~:Navadurga:The Nine Forms of Goddess Durga:~
The festival of Durga Puja is celebrated with deep religious fervor in the Indian states. Hindu Goddess Durga is portrayed as having ten arms and believed to have nine different forms or Goddess Durga is worshipped in different forms. In other words, Navadurga, which literally means nine Goddess Durgas, constitute, according to Hindu mythology, the manifestation of Durga in nine different forms. Each form symbolizes a religious significance. On one hand, where we get to see her in the form of a gracious woman, who symbolizes the female dynamism, then on the other hand, she is given a terrifying look of a destroyer that is apt to frighten the demons. Navadurga Maa are believed to be the most sacred aspects of Goddess Durga. She is a form of "Shakti". According to a Hindu tradition, it is believed that there are three major forms in which Goddess Durga manifested herself, namely, Mahasaraswati, Mahalakshmi and Mahakali who are the active energies (Shakti) of Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra respectively (without these goddesses the gods will lose all their powers and would not have the energy to lift a finger). In other words, the evolution of Shri Maha Saraswati, Shri Maha Laxmi and Shri Mahakali (the 3 main forms of "Shakti") took place from Shri Brahma, Shri Vishnu and Shri Mahesh or Rudra, respectively. Each of these 3 (three) deities gave rise to 3 more forms and hence in all, these 9 forms together are known as Nav-Durga or Nine Durgas.
Nava – that also means 'new' – denotes 'nine' the number to which sages attach special significance. Hence, we have Nava-ratri (9 nights), Nava-patrika (9 leaves / herbs / plants), Nava-graha (9 planets), and Nava-Durga (9 appellations). Here let us take a look at the the 9 (nine) manifestations of Goddess Durga. Each goddess has a different form and a special significance.
Nava Durga, if worshipped with religious fervor during Navaratri, is believed to lift the divine spirit in us and fill us with renewed happiness. All the nine names of goddess are narrated in ‘Devi Kavacha’ of the ‘Chandipatha’ scripture.
Science and concept of colors or Gunas in Nav Durga: Actually each Form in Nav Durga represents her special characteristic as per her guna which is in reference with color of their vestments i.e. red, yellow, blue, violet, green, orange, indigo, Grey and pink. Parvati represents white color vestments as white is combination of all colors that is why she is known as trigunatmika, combination of all gunas. Science says when white light goes from rarer (upper lokas like heaven) to denser medium (lower lokas like earth) it transforms to different colors. If density variation is less, then three colors are formed i.e. Red, Yellow and Blue, now the three primary colors represents Mahalakshmi or Mahismardini(Red), Mahasarswati or Shumbh-Nishumbh Vinashni(Yellow) and Mahakali or Madhukaitabh Vibhanjani(Blue), the Goddesses are none other than the powers of trinity. Further these splits to nine colors as their wavelength exceeds and forms above mentioned nine colors of Nav Durga i.e. now Shailputri or Hemavati who is Goddess as Nature represents green color, Brahmacharini represents devotion i.e. indigo color, Chandraghanta reperesents beauty i.e. pink, Kushmanda represents beginning i.e. voilet, Skandmata represents hard worker i.e. yellow, Katyani represents courage i.e. orange, Kaalraatri represents illusion i.e. blue, Mahagauri represents purity i.e. Red, Sidhidhaatri represents granter i.e. grey.
Here is the 9 (nine) different forms of Godess Durga:
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| Shailaputri: |
(i) Shailaputri: The first form of Goddess Durga is known as "Shailaputri", which literally means, the daughter (putri) of the mountains (shaila). She is also variously known as Sati Bhavani, Parvati (Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva) or Hemavati, the daughter of Hemavana - the king of the Himalayas. Her worship takes place on the first day of Navaratri – the nine divine nights. The embodiment of the power of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, she rides a bull and carries a trident and a lotus in her two hands. Shailaputri is the absolute form of Mother Nature. In her previous life she took birth from Daksa, the Prajapati as his daughter. According to one of the Upanishads she in her Haimavati aspect defeated all prominent gods. Like her previous birth in this life also Sailaputri got married with Lord Shiva.
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| Brahmacharini |
(ii) Brahmacharini: Brahmacharini is the second form of Durga who is worshippied on the second day of Navratri. Bharmacharini means one who practices devout austerity. She enlightens us in the magnificent embodiment of Durga with great powers and divine grace. As Brahmacharini, she is portrayed as having rosary in her right hand and a water utensil (Kamandal) in her left hand. Here word 'Brahm' refers to 'Tapa'. So Brahmcharini means Tapa Charini, the one who perform Tapa. It is said that the 'Vedas', 'Tatva' and 'Tapa' are synonyms of word 'Brahm'. She is blissful and endows happiness, peace, prosperity and grace upon all devotees who worship her. Filled with bliss and happiness, she is the way to emancipation - Moksha (Sachchidanandamaya Brahmaswarupa the Existence-Knowledge-Bliss absolute). She personifies love and loyalty. Bhramcharini is the store house of knowledge and wisdom. Rudraksha beads are Her most adored ornaments! This is the phase, of Maa Parvati before marriage as a Devi Yogni and Devi Tapsvini.
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| Kushmanda: |
(iv) Kushmanda: Kushmanda is the fourth form of the mother goddess and is worshipped on the fourth day of Navaratri. In the form of Kushmanda, she is shown as a charming woman riding a lion. The meaning of the name ‘Ku-shm-anda’ is as follows: ‘Ku’ = a little; ‘ushma’ = ‘warmth’; ‘anda’ = ‘the cosmic egg’. She resides in solar systems and she she shines brightly in all the ten directions like Sun. So she is considered the creator of the universe. The universe was no more than a void full of darkness, until her light spreads in all directions like rays from the sun. Often she is depicted as having eight or ten hands. She holds weapons, glitter, rosary, etc., in her hands, and she rides a lion.
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| Skanda Mata |
(v) Skanda Mata: The fifth aspect of the Mother Durga is known as 'Skanda Mata', the mother of Skanda or Lord Kartikeya, who was chosen by gods as their commander-in-chief in the war against the demons. She is worshiped on the fifth day of Navaratri. She is accompanied by the Lord Skanda in his infant form. Skanda Mata has four arms and three eyes, holds the infant Skanda in her right upper arm and a lotus in her right hand which is slightly raised upwards. The left arm is in pose to grant boons with grace and in left lower hand which is raised also holds a lotus. She has a bright complexion and is often depicted as seated on a lotus.
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| Katyayani |
(vi) Katyayani: The sixth form of Mother Durga is known as ‘Katyayani’, who is worshipped on the six day of Navaratri. People believe that, when Durga was born to Rishi Katyayan in the form of Paramba, she was given the name "Kat yayani". The legend behind her name goes thus: Once upon a time, there was a great sage called Kata, who had a son named Katya. Kata was very famous and renowned in the lineage of saints. He underwent long austerities and penance in order to receive the grace of the Mother Goddess. He wished to have a daughter in the form of a goddess. According to his wish and desire the Mother Goddess granted his request. Katyayani was born to Kata as an avatar of Durga. She has three eyes and eight hands. These are eight types of weapons in her seven hands and her vehicle is Lion.
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| Kalratri |
(vii) Kalratri: Kalratri is the seventh form of Goddess Durga and is worshiped on the seventh day of Navaratri. As Kalratri, she is portrayed as dark as night or dark complexioned, disheveled hair and a fearlessness posture. A necklace flashing lightning adorns her neck. She has three eyes that shine bright and terrible flames emanate from her breath (flames of fire are shown coming out of her nose). Her vehicle is the donkey. She takes a ride on the Shava, as in dead body. Her raised right hand always seems to grant boons to all worshipers and all her right lower hand is in the pose of allaying fears. Her left upper hand holds a thorn-like weapon, made of iron and there is a dagger in the lower left hand. She is black like Goddess Kali and holds a sparkling sword in her right hand to battle all evil. By her scary look, she frightens the demons. Her gesture of protection assures us of freedom from fear and troubles. So she is also known as ‘Shubhamkari’ – one who does good.
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| Maha Gauri |
(viii) Maha Gauri: Maha Gauri is the eight form portrayed as an eight year old girl, who is wearing clean white clothes. She is worshipped on the eighth day of Navaratri. She is shown as taking a ride on the bull. She has got three eyes and four hands. Her power is unfailing and instantly fruitful. It is believed that as a result of her worship, all sins of past, present and future get washed away and devotees get purified in all aspects of life. Maha Gauri is intelligent, peaceful and calm. Due to her long austerities in the deep forests of the Himalayas, she developed a dark complexion. When Lord Shiva cleaned her with the water of the Ganges, her body regained its beauty and she came to be known as Maha Gauri, which mean extremely white. Her right hand is in the pose of allaying fear and her right lower hand holds a trident. The left upper hand holds a ‘damaru’ (a small rattle drum) and the lower one is in the pose of granting boons to her devotees.
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| Siddhidatri: |
(ix) Siddhidatri: The ninth and the last form of Goddess Durga is Siddhidatri. She is worshipped on the ninth day of Navaratri. Siddhidatri has supernatural healing powers. In totality, there are eight siddhis, namely Mahima, Prapti, Prakamya, Garima, Anima, Laghi ma, Iishitva and Vashitva. The Goddess rides on the lion as her vehicle. . She has four arms and she is always in a blissful happy enchanting pose. This form of Durga is worshiped by all Gods, Rishis-Munis, Siddhas, Yogis, Sadhakas and devotees for attaining the best religious asset. She blesses all Gods, saints, yogis, tantrics and all devotees as a manifestation of the Mother Goddess. In ‘Devi Bhagvata Purana’ it is mentioned that Lord Shiva worshiped her and was blessed with all Siddhis (supernatural powers). By her blessings his half body became female and other half body male in the avatar of Ardhnarishvara.References:
