THE NINE FORMS OF DURGA

Durga is worshipped in different forms. She is a form of "Shakti". The evolution of Saraswati, Lakshmi and Mahakali (the 3 main forms of "Shakti") took place from Shri Brahma, Shri Vishnu and Shri Mahesh respectively. Each of these 3 deities gave rise to 3 more forms and hence in all, these 9 forms together are known as Nav Durga .....

1. Shailputri ..... Navratri commences with the 1st night devoted to the puja of Shailputri. Shail means mountains; Parvati, the daughter of king of Mountains Himavan, is known as "Shailputri". her 2 hands, display a trident and a lotus. She is mounted upon a bull. 

2. Bhramcharni ..... One hand holds a "Kumbha" or water port and the other rosary. She personifies love and loyalty. Bhramcharni is store house of knowledge and wisdom. Rudraksha is her most adorned ornament. 

3. Chandraghanta ..... Worshipped on the 3rd night this Durga Shakti is astride a tiger, displays a golden hue to her skin, possesses ten hands and 3 eyes. Eight of her hands display weapons while the remaining two are respectively in the mudras of gestures of boon giving and stopping harm. Chandra + Ghanta, meaning supreme bliss and knowledge, showering peace and serenity, like cool breeze in a moonlit night.

4. Kushmanda ..... The 4th night begins the worship of Kushmanda, possessed of eight arms, holding weapons and a mala or rosary. Her mount is a tiger and she emanates a solar like aura. "Kumbh Bhand" means to see cosmic vivacity in Pindi shape or knowledge of cosmic intricacies in human race.

5. Skandmata ..... Using a lion as a vehicle she holds her son, Skand in her lap while displaying 3 eyes and 4 hands; two hands hold lotuses while the other 2 hands respectively display defending and granting gestures

6. Kaatyayani ..... As mother, Kaatyayani stayed in the Ashram of sage Katyayan for penance, hence she is named as Kaatyayani. This 6th Shakti is also astride a lion with 3 eyes and 4 arms. One left hand holds a weapon and the other a lotus.  The other 2 hands respectively display defending and granting gestures. her complexion is golden coloured. 

7. Kaalratri ..... Black skin with bountiful hair and 4 hands, 2 clutching a cleaver and a torch, while the remaining 2 are in the mudras of "giving" and "protecting". her vahana is a faithful donkey. The destroyer of darkness and ignorance, Kaalratri is the seventh form of Nav Durga meaning scourer of darkness; enemy of darkness.

8. Mahagauri ..... Four arms with the fairest complexion of all the Durga Shaktis. Peace and compassion radiate from her being and she is often dressed in a white or green sari. She holds a drum and a trident and is often depicted riding a bull.

9. Siddhiratri ..... Ensconced upon a lotus, most commonly, with 4 arms, and is the possessor of 26 different wishes to grant her devotees.