Devi’s nine avatars- devotees of Durga observe fasts and prayers for protection, health and prosperity

Hyderabad: Navratri literally means auspicious nine nights. During Navratri, we pray to the energy aspect of God in the form of the universal mother, referred to as Durga, Devi (goddess) or Shakti (the power) which means the remover of miseries of life. As the Goddess of power, She is believed to have the power of creation, preservation and destruction. 

 

During Navratri, devotees of Durga observe fasts and prayers for protection, health and prosperity. They avoid meat, alcohol, grains, wheat and onion. Grains are avoided as during Navratri, a period of seasonal change, grains absorb negative energies from the surrounding. 

 

Navratri is a period of introspection and purification and is traditionally an auspicious time for starting new ventures. 

 

Navratri is separated into three sets. First three days, the Goddess is invoked as the supreme powerful force called Durga. She destroys all our evils and defects. Next three days, She is worshipped as the mother of wealth, Goddess Lakshmi, with the power of showering on her devotees the blessings of never-ending wealth. In the last three days, the Goddess is worshipped as the Goddess of wisdom, Saraswati, responsible for spiritual enlightenment and overall success in life. 

 

First day: The first form of Goddess Durga is Shailputri. The daughter of the Himalayas, she is a form of Shakti, Lord Shiva’s companion. 

 

Second day: The second form is Brahmacharini, a form of Parvati, attained through penance.

 

Third day: The third form is Chandraghanta, the symbolic representation of beauty and bravery. 

 

Fourth day: The fourth form is Kushmanda. It is believed that Kushmanda is the creator of the Universe. 

 

Fifth day: The fifth form is Skand Mata, mother of Skanda, the chief warrior of gods’ army.

 

Sixth day: The sixth form is Katyayani. Seated on a lion, She has three eyes and four hands.

 

Seventh day: The Goddess is worshipped as Kalratri. She is the most fierce form of the Goddess. She is as black as the night. She is said to destroy all demonic entities. She has four hands. The two left hands hold a torch and a cleaver while the two right hands are in the form of giving blessings. 

 

Eighth day: On the eighth day, She is worshipped as Maha Gauri. Extremely beautiful, white as snow and adorned with white ornaments, She represents calmness, peace and wisdom.

 

Ninth day: On the ninth day, Durga is worshipped as Siddhidatri. It is believed She consists of all the eight siddhis and has supernatural healing powers. Kanya puja is done on the eighth or ninth day in which pre-pubescent girls are worshipped.

 

Swami Tejomayananda of Chinmaya Mission has said, “During Navratri, Goddess Durga is invoked to remove impurities from the mind. Goddess Lakshmi is invoked to cultivate noble values and qualities. Saraswati is invoked for gaining the highest knowledge of the self. This is the significance of the three sets of three nights when all these three are gained subjectively, and then there will be Vijayadasami, the day of true victory.”