worshipped her and was blessed with all Siddhis (supernatural powers). By her blessings, his half body became female and the other half body male in the avatar of Ardhnarishvara. This form of Durga is worshiped by all Gods, Rishis-Munis, Siddhas, Yogis, Sadhakas, and devotees for attaining the best religious asset.

The tenth day that is commonly referred to as Vijayadashami or “Dussehra”, celebrates the victory of Shakti over Mahishasura. In some parts of India, people observe fast during Navaratri. On the last day, they perform puja and break their fast.