Navdurga Names and Their Significance

Navratris are the days when the whole of India gets soaked up in divine energies and bliss. It is the time when spirituality and faith align with each other and begin happiness. And it is the time when it rings the bell for the coming festivities.

Navratri's are the 9 days when we all worship nine different forms of Maa Durga through unique and different forms of bhakti. Some people celebrate it by keeping fast, doing the Garba, performing meditation, doing Durga Puja, and other rituals, This year Navratri is going to start on 26th September 2022 and end on 5th October 2022. The nine different forms of Maa Durga are divine and each one of them has its significance. Many of us are not aware of the Navdurga names.

In this article, I'm going to share the Navdurga names and their individual significance.

Day 1: Shailputri – “The Daughter of a Mountain“

The first divine form of Maa Durga is called Shailputri. She is also known as Bhavani, Hemavati, and Parvati. Shailputri is the daughter of Himalaya and hence the name. She is known to be the earthly essence; her deity has a half moon on her forehead. Also, she holds a trident in her right hand, and a lotus flower in her left hand. She poses with Nandi(bull) as her Vahana.

It is believed that the moon on her forehead is the provider of all fortunes, she is worshiped on the 1st day of Navratri. She is the first to be worshipped among the Navdurga names.

Day 2: Brahmacharini – “Mother of devotion and penance”

Goddess Parvati took birth at the home of Daksha Prajapati in the form of the great Sati. Her unmarried form is worshiped as the second form of Nava Durga- Goddess brahmachari. She always walks barefoot. The deity of the goddess holds Rudraksha mala in her right hand and Kamandala in her left hand. Maa Brahmacharini signifies love, loyalty, knowledge, wisdom, simplicity, and hope. She symbolizes a woman full of love, loyalty passion, and wisdom. Maa Brahmacharini, the word, Brahma refers to the Tapa (meditation), and her name means the one who performs Tapa.

Day 3: Chandraghanta – “Destroyer of demons”

Maa Chandraghanta is the third form of Nava Durga worshiped on the 3rd day of Navratri. She is the Goddess of spiritual and eternal power. Goddess Chandraghanta mounts the tigress. She wears the semi-circular moon on her forehead. The half moon on her forehead looks like the ghanta and hence her name. She is depicted with 10 hands. Goddess Chandraghanta carries the Trishul sword Gadha, Kamandala, in her four left hands and keeps the fifth left hand in Varada mudra. She carries a lotus, arrow, Dhanush, and Japa mala in four right hands and keeps the fifth right hand in Abhaya Mudra. The people who have unnecessary enemies and severe obstacles in their life should worship goddesses to set themselves free and focused.

Day 4: Kushmanda – “Goddess of The Cosmic Egg”  

Goddess Kushmanda, the fourth form of navy Durga, is worshiped on the 4th day of Navratri. Her name signifies Ku means little, Ushma means energy, and Anda means cosmic egg. The whole universe is represented as the cosmic egg and his divine form of Maa Durga is believed to end the darkness. She has a Linus and has 8 hands. In the left hands, she has Dhanush Bada and Kamal in the right hands and Amrit Kalash Jap mala, Gada, and chakra. She is believed to be the center of the Sun and liberate energy to the universe. She is said to be as radiant and powerful as the sun and possesses healing power. The one who wishes to heal from any long disease must worship this form of Maa Durga.

Day 5: Skandamata – “Goddess of motherhood and children” 

When Goddess Parvati became the mother of lord Kartikeya she came to be known as Skandmata. Skand is lord Kartikeya. She signifies a loving, caring form of Maa as a mother she is the lord of power, prosperity, and salvation. she can grant an ocean of wisdom even to a most illiterate person Skanda Mata possesses the brilliance of the sun and fulfills all the desires of devotee Skanda Mata mount ferocious lion, she carries baby Skanda in her lab goddess depicted with four hands she carries lotus flowers in her upper to hands and she holds babies and one of her right hand and keep the other hand in Abhay mudra.

Day 6: Katyayani – “Goddess of Power”

Maa Katyayani is worshiped on the sixth day of the Navratri festival. She represents power and physical strength. Goddess Parvati had taken the Avtar of goddess Katyayani while vanquishing Mahishasura. She is also referred to as a warrior goddess. She can be seen riding a lion and carrying a Lotus stem and sword in her right hand. Aaa Katyayani was born at Sage Katyana's house and hence she is called Katyayni. She took birth to take away misery and problems created by Mahishasura. It is believed that the one who prays this form of Maa Durga gets always protected from the evil eye and negative effects of planets in the horoscope.

Day 7: Kalaratri – “Goddess of Auspiciousness and Courage”

Kalratri is the 7th form of Maa Durga and is also known as Kali Mata. She is considered the most ferocious Avatar of maa nav Durga and is known for destroying ignorance and removing darkness from the universe. During the time when the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha created havoc and devastated other humans by disturbing and killing them, Goddess Parvati took the avatar of maa Kal Ratri. It is said that these two demons invaded the Devlok (heaven) that is in the abode of Demi-gods. Demigods prayed to Goddess Parvati to help them defeat the asuras. It is then that the Kal Ratri Avatar was created. It is believed that regular chanting of Maa KalRatri Mantra can remove all the fears from the heart and make the devotee bold, and self-confident. Chanting KalRatri Mantra can protect them from evil. This Mantra shall bestow peace and protection from every sin.

Day 8: Mahagauri – “Goddess of forgiveness”

Mahagauri is the 8th manifestation of the Goddess Durga. According to Hindu mythology, the Goddess Mahagauri has the power to fill all the desires of a devotee. The one who worships the Goddess gets relief from all the sufferings and pain in life. Mahagauri has four arms, her right arm is in the pose of allaying fear and her right-hand holds a trident in it.

It is believed that the god Mahagauri is known as the forgiving goddess and purifies them. She is the Goddess of endurance. It is said that one who worships her will get purity and satisfaction in their lives.

Day 9: Siddhidatri – “Goddess of creation”

The 9th form of Nav Durga is known as the goddess Siddhidatri. She is the Mulla- Rupa of Maa Parvati. Maa Siddhidatri has four hands holding a shell trident and sitting on a fully bloomed Lotus or a lion. She possesses 8 supernatural powers or 8 siddhis called Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti,  Prakambya, Ishitva, and Vashitva. She is the Adi Para Shakti holding supreme power of the entire universe.  It is believed that the one who worships this form of Maa Durga becomes the master of Siddhis and knowledgeable. She is the goddess of mental strength and wisdom. And she is the last to be worshipped among the Navdurga names.

May the Goddess bless you with good health, wisdom, and happiness in your lives. I hope I was able to acquaint you all with Navdurga names.