Durga Maa, the supreme goddess in Hinduism, is worshiped in nine forms during the Navratri festival, Navratri as mentioned in name a festival that have span of night nights, on each day devotees worship a different form of maa durga. The nineforms of maa durga is known as Navdurga, every form have different divine energy, they are worshipped to honor their power. Navratri is celebrated in the hindu month ashwin, the festival start from the new moon day and end on one day before dusshera on Mahanavmi.
Nine Forms of maa durga worshipped during navratri are:
1. Maa Shailputri: The first form, Maa shailputri, the daughter of mountain king Himavat. She is shown as riding on a bull, holding a trisul in one hand and lotus on other hand. Her name describes about her Shail means mountain and Putri means Daughter so she called daughter of mountain.
2. Maa Brahmcharani: The second form, Maa Brahamcharini as mentioned in her name means a devotee who lives in a aashram with guru and other students. Maa brahamcharini is a aspect of maa parvati, who wears white cloths and have a rudraksh mala on right hand and a kamandal on left hand.
3. Maa chandraghanta: The third form, Maa Chnadraghanta, have a bell shaped moon on her forehead. She have a third eye that always open to fight with evil powers. She have a loin as her vehicle she have four hands on one hand she holds a lotus, a sword on one hand and from other two hands she give blessings to devotees.
4. Maa Kushmanda: The fourth form, Maa Kushmanda rides on a lion, have eight hands for all blessing, protection. She have wepons in four hands for protection, one water pot in one hand, one kamandal in one hand, a rudraksh mala and a lotus in remaining hands. she is all combination of water with fire, like enemy for enemies and protector for devotess also a devotee of supreme god lord Shiva.
5. Maa Skandamata: The fifth form, Maa Skandamata is the moyher of the war god skanda(kartikeya). She is shown as riding on a lion while holding her son, that symbolizes motherhood. She have four hands from one hand she is holding her son, on 2 hands she holding lotus flower and from one hand she giving blessings to the divotees who worship her.
6. Maa Katyayani: The sixth form, Maa Katyayani the destroyer of demon king mahishasur. She rides on a lion, she have 4 hands on one she holds a sword in one hand she holds a lotus and from two hands she gives blessings to the devotess those who worship her.
7. Maa Kalratri: The seventh form, Maa kalratri, the most fearsome godeess of hinduism. She rides on a donkey har full body is of black colour as mentiones in her name. She holds a vajra in one hand a different shaped sword in one hand and from other two hand she gives blessings. Her tounge is of red color beacuse she drinks the blood of demons after killing them also she have a bones garland on her neck.
8. Maa Mahagauri: The eighth form, Maa Mahagauri rides on a holy cow. She holds a trishul in one hand and a damru in other hand from two hands she givrs her blessings to the devotees. It is belived tjat Maa Mahagauri fufil all the desires of her devotees.
9. Maa Siddhidatri: The ninth form, Maa Siddhidatri is shown on sitting a lotus flower, she holds gada, sankh, chakra and a lotus flowr in her hands respectfully. She is believed to present for her devotees with blessings, fulfilment of desires, and spiritual upliftment. Siddhi means fufilment and Datri means provider, means she is do fufilment of all the desires of her devotees.
Some things can be done in Navratri festival on other hand some things should be avoid during navratri me make a list to help you:
Things to do in Navratri days:
1. Do kalsh sthapana in your home near your temple.
2. Do mata chowki sthapana in your house.
3. Light diyas in front of mata rani for nine days
4. Perform aarti for nine days in front of mata.
5. On ninth day feed 9 unmarried girls and 1 boy after the puja.
Things should avoid during navaratri:
1. During navaratri devotees should avoid haircut or shaving.
2. Don't cut your nails during Navaratri festival,
3. You should avoid eating onion and garlic during navratri days.
4. Don't eat nonveg food during navratri.
Nine Forms of maa durga worshipped during navratri are:
1. Maa Shailputri: The first form, Maa shailputri, the daughter of mountain king Himavat. She is shown as riding on a bull, holding a trisul in one hand and lotus on other hand. Her name describes about her Shail means mountain and Putri means Daughter so she called daughter of mountain.
2. Maa Brahmcharani: The second form, Maa Brahamcharini as mentioned in her name means a devotee who lives in a aashram with guru and other students. Maa brahamcharini is a aspect of maa parvati, who wears white cloths and have a rudraksh mala on right hand and a kamandal on left hand.
3. Maa chandraghanta: The third form, Maa Chnadraghanta, have a bell shaped moon on her forehead. She have a third eye that always open to fight with evil powers. She have a loin as her vehicle she have four hands on one hand she holds a lotus, a sword on one hand and from other two hands she give blessings to devotees.
4. Maa Kushmanda: The fourth form, Maa Kushmanda rides on a lion, have eight hands for all blessing, protection. She have wepons in four hands for protection, one water pot in one hand, one kamandal in one hand, a rudraksh mala and a lotus in remaining hands. she is all combination of water with fire, like enemy for enemies and protector for devotess also a devotee of supreme god lord Shiva.
5. Maa Skandamata: The fifth form, Maa Skandamata is the moyher of the war god skanda(kartikeya). She is shown as riding on a lion while holding her son, that symbolizes motherhood. She have four hands from one hand she is holding her son, on 2 hands she holding lotus flower and from one hand she giving blessings to the divotees who worship her.
6. Maa Katyayani: The sixth form, Maa Katyayani the destroyer of demon king mahishasur. She rides on a lion, she have 4 hands on one she holds a sword in one hand she holds a lotus and from two hands she gives blessings to the devotess those who worship her.
7. Maa Kalratri: The seventh form, Maa kalratri, the most fearsome godeess of hinduism. She rides on a donkey har full body is of black colour as mentiones in her name. She holds a vajra in one hand a different shaped sword in one hand and from other two hand she gives blessings. Her tounge is of red color beacuse she drinks the blood of demons after killing them also she have a bones garland on her neck.
8. Maa Mahagauri: The eighth form, Maa Mahagauri rides on a holy cow. She holds a trishul in one hand and a damru in other hand from two hands she givrs her blessings to the devotees. It is belived tjat Maa Mahagauri fufil all the desires of her devotees.
9. Maa Siddhidatri: The ninth form, Maa Siddhidatri is shown on sitting a lotus flower, she holds gada, sankh, chakra and a lotus flowr in her hands respectfully. She is believed to present for her devotees with blessings, fulfilment of desires, and spiritual upliftment. Siddhi means fufilment and Datri means provider, means she is do fufilment of all the desires of her devotees.
Some things can be done in Navratri festival on other hand some things should be avoid during navratri me make a list to help you:
Things to do in Navratri days:
1. Do kalsh sthapana in your home near your temple.
2. Do mata chowki sthapana in your house.
3. Light diyas in front of mata rani for nine days
4. Perform aarti for nine days in front of mata.
5. On ninth day feed 9 unmarried girls and 1 boy after the puja.
Things should avoid during navaratri:
1. During navaratri devotees should avoid haircut or shaving.
2. Don't cut your nails during Navaratri festival,
3. You should avoid eating onion and garlic during navratri days.
4. Don't eat nonveg food during navratri.
