Nine Forms of Goddess Worship on Navratri

During the Navaratri festival, nine forms of Goddess Shakti is worshipped all over India. Goddess Shakti is worshipped depending on the tradition of the region.

1) Goddess Durga – Also known as Maa Durga is an embodiment of creative feminine force and is regarded as "the invincible" one.

2) Goddess Bhadrakali – Goddess Bhadra Kali is one of the most popular forms of the Goddess Shakti as mentioned in Devi Mahatmyam. Goddess Bhadrakali is the popular form of Devi worshipped in Kerala.

3) Goddess Amba - Also known as Jagadamba is another form of Goddess Shakti and is regarded as the Mother of the universe

4) Goddess Annapurna – Also known as Annapoorna is an avatar of the Divine Mother and is the Goddess of Harvests. Anna literally means food and grains and “Purna” means complete or full. Hence Goddess Annapurna is the one who bestows food in plenty.

5) Goddess Sarvamangala – Another form of Goddess Shakthi. As Sarvamangala, Devi bestows joy (mangal) to everything (sarva).

6) Goddess Bhairavi – Bhairavi is a fierce form of the Goddess. Devi took this avatar when she became the consort of the Bhairava.

7) Goddess Chandika – Also known as Chandi or Durga Sapthashati Chandika is the supreme Goddess of Devi Mahatmya. Goddess Chandi is described as the Supreme reality, who is a combination of Maha Lakshmi, Mahakali, and Maha Saraswati.

8) Goddess Lalita – Also known as Shodashi, Rajarajeshvari, or Tripura Sundari, Goddess Lalitha is one of the group of Ten Goddesses of Hindu belief, collectively called mahavidyas.

9) Goddess Bhavani - Bhavani literally means "giver of life" is a ferocious form of the Goddess Parvati Devi.

10) Goddess Mookambika - On the 10th day of Navaratri Festival, Goddess Shakti is worshipped as Mookambika Devi. Goddess Mookambika is regarded as a manifestation of Goddess Shakti, Goddess Saraswathi and Goddess Mahalakshmi. Kollur Mookambika Devi Temple, situated at the bottom of the Kodachadri peak, is one of the most prominent shrines dedicated to Goddess Mookambika. 

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Navratri Festival

Navratri Festival or Navaratri Festival is one of the most important Hindu festivals of India celebrated with great religious fervor throughout India. Navratri means “Nine Nights in Sanskrit”; Nava meaning Nine and Ratri meaning nights. The nine forms of Goddess Shakti are worshipped during these nine nights and ten days. Each of the three days is devoted to worship of Goddess Durga - the Goddess of courage, Goddess Lakshmi - the Goddess of Wealth and Goddess Saraswati - the Goddess of Knowledge.

Navratri Festival is celebrated twice a year. Chaitra Navratri is celebrated in March-April, and Sharad Navratri is celebrated in October-November. The day after Sharad Navratri, ie., on the tenth day, Dussehra or Vijayadasami is celebrated. While the tenth day festival is called as Dussehra in Northern India, in Southern India, it is called as Vijayadasami. According to the Hindu calendar, Sharadeya Navratri falls on the first day of the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) in the Hindu month of Ashwin (September- October). In this nine-day long Navratri Festival begins with Mahanavami / Ayudha Puja and Dussehra (Dasara) / Vijayadasami is celebrated.

Navaratri Traditions

Though there are five Navaratris devoted to Shakti, only three are in vogue. They are:

Sharad Navratri - Sharad Navaratri is the most important of the Navratris and is called as Navratri or Maha Navratri (the Great Navratri). Observed during the beginning of winter (September - October), this festival celebrates the killing of the demon, Mahishasura, by the Goddess Durga.

Vasant Navratri - Vasant Navaratri or Basant Navaratri is celebrated during Vasanta Ritu (spring season - March- April), this Navaratri is celebrated in North India. Vaishno Devi Temple in Jammu celebrates this Navaratri in a grand scale.

Ashada Navratri – Ashada Navaratri is significant for the devotees of Goddess Varahi, this is celebrated in July-August. This Navaratri is called Guhya Navaratri in Himachal Pradesh. Varahi is one of the saptha mathrukas (seven mothers) who helped the Goddess Shakti in her fight against the demons, Shumbha and Nishumbha.

Mythology

The most popular legend associated with Navaratri is the slaying of the demon king, Mahishasura, by Goddess Durga.

According to legends, Mahishasura was a powerful demon king who obtained a boon from the almighty that his death should be at the hands of a woman and by no other human being or any form of living being. His boon was granted and consequently he started doing violence on all human beings on the earth.

Unable to bear his cruelty, people prayed to Goddess Shakti, the consort of Lord Shiva, to save them from the demon. Shakti then took the form of Durga and entered a war with him, which lasted for nine days. The Goddess Durga killed Mahishasura on the tenth day.
The nine nights of Navratri denote the nine nights of the war between Goddess Durga and Mahishasura.

Navratri Rituals

The first three days of Navratri are devoted to the worship of Goddess Durga. Each day is dedicated to her appearances, namely Kumari, Parvati and Kali.

In some places, there is a custom of planting barley seeds in a small bed of mud on the first day of puja. After the puja, the shoots when grown are distributed.

The fourth, fifth and sixth days of Navratri are dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity.

The seventh day is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. A yagna is also performed during the day.

Ayudha Pooja

The eighth or ninth day is celebrated as Ayudha Pooja by commercial organizations, business houses, shops and establishments. Machines, equipments and tools that are used in the organization are cleaned and smeared with sandalwood paste (Chandanam) and vermilion (KumKum) and adorned with flowers.

Saraswathi Puja

During the eighth day, prayers are offered to Goddess Saraswathi. People place books of children and musical instruments before the goddess. Pujas are performed on the day.

Mahanavami

The ninth day of Navratri celebrations is also known as Mahanavami or Maha Navami. Kanya puja is performed during the day. Nine young girls, who have not yet reached the stage of puberty, are worshipped as these nine girls are said to symbolize the nine forms of Goddess Durga. The feet of the girls are washed and the girls are offered food and a set of new clothes.

During the Sharad Navaratri, that is the September - October Navratri celebrations, the tenth day is celebrated as Dussehra.

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Durgashtami - Durga Ashtami Festival

Legends behind Durgashtami festival

On Ashwin Krishna Ashtami day, Goddess Bhadrakali, the powerful and fierce form of Mother Goddess was incarnated. She appeared along with Yogini ganas to annihilate demon Mahishasura. In Sanskrit ‘Durga means the undefeatable’. Goddess Bhadrakali appeared with 64 Yogini Shaktis and some other fierce Goddesses to strike fear in Mahishasura. On Mahanavami, she became ‘Mahishasura Mardini' by slaying the demon Mahishasura.

Durgashtami is also known as Veerashtami because on this day Arjuna (The third of the five Pandava brothers) has taken out his Ayudha from Shami tree.




Durgashtami Rituals and Festivities

The eight consorts of Goddess Durga also known as Eight Shaktis are interpreted differently in different regions of India. But all the eight goddesses are incarnations of Maa Shakti with different aims. The Ashtanayikas that are worshipped during Durga Puja are Brahmani, Maheswari, Kameswari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Narasinghi, Indrani and Chamunda. Numerous minor deities including many attendants and guards of Durga are worshipped on the day.

A fast is observed by devotees on Durga Ashtami. Both men and women observe the fast. Shakti temples conduct special pujas on the day and are visited by millions of devotees. Durgashtami day ends with Sandhi puja, which overlaps into the next day which is the Mahanavami day.

Durga Ashtami Celebrations

On Durgashtami day, Goddess Durga is offered clothes, other items which include bangles, jewellery, dhoti, kajal, bindi and other ornaments used by married women should be offered to goddess. Everyday family members should participate in Aarti. Durga Saptasathi Path should be organized by calling Brahmins. On this day Mata should be offered Bhog.

Garba Dance and Dandiya Raas

There is a custom of Garba dance in Gujarat to symbolize the divine maternal energy. This is done by worshipping a lamp placed in an earthen pot with many openings. Garba dance originated in praise of the various movements of Goddess Mahishasura Mardini who relieved the people from suffering by slaying the evil demon Mahishasur during the period of Navaratri. The stick used during the Dandiya Raas dance is representative of the weapon Khadga (sword) in the hand of the Goddess.

People make different kinds of offerings and honor the goddess through ceremonies, prayers and songs. Special puja rituals are prescribed for each day. Usually a community pooja is performed where a priest performs the pooja for the entire community. Generally people attend their own community pandals for daily rituals, ceremonies, music, dances and food. In different states, different rituals are attached with puja and people follow the trend.

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