Navratri or nine-day festival is solemnly dedicated to Goddess Durga. Navratri is celebrated four times in a year but Sharadiya Navratri which falls in the Ashwin month according to Hindu calendar are connoted with great zest and fervour all over India. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Gujrat and Bengal. People here performs dandiya ras and Garba in mandaps or where the idol of Maa Durga is placed or worshipped.
The nine days of Navratri are dedicated to significant nine diety or nine forms of Goddess Durga. here we are stating you about the nine manifestations of the goddess, their respective mantras, the Bhog offered to them to seek the divine blessings of goddess Durga. If you don’t have wide knowledge and worshipping for the first time, this article would be a great help for you all. If you are a Newlywed couple, then it is must to solicit the blessings of goddess Durga to lead a trouble-free life full of love.
1. Mata Shailaputri
The first day of Navratri Pujan commences with worshipping the first form of Maa Durga, Goddess Shailaputri. As the name defines; Shail (mountain) and Putri (daughter); she is the daughter of Himalaya. She was born as Sati, daughter of Daksh Prajapati in her previous birth, who was devoted to Lord Shiva and meditated solemnly to marry Lord Shiva. Goddess Shailaputri is also worshipped as Parvati and Sati and rides a bull (Nandi) and holds trident or Trishul in right hand and carries a lotus in the left hand. Offer jasmine flowers.
Mantra- Chant ” Om Devi Shailputryai Namah”
Or
” Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu maa Shailputri rupena sansthita!
Namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah!!”
Bhog- one should offer pure Cow’s ghee to Mata Shailaputri and it is believed that offering pure ghee blesses devotees with disease (or ailment) free life.
2. Mata Brahmcharini
On the second day, goddess Brahmcharini is worshipped with great devotion. She is the Tapaswani roop of Goddess, wears white clothes, holds a rudraksha mala and sacred Kushmandu in another hand. The Brahmacharini is referred to the form when goddess Sati and Parvati was meditating to impress Lord Shiva. Her favourite flower is jasmine. Worshipping this form of Maa Durga frees us from anger (krodh) and karma invoking the spirit of nobility and goodness within us.
Mantra- “Om devi brahmcharinyai namah”
Or
“Ya devi sarvabhuteshu maa brahmcharini rupena sansthita!
Namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah!!”
Bhog- offer sugar or fruits as Bhog for the longevity of yourself and family members.
3. Mata Chandragantha
On Tritiya or third day of Navratri, Mata Chandragantha is worshipped. Having a golden complexion, She wears a half moon (chand) on her forehead. 10 handed goddess, carrying a trident (Trishul), mace (gada), sword, Kamandal, lotus flower, ghanta (bell), bow and arrow in 10 hands and roars on a tiger in anger. It is believed that she destroys evil and wicked. According to scriptures, during a battle between the gods and the demons, she took the life of demons by producing a sound from the ghanta (bell).
Mantra- “Om devi Chandraganthyai Namah”
Or
“Ya devi sarvabhuteshu maa chandragantha rupena sansthita!
Namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah!!”
Bhog- To please goddess Chandragantha, offer Milk or kheer or sweets made of milk to get rid of sorrows in life.
4. Kushmanda
Goddess Kushmanda is worshipped on the fourth day of Navratri. Mounting upon lioness, Kushmanda is a combination of 3 words; ‘Ku’ means ‘a little’, ‘usma’ states ‘warmth or energy’ and anda is an egg. It is believed that she is the Goddess who has created the universe with the smile and provides energy to the sun. Offer red flowers.
Mantra- “Om devi kushmandayai Namah”
Or
“Ya devi sarvabhuteshu maa kushmanda rupena sansthita!
Namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah!!”
Bhog- To solicit the blessing of Mata Kushmanda, offer Malpua as Bhog. It is considered that this goddess improves the mental ability and decision-making power.
5. Skandamata
The fifth form of goddess Durga worshipped on the fifth Navratri is Goddess Skanda Mata. Keeping one of her hand in abhayamudra, the four-hand diety; holds Kamandalu, lotus, the bell in other hands. Goddess Skandamata carries Kartikay (called as Skanda) in her lap and sits on a lion.
Mantra- “Om devi skandamatayai Namah”
Or
“Ya devi sarvabhuteshu maa skandamata rupena sansthita!
Namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah!!”
Bhog- goddess Skandamata can easily be pleased with offering bananas. It’s a belief that she maintains good health of the devotees.
6. Mata Katyayani
On the sixth Navratri, Mata Katyayani, daughter of sage Katyayan is worshipped. Goddess Parvati took the form of Mata Katyayani to kill the demons. It is one of the violent iconographies of goddess Durga. Mata Katyayani helps her females devotees to lead a trouble-free life and gives them strength to be righteous. It is advisable for females to please Mata Katyayani to seek blessings for a happy married life.
Mantra- “Om devi katyayanyai Namah”
“Ya devi sarvabhuteshu maa katyayani rupena sansthita!
Namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah!!”
Bhog- offer honey as Bhog to Mata Katyayani as it fills the lives of devotees with sweetness by getting rid of troubles.
7. Mata Kaalratri
Residing on a donkey, the four arms diety, goddess Kaalratri is worshipped on the seventh day of Navratri. She is as dark as night and extremely ferocious who breathes fierce flames of fires and carries three eyes on her forehead and noose, trident and sword in her hand. She keeps away the evil eyes or spirits far away from devotees and safeguards them who worships her with great dignity.
Mantra- “Om devi kaalratryai Namah”
Or
“Ya devi sarvabhuteshu maa kaalratri rupena sansthita!
Namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah!!”
Bhog- to have blessings of goddess Kaal Ratri, offer Bhog of jaggery. One must offer jaggery along with Dakshina to Brahmins. Kaalratri Mata protects her devotees with evil spirits.
8. Mata Mahagauri
The eighth day (Ashtami) of Navratri is dedicated to goddess Mahagauri. As per the Hindu mythology, maa Mahagauri has four hands holding Trishul (trident) and Damru and rides white elephant or bull as the vehicle. It is mentioned in scriptures that Parvati Ji went to the deep forest to attain Lord Shiva as her husband and didn’t care about heat, cold or rain leaving all the comforts. Lord Shiva promised to be her and washed off Mata Mahagauri dust with showering Ganga water.
Offer coconut to goddess Mahagauri if you are a childless couple. It is considered or believed that offering coconut with pure intentions and full devotions blesses the seeking couple with a healthy child.
Mantra- “Om devi mahagauryai Namah”
Or
“Ya devi sarvabhuteshu maa mahagauri rupena sansthita!
Namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah!!”
Bhog- seek the blessings of goddess Mahagauri by offering coconut. it is believed that offering coconut to Mata Mahagauri or to brahmin reduces all the sins of the devotee.
9. Mata Sidhidatri
The ninth day of the Navratri is dedicated to the ninth form of the goddess Durga, i.e., Diety Sidhidatri. She has four hands, sits on a lotus and rides a bull. Her four hands carry mace, trident, conch shell and discus. Signifying perfection and accomplishment by name, goddess Sidhidatri has the power to accomplish all the wishes of the devotees.
Mantra- “Om devi sidhidatryai Namah”
“Ya devi sarvabhuteshu maa sidhidatri rupena sansthita!
Namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah!!”
Bhog- the favourite Bhog of goddess Siddhidatri is til (or sesame seeds). Offering Til to goddess helps in getting rid of fear and untimely accidents or incidents.