Nava Durga – 9 Forms or Avatars of the Great Goddess

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The Indic civilisation is the only living civilisation on this planet that has worshipped the Divine Feminine for over 5,000 years. And one of the greatest goddesses of India, is the all-powerful, mighty Devi Durga.

The ‘Nava Durga’ are nine manifestations (also referred to as forms or avatars) of the Great Goddess Durga. They are worshipped especially during Navratri (also spelt Navaratri), the beautiful Indian festival that is dedicated to Shakti or the Goddess. Each manifestation has an associated story and each avatar is worshipped for specific boons. However, it is critical for the devotee to understand and meditate on the spiritual message of each of these diverse forms of the primordial Goddess or Adiskhakti so that she or he can transcend this mortal world. These avatars are also important because of their inclusive nature in the modern sense of the term.

The Nine Avatars are – Devi Shailaputri, Devi Brahmacharini, Devi Chandraghanta, Devi Kushmanda, Devi Skandamata, Devi Katyayani, Devi Kalaratri, Devi Mahagauri and Devi Siddhidatri.

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देवी शैलपुत्री| Devi Shailaputri

vande vāñchitalābhāya candrārdhakṛtaśekharām |

vṛṣārūḍhāṃ śūladharāṃ śailaputrīṃ yaśasvinīm ||

Devi Shailaputri appeared as the daughter of the King of Mountains – the majestic Himalayas and hence came to be known as such (shaila – mountain and putri – daughter). She rides a bull and holds a trident in one hand and a lotus in the other. A crescent moon adorns the forehead of this illustrious form of Durga who is worshipped on the first day of Navratri not only for fulfilment of all wishes but also for commencing one’s journey to the zenith in all spiritual and worldly endeavours.

ॐ देवी शैलपुत्र्यै नमः॥

 

देवी ब्रह्मचारिणी | Devi Brahmacharini

dadhānā karapadmābhyāmakṣamālākamaṇḍalū |

devī prasīdatu mayi brahmacāriṇyanuttamā ||

Her severe penance for thousands of years to attain Lord Shiva earned her the name –Brahmacharini, ‘she who practises austerities’. This self-luminous form of Durga is adorned in white clothes and carries a rosary in one hand and a kamandalu (small vessel for carrying water) in the other. Devotees seek the blessings of Devi Brahmacharini, on the second day of Navratri and pray that they should not stray from the path of sacrifice and restraint as they continue in their quest for ‘Brahman’ – the ultimate truth and reality.

ॐ देवी ब्रह्मचारिण्यै नमः॥

 

देवी चन्द्रघण्टा | Devi Chandraghanta

piṇḍajapravarārūḍhā caṇḍakopāstrakairyutā |

sādaṃ tanute mahyaṃ candraghaṇṭeti viśrutā ||

She is called Chandraghanta by virtue of the bell-shaped, half-moon that adorns her forehead (chandra means moon and ghanta means bell). This form of Durga is resplendent with golden hues, rides a lion and has ten arms in which she holds multiple weapons. Devi Chandraghanta, the quintessential warrior is always ready for war and protects her devotees. She is worshipped on the third day of Navratri not only for freedom from all enemies and all fears but also for a calm and equanimous mind and character.

ॐ देवी चन्द्रघण्टायै नमः॥

 

देवी कूष्माण्डा |Devi Kushmanda

surāsampūrṇakalaśaṃ rudhirāplutameva ca |

dadhānā hastapadmābhyāṃ kūṣmāṇḍā śubhadāstu me ||

She is worshipped as the adishakti (primeval source of energy) who created this universe (egg-shaped cosmos) with her endearing and silent smile. She is the life force who infused energy and light into all that is manifest – before her there was only darkness. This eight-handed form of Maa Durga holds a pot of nectar in one hand and a pot of blood in another. Devotees pray to Devi Kushmanda on the fourth day of Navratri not only for deliverance from sorrow and illness but also for awakening of the intellect to appreciate the inherent divinity in all creation.

ॐ देवी कूष्माण्डायै नमः॥

देवी स्कन्दमाता | Devi Skandamata

siṃhāsanagatā nityaṃ padmāśritakaradvayā |

śubhadāstu sadā devī skandamātā yaśasvinī ||

She is the mother of the commander of the army of the Devatas – Lord Skanda or Kumar Kartikeya and hence becomes Devi Skandamata (mata is mother). This four-armed form of Maa Durga is visualised as holding her little son with one hand, blessing her devotees with another and holding lotus flowers in the other two hands. She is worshipped on the fifth day of Navratri not only for peace and happiness but also for endowing us with knowledge to make a difference and the will and power to act in tandem with that knowledge.

ॐ देवी स्कन्दमातायै नमः॥

 

देवी कात्यायनी | Devi Katyayani

candrahāsojjvalakarā śārdūlavaravāhanā |

kātyāyanī śubhaṃ dadyādevī dānavaghātinī ||

The formless Devi appeared in this world to annihilate Mahishasura. Her dazzling form was worshipped first by Maharishi Katyayana and she came to be known as Katyayani. She is self-effulgent, rides on a lion and has four hands. She carries her sparkling sword in one hand, holds a lotus in another, has one hand in the abhaya mudra (a gesture for endowing fearlessness) and the other hand in the vara mudra (a gesture for blessing devotees). This form of Maa Durga is worshipped on the sixth day of Navratri to attain one’s desired purushartha or goal (Dharma, Artha, Kama, Mokhsha).

ॐ देवी कात्यायन्यै नमः॥

 

देवी कालरात्रि | Devi Kalaratri

ekaveṇī japākarṇapūrā nagnā kharāsthitā  |

lamboṣṭhī karṇikākarṇī tailābhyaktaśarīriṇī  ||

vāmapādollasallohalatākaṇṭakabhūṣaṇā  |

vardhanmūrdhadhvajā kṛṣṇā kālarātrirbhayaṅkarī  ||

She is darker than the darkest night and is referred to as Kalaratri (ratri means night). This three-eyed, ferocious manifestation of Maa Durga has four hands and rides a donkey. She is worshipped on the seventh day of Navratri for freedom from all evil influences and all fears. Devi Kalaratri shines brightly like the lightning that pierces a dark night and is also called Shubhankari as she endows devotees with good fortune and all that is auspicious.

ॐ देवी कालरात्र्यै नमः॥

देवी महागौरी | Devi Mahagauri

śvete vṛṣe samārūḍhā śvetāmbaradharā śuciḥ |

mahāgaurī śubhaṃ dadyānmahādevapramodadā| |

She is white in colour, dons white garments, is resplendent like dazzling white light that emanates from the forces of nature and is the epitome of purity. Devi Mahagauri rides a bull, has four arms and holds a trident and a damaru (small musical instrument). She is a manifestation of Devi Parvati who undertook the strictest of penance for thousands of years to marry Lord Shiva. Devotees worship this unparalleled form of the great goddess on the eighth day of Navratri not only to obtain peace and happiness in this world but also to develop the willpower to pursue their goals with single-minded devotion without straying from the treacherous paths that may await them.

ॐ देवी महागौर्यै नमः॥

 

देवी सिद्धिदात्री | Devi Siddhidatri

siddhagandharvayakṣādyairasurairamarairapi |

sevyamānā sadā bhūyāt siddhidā siddhidāyinī ||

She is seated on a lotus, has four hands and is worshipped by all living beings. She is Siddhidatri because she bestows the eight siddhis or spiritual powers on all devotees. Maa Adishakti (the primeval deity) endowed Lord Shiva with all siddhis. Devi Siddhidatri emerged from the left side of his body, and he assumed the famous form of Ardhanarishwara (half woman and half man). This manifestation of Maa Durga is worshipped on the ninth and last day of Navratri to obtain the power to transcend this material world and to achieve the Parabrahman or supreme bliss.

ॐ देवी सिद्धिदात्र्यै नमः॥