In Navratri, different manifestations of Goddess Durga are worshipped, depicting the spiritual journey of Womanhood to the divine.
Navratri Calendar 2021
| Prathama | WEDNESDAY | OCT 7 | Shailputri |
| Dvitiya | THURSDAY | OCT 8 | Brahmacharini |
| Tritiya & Chaturthi | FRIDAY | OCT 9 | Chandraghanta &
Kushmanda |
| Panchami | SATURDAY | OCT 10 | Skandamata |
| Shashti | SUNDAY | OCT 11 | Katyayani |
| Saptami | MONDAY | OCT 12 | Kalaratri |
| Ashtami | TUESDAY | OCT 13 | MahaGauri |
| Navami | WEDNESDAY | OCT 14 | Siddhidatri |
| Dashami | THURSDAY | OCT 15 | Visarjan |
Shailputri
Goddess Shailputri holds a Lotus and a Trishul and rides a bull named Nandi. Goddess Parvati (The incarnation of Goddess Sati) was reborn as the daughter of Himalaya. In Sanskrit, Shail means the mountain, so she is known as Shailputri.
Once Parvati got angry when she saw a demon called Khadakasur turning every cattle into stone, and in rage, she took the cattle stick and went running towards the monster.
When the demon laughed at her, she boldly said, “I am Shailputri, the daughter of the King of Mountains. I am made with the power of many stones. No one can turn me into stone”.
From there, the journey of Paravati to her spiritual growth with the physical consciousness of her inner Power started, and she became the first manifestation of Goddess Shakti.
Shailputri resonates with Earth, rivers, mountains, trees, castles, and every resource it holds. She symbolizes our divine connection with ourselves.
Brahmacharini
Goddess Brahmacharini is the second manifestation of the goddess Durga. She walks bare feet with a sacred Kamandalu and a rudraksha mala. This goddess symbolized Goddess Parvati when she engaged in her deep meditation to acquire the holy truth.
Brahma (Universe) means the Sacred knowledge, Universal Self, and the Absolute Reality. Chiarini means engaging, behavior, moving after, and going in. The word brahmachari implies a woman who pursues sacred religious knowledge.
Brahmacharini signifies bachelorhood, and the color white represents purity. This form of Goddess Shakti symbolizes the willingness to acquire knowledge, to know and understand the greater truth, and practice self-medication or education to grow spiritually to attain your higher self.
Chandraghanta
Goddess Chandraghanta is a fierce form of Goddess Shakti. She has ten arms, rides on a tiger, and has a crescent moon on her temple, finally giving her the name Chandraghanta.
This form of Goddess Durga is her married manifestation, symbolizing that she has finally attained her higher self, acquiring all the knowledge of the Universe and finally uniting with the divine.
This phase of Womanhood is potent and prosperous, her third eye is opened, and now she is ready to defeat any demon, anytime.
Kushmanda
Goddess Kushmanda is derived from three words – ‘Ku’ (means tiny), ‘Ushma’ (means warmth or energy), and ‘Manda’ (means egg), which implies that she is the creator of the Universe.
Goddess Kushmanda created the whole Universe, which is called Brahmanda (Universe).
She is the manifestation of Goddess Shakti that has attained the power to create a life independently. She is moving towards her motherhood phase, with her acquired knowledge and glory.
Skandmata
Goddess Skandmata has four arms and carries lotuses, a sacred Kamandalu, and a bell. She also holds a little Kartikay on her lap and is seated on a lotus.
Skanda is an alternate name for the war god Kartikeya and Mata means mother; hence she was called Skandmata after Kartikay’s birth.
Skandmata is the manifestation of Goddess Shakti that has attained motherhood. She carries lotuses symbolizing her knowledge and warmth like a mother and rides a lion, even in her softness she is fierce.
Katyayani
Goddess Katyayani is a form of Shakti. Also known as the warrior goddess. She has four arms, carries a sword, and rides on a lion.
Goddess Katyayani is the Manifestation of Goddess Durga that signifies Power, and She is powerful. She is acquiring the soft and knowledge (Lotus) but can overpower the evils also (sword).
This form of Goddess Paravati illustrates how a woman becomes more potent after becoming a mother.
Kalaratri
- Goddess Kalaratri has four arms and rides a donkey. She has a third eye between the eyes, on her forehead; the legends believe the entire Universe.
Kalaratri symbolizes the aggressive form of feminine energy and how they can overpower the evils with their rage, Power.
Goddess Shakti shows how violent pure-hearted mother nature can turn into if not obeyed and appropriately respected. She is time, and she is the destruction.
Maha Gauri
- Maa Gauri has four arms, and she rides on a bull or a white elephant. She carries a Trishul and a Damru.
This manifestation of Goddess Shakti symbolizes the forgiving nature of Goddess Parvati, her purity, and clean heartedness.
Representing that woman has the power to destroy the world, but she chooses to stay kind and sweet as their souls are pure and divine.
Mahā = great, Gaurī = bright, clean.
Siddhidatri
9. Goddess Siddhidatri has four arms, sits on a lotus, and holds a mace, discus, a book, and a lotus in her hands.
This form of Goddess Durga signifies perfection. Dhatri means giver or awarder, and Siddhi means supernatural Power or meditative abilities.
Goddess Siddhidatri is the creator of the Tridevs: Bramha, Vishnu, and Mahesh. She is the ultimate goddess, Ultimate truth, The creator of the Universe, and The cause of its destruction.
Durga Visarjan
The tenth of Navratri teaches us the Art of Letting go. The most powerful strength in the world to hold is to know when to leave. Understanding that Everything comes to an end, Sooner or Later, Celebration or Grief.
