Navratri, the nine-day festival, celebrates the triumph of good over evil, symbolized through the worship of Goddess Durga in her nine distinct forms, known as the Navdurgas.

Each day of Navratri is dedicated to one form of Durga, with a unique story, meaning, and essence that reflects different virtues and powers.

In this post, we’ll explore each of the Navdurgas, their background, powers, and what they symbolize in our everyday lives. We will talk about these forms in the order in which they are worshipped during Navratri and not in the order of their appearance in the timeline.

Shailputri is the first form of Durga and is worshipped on the first day of Chaitra Navratri. She is called “Shaila” (meaning mountain) and “Putri” (daughter), as she is the daughter of the king of the Himalayas.

So Shailputri means daughter of the mountains. She is also called Parvati, as Parvat means mountain too.

In her previous birth, she was Sati, the daughter of King Daksha Prajapati, and in that birth, she became the first wife of Lord Shiva.

After Sati sacrificed herself in the sacrificial fire during a dispute with her father, she was reborn as Shailputri.

THE STORY: One day, Sage Narada visited the Himalayas, and he reminded her parents about Shailputri being an avatar of Adi Shakti and her previous birth as Sati.

He proceeded to inform Shailputri that she needed to marry Shiva in this birth, for which she had to do meditation.

This, he asserted, was very important as only a son born to her and Shiva could kill the demon Taraka, who was terrorizing heaven and earth.

And so, Shailputri left her home for Mount Kailash riding on Nandi, the white bull who was Shiva’s guard and vahana.

• Shailputri is often depicted riding a bull (Nandi), carrying a trident and a lotus.
• Her essence lies in strength, steadfastness, and calmness, signifying her role as the root and foundation of everything.

Being the daughter of the mountains, she is worshipped as the goddess of the earth.

She is believed to live in nature, the soil and seeds, and is often called Mother Earth. For this, people thank her for the good harvest and all the available food.

Stay grounded and build strong relationships, work, and life foundations. Be as resilient as the mountains, and face challenges with patience and strength.

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Brahmacharini is worshipped on the second day and represents intense austerity and penance. Shailputri a.k.a Parvati went to Mount Kailash and undertook severe penance (tapasya) to win Lord Shiva as her husband.

She got the name Brahmacharini due to her deep devotion, meditation, and focus on attaining her goal.

On Mount Kailash, the goddess gave up all material pleasures and meditated for over 5000 years without eating much. For the first 1000 years, she survived on roots and fruits. For the next 100 years, she lived on leafy vegetables and shoots.

Seeing that Shiva had still not budged, she gave up eating leafy vegetables and only ate leaves from the bael tree for the next 3000 years.

For the last 1000 years, she didn’t even eat leaves. At last, Shiva relented to her intense meditation and appeared before her.

• Brahmacharini is depicted holding a rosary in one hand and a water utensil (kamandalu) in the other.
• She is dressed in white and walks barefoot. Her essence is devotion, discipline, and perseverance.
• She teaches us the power of determination and the fruits of dedication.

Stay devoted to your goals with unwavering focus. Practice self-discipline in your actions and thoughts, knowing that success comes with perseverance.

This form of Durga is worshipped on the third day of Navratri.

On the day of her wedding to Lord Shiva, Parvati adorned a half-moon (Chandra) on her forehead, resembling a bell (Ghanta), which she rang furiously to convey her anger.

This gave her the name Chandraghanta! Chandra means ‘moon’ and ghanta means ‘bell’.

But what made Parvati so angry? It turns out that Shiva came to the wedding with ash smeared on his body and messy hair, wearing only a tiger skin skirt and a snake around his neck!

This scared Parvati’s parents and enraged Parvati so much that she called out to her vahana, a huge tiger, and transformed herself into a form that had ten hands, a third eye, and a Chandraghanta on the forehead.

This was her way of expressing her displeasure with Shiva! Shiva soon changed his and the followers’ appearance, and the wedding proceeded. Phew!

• She rides a tiger and is depicted with ten arms, holding weapons and ready for battle, symbolizing the strength to fight injustice and evil.
• Her third eye is always open to look out for evil forces and protect her devotees. Chandraghanta symbolizes courage, fearlessness, and justice.
• She exudes a protective and fearless energy, prepared to battle against all forms of negativity.

Have the courage to stand up against wrongdoings and fight for justice, even when it seems daunting. Protect yourself and others from harmful influences with self-confidence and strength.

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Kushmanda is believed to be the goddess who created the universe with her divine smile, bringing light into the darkness. It is believed that Adi Shakti created a new self-called Kushmanda. This form created the entire universe.

Her name translates to “Ku” (little), “Ushma” (warmth or energy), and “Anda” (cosmic egg), signifying her role in the creation of the cosmos from the void. She resides at the core of the sun and radiates warmth and energy throughout the universe.

After this, Kushmanda created the three chief goddesses – Mahakali, Mahasaraswati, and Mahalakshmi. From these three goddesses, she created Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Thereafter, she created their respective partners, Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati.

• Kushmanda holds a rosary with which she bestows the ashta siddhis (eight supernatural powers) and the nava niddhis (nine kinds of knowledge).
• She symbolizes creativity, light, and life force energy.
• Her eight arms hold various objects, symbolizing prosperity and growth, and she rides a lion, symbolizing power and strength.

Embrace your inner creativity and radiate positivity, even during difficult times. Remember that even small efforts can lead to big changes.

Skandamata is worshipped on the fifth day and is known as the mother of Skanda (also known as Kartikeya), the god of war.

After her son went to lead the gods in a battle against demons, Skandamata took on the role of a protective and nurturing mother. She is often depicted holding baby Skanda in her lap.

The story – there was a demon Tarakasura who had a boon, that he could only be killed by the son of Shiva. After Parvati’s son (Skanda) grew up, the devas approached her to ask her son Skanda to lead them in the battle against Tarakasura.

She then took the form of Devi and gave Skanda a spearlike weapon called the vel with which he killed the demon.

Skanda brought back Tarakasura’s brothers as vahanas. One brother became his vahana, the peacock, and the other one he gave to his mother, in the form of a lion. Skanda is also known as Velan, Karthikeya, and Murugan.

• Skandamata embodies motherly love, care, and protection.
• Her nurturing energy provides strength and guidance, particularly in times of challenge and adversity.

Practice compassion and nurturing care towards others. Offer your support to those who need it, especially during times of conflict or hardship.

Katyayani was born out of the collective energy of the gods to destroy the demon Mahishasura. Mahishasura was half-buffalo and half-asura. He had a boon that he could take on any form he wanted.

He also got a boon from Brahma that no man or god would kill him, which made him arrogant and cruel.

The devas got together and poured all their energies together, from which the goddess emerged. Sage Katyayan wished to have the goddess as his daughter, hence she got the name Katyayani.

Soon, with the blessings of the gods, Katyayani rode to Mahisha ooru or city. After wiping out his army and dealing with all the illusions of different forms that Mahishasura took, he finally appeared in his buffalo form.

The goddess took this chance and pounced on his back and pressed his neck down with her foot. This is how she slayed the demon Mahishasura and restored peace. For this, she is also known as Mahishasura-mardini or the slayer of Mahishasura. We worship her on the sixth day of Navratri.

• She is the embodiment of strength and power and is often depicted riding a lion, with her weapons ready for battle.
• Katyayani represents the power to destroy evil and restore balance.
• She signifies inner strength, determination, and the will to fight for righteousness.

Don’t hesitate to take action when it comes to fighting for what’s right. Stand strong in the face of adversity, and use your inner power to overcome obstacles.

Kaalratri is the most ferocious form of Durga, known as the goddess of destruction. She was named Kaalratri (black night) because her skin was as dark as the night sky. She is worshipped on the seventh day of Navratri.

STORY: Once upon a time, demons Shumbha and Nishumbha attacked the Deva Lok and took away the gods’ vahanas and weapons.

The devas went to Parvati for help, and she sent one of her forms, Ambika, to fight with them.

The demons sent their attendants, Chanda and Mund, to fight her, whom the goddess vanquished. That is how she got the name Chamunda.

Then, they sent another powerful demon, Raktabeej. His name means ‘seed of blood’, as every drop of blood that fell from his body on the ground created another clone of the demon.

Seeing this, Ambika created her most terrifying form – Kaalratri! Kaalratri ran around the battlefield drinking Raktabeej’s blood before it could fall on the ground. Soon, he could no longer multiply and fell on the ground.

• She symbolizes the end of darkness and the removal of ignorance.
• She is depicted with a dark complexion, riding a donkey, and carrying a sword.
• Kalaratri embodies protection, removal of fear, and the end of ignorance. Her fierce form is meant to dispel all negative forces and bring light into the world.

Don’t fear change or destruction, as it often leads to renewal and growth. Work on eliminating negative thoughts and influences in your life, allowing room for positivity and clarity.

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Mahagauri is the eighth form of Durga and is known for her radiance and purity. After years of penance as Brahmacharini, Parvati noticed that her skin had become rough and weather-worn. She scrubbed herself clean in the waters of the Ganga, restoring her pristine beauty, and she emerged as Mahagauri.

It is interesting to note that Parvati takes on different looks in different forms and manifests similar qualities and blessings!

• She rides the white bull Nandi and wears white clothes. Mahagauri holds a trident and a tambourine, symbolizing peace and compassion.
• She signifies purity, serenity, and compassion, and cleanses devotees of sins, helping them lead a peaceful life.

Focus on maintaining inner purity by letting go of anger, hatred, and jealousy. Embrace the beauty of simplicity and peacefulness in your daily interactions.

Siddhidatri is the ninth form of Durga, known for granting supernatural powers (siddhis) to her devotees. Siddhi means ‘supernatural power’ and datri means ‘giver’ in Sanskrit.

After Kushmanda created the universe, Shiva prayed to the Adi Shakti to grant him siddhis. She appeared in the form of Siddhidatri from Kushmanda’s rosary. Then, she lived in Shiva as his Shakti.

Later, she also emerged from the left side of Shiva’s body and this half-man, half-woman form of Shiva came to be known as Ardhanarishwara.

• Siddhidatri represents spiritual knowledge, completion, and fulfillment.
• She grants wisdom and the ability to achieve one’s highest potential.

Strive for personal growth and the pursuit of knowledge to reach your full potential. Remember that true success comes not just from material achievements but also from inner wisdom and spiritual awareness.

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Each form of Durga teaches us valuable lessons for living a balanced, empowered, and compassionate life.

• Shailputri encourages us to stay grounded.
• Brahmacharini reminds us of the power of devotion.
• Chandraghanta inspires us to be courageous.
• Kushmanda shows us that even small acts can create big changes.
• Skandamata teaches us the importance of nurturing and compassion.
• Katyayani urges us to stand up for righteousness and take action.
• Kaalratri reminds us to dispel ignorance and face our fears.
• Mahagauri symbolizes purity and serenity in both thought and action.
• Siddhidatri shows us the path toward spiritual fulfillment and self-realization.

The Navdurgas not only embody divine powers but also offer us enduring lessons on how to live a fulfilling life.

As we come together to celebrate Navratri, let’s gently embrace these virtues in our daily routines and support each other in overcoming our struggles, much like Goddess Durga bravely faced adversity to restore harmony in the universe.