Navratri 2024: Know The Story Of The 9 Avatars Of Maa Durga

Navratri will begin on October 3 and end on October 12. The rituals of Navratri honour and worship the different forms of Maa Durga. Here, Read on to take a look at the nine forms of Maa Durga and the story behind them.
Know The Story Of The 9 Avatars Of Maa Durga?

Navratri is a nine-day festival wherein people worship nine avatars of Maa Durga. The name Navratri comes from two words, ‘Nav’ which means nine and ‘Ratri’ which means night and hence, the festival is celebrated over a period of nine days. Navratri celebrations begin after the end of Pitru Paksha and the start of Devi Paksha. This year, Pitru Paksha began on September 17 and will end on October 2.
Subsequently, Devi Paksha will begin on October 3. Hence, Navratri will also begin on October 3 and end on October 12. The rituals of Navratri honour and worship the different forms of Maa Durga. Here, take a look at the nine forms of Maa Durga and the story behind them.

Day 1: Maa Shailaputri

Maa Shailputri is considered to be one of the most divine forms of Goddess Durga. She is one of the Navadurgas who is worshipped on the first day of the Navratri. According to Drik Panchang, “After the self-immolation as Goddess Sati, Goddess Parvati took birth as the daughter of Lord Himalaya. In Sanskrit Shail means the mountain and due to which Goddess was known as Shailputri, the daughter of the mountain.”

Day 2: Maa Brahmacharini

Drik Panchang says that after the Kushmanda form, Mata Parvati took birth at the home of Daksha Prajapati. The word ‘Brahma’ means penance and ‘Charini’ means whose achar (behaviour) is that. According to Rudra Centre, “So Maa Durga’s manifestation as the one who does penance or ‘tapasya’ translates as Brahmacharini Maa. Brahmacharini Mata is also known as Devi Yogni and Devi Tapsvini.” This form of Goddess Parvati was her unmarried form and she is worshipped as Goddess Brahmacharini.

Day 3: Maa Chandraghanta

Maa Chandraghanta is worshipped on day 3 of Navratri. According to Drik Panchang, Goddess Chandraghanta is the married form of the Goddess Parvati. After Maa Parvati got married to Lord Shiva, she started adorning her forehead with half of Chandra. Due to this, Goddess Parvati came to be known as Goddess Chandraghanta.

Day 4: Maa Kushmanda

On day 4 of Navratri, Maa Kushmanda is worshipped. According to Drik Panchang, Goddess Kushmanda has the power and ability to live inside the Sun. It is believed that the glow and radiance of her body is as bright as that of the Sun. After taking the form of Siddhidatri, Goddess Parvati started living inside the centre of the Sun so that the Sun god could liberate energy to the universe.

Day 5: Maa Skandamata

Maa Skandamata is worshipped on Day 5. According to Drik Panchang, when Maa Parvati became a mother to Lord Skanda, who is also known as Lord Kartikeya, Maa Parvati came to be known as Goddess Skandamata.

Day 6: Maa Katyayani

On day 6 of Navratri, Maa Katyayani is worshipped. According to Drik Panchang, Goddess Parvati took the form of Maa Katyayani to destroy the demon Mahishasura. “Goddess Parvati is also known as the Warrior Goddess.” According to religious texts Goddess Parvati was born at the home of sage Katya and due to which this form of Goddess Parvati is known as Katyayani.

Day 7: Maa Kalaratri

On day 7 of Navratri, Maa Kalaratri is worshipped. According to Drik Panchang, Goddess Kalaratri is the fiercest and the most ferocious form of Goddess Parvati. It is believed that when the Goddess Parvati removed the outer golden skin to kill demons Shumbha and Nishumbha, she came to be known as Goddess Kalaratri. The complexion of Maa Kalaratri is dark black and she rides on a donkey and she is depicted with four hands.

Day 8: Maa Mahagauri

Maa Mahagauri is worshipped on day 8 of Sharadiya Navratri. Drik Panchang says that according to Hindu mythologies, Goddess Shailputri at the age of sixteen was extremely beautiful and was blessed with fair complexion. Since she has an extremely fair complexion, she came to be known as Mahagauri Devi. Goddess Mahagauri mounts on a bull and therefore, she is also known as Vrisharudha.

Day 9: Maa Siddhidatri

On day 9 of Navratri, Maa Siddhidatri is worshipped. Drik Panchang says that at the beginning of the Universe, Lord Rudra worshipped Adi-Parashakti for creation. It is believed that the Goddess of Power, Adi-Parashakti had no form. However, she appeared in the form of Siddhidatri from the left half of Lord Shiva.
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Khushi Patel author

Khushi Patel is a copy editor at Times Network. With a background in content writing at Zee Media, she has experience in diverse fields like entertain...View More

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