Navadurga – 9 Divine Forms of Adishakti Durga Maa & Their Significance

Navaratri is one of the most important festivals celebrated across India, during which Goddess Durga is worshipped. This festivity spans 9 nights and 10 days, where each night is linked with a particular avatar or form of Goddess Durga. Legend has it that there was a battle between Goddess Durga and demon Mahishasura which spanned 9 nights in which Durga emerged victorious. Her victory is celebrated on the 10th day which is the most important day of the Navaratri festival and is known as Dusshehra.

Thus, Navaratri celebrates the triumph of good over evil and the power of feminine, and serves as a reminder to everyone that women possess exceptional capabilities and should be respected. Each night of Navaratri is dedicated to a particular avatar of Goddess Durga. Here is information about these nine forms of Durga Devi and their significance.

9 Avatars of Goddess Durga and Their Symbolism

Shailaputri

In this form, Goddess Parvati is believed to have taken birth as the daughter of Lord Himalaya, and is in her childhood phase. Shail means mountain, and Shailaputri means ‘daughter of the mountain’. She is depicted with a trident in one hand and a lotus in another, and is seen riding a bull. She represents the energy of the mountains. She is considered as a direct incarnation of Mahakali, and also believed to be a reincarnation of Sati, the first wife of Shiva. The first day of Navaratri is dedicated to this avatar of Durga devi.

Brahmacharini

She represents the penance of Goddess Parvati and is symbolic of knowledge, wisdom and austerity. In this form, Goddess Parvati is in the phase of asceticism, is known as the Mother of devotion and penance, and has no vehicle. She holds a rosary bead of Rudraksha in one hand and a kamandalu in another hand. In this avatar, Parvati is Yogini, her unmarried self. This avatar of Goddess Durga is worshipped on the second day of Navaratri.

Chandraghanta

Known by other names like Chandrakhanda, Chandika or Ranachandi, Chandraghanta is depicted with ten arms holding different weapons, she is seen carrying a half-moon on her head, and her third eye is open. She represents bravery and peace. She takes the form of Shakti and her vehicle is the tiger. She is referred to as the Destroyer of demons. This avatar of Goddess Durga is worshipped on the third day of Navaratri.

Kushmanda

She is depicted riding a lion, and having eight hands that hold a kamandalu, bow, arrow, lotus, trident, a jar of nectar and a discus. She is also called Ashtabhuja Devi and is known to have created the universe with her smile. Her name literally translates to ku meaning little, Ushma meaning energy or light and Anda meaning egg, and she is called Goddess of the cosmic egg. As Kushmanda, Durga is in the form of Mahashakti. She represents the energy of the sun. This form of Durga devi is worshipped on the fourth day of Navaratri.

Skandamata

Kartikeya, son of Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati, was also called Skand, and the name of this avatar of Durga means ‘mother of Kartikeya’. She represents motherly love, and is called Goddess of motherhood and children. In this form, she is in the phase of motherhood. She is depicted with a lion as her vehicle, and has four arms and three eyes. She may be seen with Kartikeya on her lap. She symbolizes motherhood and compassion. This avatar of Durga is worshipped on the fifth day of Navaratri.

Katyayani

She is believed to have killed demon Mahishasura, and is known as Mahishasuramardini. It is said that Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva combined their energies to create Katyayani. A legend goes that sage Katyayana performed penance on Durga Devi and asked her to be born as his daughter, and in this avatar, she is named after this sage. She is the Goddess of power and is in the warrior stage. She represents courage and victory. She is worshipped on the sixth day of Navaratri.

Kaalratri

She is depicted as having a dark complexion, long, untied hair, and riding a donkey. She is said to be the fiercest form of Goddess Durga. Legend has it that when Parvati removed her outer golden skin to kill demons Shumbha and Nishumbha, she was called Kaalratri (or Kalaratri). This form of Durga Devi represents the destruction of evil, and is worshipped on the seventh day of Navaratri.

Mahagauri

In this avatar, Goddess Durga is bright and shines like a moon, and is called Goddess of beauty. As Mahagauri, Durga is in her form of recovery, and her vehicle is the ox. She is depicted with a damru in one hand and a trident in another, and the other two hands are seen in the Varada and Abhaya mudras. She signifies purity and tranquillity, and is known to fulfil all the desires of her devotees. She is worshipped on the eighth day of Navaratri.

Siddhidatri

Siddhidatri means the giver of Siddhis, where siddhi means supernatural power or meditative ability. She is known as the Goddess of supernatural powers or Siddhis, and is in her stage of reaching her highest or supreme form as Mahashakti. She is considered as the Ardhanarishvara form of Shiva and Shakti, and it is believed that one side of Lord Shiva’s body is that of Siddhidatri. In this avatar, Goddess Durga is said to give knowledge to her devotees, and it is said that Lord Shiva obtained all siddhis after praying to her. This form of Durga represents accomplishment and spirituality. She is the ninth form of Durga and worshipped on the ninth day of Navaratri.

In the Hindu mythology, these nine forms of Durga are believed to be the nine stages of Durga during the 9-day long war with the demon Mahishasura, in which she won on the 10th day which is called Vijayadashami (translates to ‘day of victory’).

These forms of Durga are according to the Devikavaca, a part of the Devipurana, a text that describes the life of Goddess Parvati. If you look at these 9 forms, you will see that Shailaputri is a loving daughter, Brahmacharini is an ascetic, Chandraghanta is the destroyer of evil, Kushmanda is the creator, Skandamata is a protective mother, Katyayani is a warrior, Kaalratri is fierce and powerful, Mahagauri is a symbol of feminine beauty, and Siddhidatri is the giver of supernatural powers. Thus, the nine manifestations of Durga, collectively called Navadurga, are an embodiment of the different stages of womanhood, and her different facets that include her abilities to love unconditionally, protect fiercely, serve selflessly, and fight fearlessly, while always giving strength and standing strong. Navadurga, the 9 forms of Durga Devi, perfectly define a woman.

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