#Navratri: Facts about the 9 Avatars of Durga
“Why are there so many goddesses?”
“Why are we celebrating it for so many days?”
“Is this only celebrated at our place?”
Yea, these were some of the questions that my 10 years old sibling asked on one fine evening of Navratri celebration. Even though I pretend to know all his answers, yet the contrary was the reality. For me, it was always about getting dressed and having good food. But the very next day I sat down in front of my computer and did some research. Believe me, there is so much more to this charismatically celebrated festival.
So today I thought of sharing some interesting yet lesser-known facts about every divine feminine aspect of “Shakti”. Each embodiment of the Navdurga has something for us to learn from and yes don’t miss out on the colors that are dedicated to each avatar. You will love it!
So without further adieu, let’s get started:
When is Navratri celebrated?
It is celebrated in the fortnight of the Hindu month of Ashwin. The celebration takes place for more than 9 days, establishing the importance of gods and goddesses to acquire positive qualities.
Now we are all set to begin the discussion of 9 different avatars:
- Goddess Shailputri
I would start with the first and most prominent one, goddess Shailaputri. Do you guys know the literal meaning of Shailputri, it means the daughter of the mountain and is also known as Bhavani, Parvati, Sati, Hemavati? So don’t get confused when you hear these different versions of the names. The goddess has a crescent moon on her forehead, trident in the right and lout in the left hand, and rides on the bull, Nandi.
- Color: Royal blue
- Flower: Hibiscus
2. Brahmacharini
As the name suggests, Brahmacharinin is the goddess who represents the renunciation from worldly pleasures. This embodiment of Durga maa represents penance and austerity. She walks bare feet and has a Japa mala in her right hand and a Kathmandu on her left. She blesses her devotees with peace, grace, prosperity, and blissfulness.
- Color: White
- Flower: Shevanti/ Chrysanthemums
3. Chandraghanta
The third day is devoted to the Goddess Chandraghanta. This majestic goddess wears a half-moon shaped on her forehead that symbolizes the origin of her name. It is said that she adorns the half-moon after she got married to Lord Shiva. Interesting, right?
She endows her devotee with prosperity and tranquility in life. Her description is pompous as she is seen as mounted on her tigress and known as having in hands and three eyes. The goddess carries a sword, Trishul, Kamadalu, Gada in her left hands and the fifth one is always in Varada Mudra. In her right hand, she holds an arrow, lotus, Japa mala, Dhanush, and keeps the fifth hand in Abhaya Mudra.
- Color: Red
- Flower: Lotus
4. Kushmanda
The etymology of the name Kushmanda comes from the power of the goddess to live inside the smoldering sun. The goddess is known to have a luminous body and is credited to form the world using her radiant smile. The goddess- bestows her devotees with strength and good well-being. She is known to have an eight hands and hence also called Ashtabhuja Devi. The Kushmanda Devi is depicted as having eight to ten hands holding a discus, trident, mace, sword, arrow, hook, bow, and two jars of blood and honey. She rides on a tiger with her one hand in Abhaya mudra to bless her worshipper.
- Color: Grey
- Flower: Jasmine
5. Skandamata
The fifth day is devoted to Skandamata, also known as the mother of the war god, Karttikeya. As she symbolizes as mother of war, she is seen as riding a ferocious lion and has an infant lord Skanda in her lap. It is believed that she was the commander in chief in the war against the demon. This female goddess is portrayed with four hands where she carries Skanda in one hand, lotus in two hands, and the fourth hand is in Abhaya Mudra.
- Color of the Day: Orange -(To keep you cheerful and energetic)
- Flower of the Day: Yellow Rose
6. Katyayani
Coming to the sixth form, called Katyayani and Mahalaxmi. The origin of Katyayani was to destroy the demon Mahishasura. I’m sure you must have heard the demon name before. She destroyed the evil and henceforth her character symbolises victory of good over evils and followed by vengeance and anger. Her iconography is depicted with four hands with swords, louts, Abhaya Mudra, and Varada Mudra, and riding a lion.
- Color of the Day: White
- Flower of the Day: Marigold
7. Kalaratri
She is an emblem of furious and fearless posture. Her dark complexion, big red eyes, and blood-red tongue makes her the symbol of the “Goddess of Death”. You may have heard people referring to her as a Kalratri or Kali Maa. She sits on a donkey and has four hands, one in Abhaya Mudra and the other one in Vardara Mundra. The other two hands carry a sword and iron hook.
- Color of the Day: Red
- Flower of the Day: Krishna Kamal
8. Mahagauri
She is the second last form of Goddess Durga and considered to be the most graceful one. The Mahagauri goddess is considered to be the significance of cleanliness, purity, peace, and endurance. It is believed that her worshippers’ mistakes get burnt to ashes. She has four hands where the right ones show alleviating suffering, trident and left showers blessings and hold tambourine.
- Color of the Day: Sky Blue
- Flower of the Day: Arabian Jasmine or Mogra
9. Siddhidatri
The last incarnation of Goddess Durga is known for having the natural healing powers. She can be seen in a blissful and enchanting pose. The goddess is portrayed as sitting either on a tiger, lotus, or lion. Her four hands hold chakram, Gada, Shankha, and lotus.
- Color of the Day: Pink
- Flower of the Day: Champa
We have witnessed how these forms are the flag bearer of various elements and yet holding together. Right from love, devotion, and stability, there are multiple emotions depicted by iconography of goddess Durga. Let me know which fact you found the most interesting one and also will you be following the color theme this year?
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