Navratras: Ma Kushmanda is Worshipped on the Fourth Navratra

Building a spiritual persona during the Navratras, is the next step after the destruction of our vices. Divine virtues expounded in the Bhagwat Gita by Lord Krishna, have to be acquired for wisdom.

Maha Laxmi

This pleasanter side of the aspirant's sadhana or devotion is depicted by the worship of Mother Lakshmi who bestows inexhaustible divine wealth on Her devotees. Epitomizing purity, Ma Lakshmi is propitiated during the second set of three days.

Ma Kushmanda

Ma Kushmanda

Ma Kushmanda is the name of the fourth Durga. This Shakti or celestial energy bestows the basic necessities and everyday sustenance on the world and creates the Universe merely by laughing. Residing in solar systems, She shines brightly in all ten directions very much like the Sun beaming with a radiant aura.

Equipped with eight hands, Ma Kushmanda holds seven types of brilliant weapons, gleaming in her seven hands and a rosary in her right. Seeming resplendent mounted on a Lion, Kumbh Bhand means seeing the cosmic dance in the form of Pindi; the knowledge of cosmic intricacies in humans. She likes the offerings of Kumhde, leading to her name Kushmanda. Her abode is Bhima Parvat.

Ma Chandraghanta: Propitiated on the Third Navratra

Ma Chandraghanta

The name of the third Shakti is Chandraghanta who establishes righteousness. There is a crescent moon on her forehead. She is charming and radiant. Her colour is golden and She is endowed with three eyes and ten hands. Eight of her hands display weapons like swords and arrows while the remaining two are in the mudras of granting boons and warding off harm.

Chandra plus Ghanta signifies supreme bliss and knowledge, the showering of peace and serenity. This power of Durga rides a tiger ready for waging a battle. An unprecedented image of bravery, the frightful sound of her bell terrifies all the villains, demons and danavas. Goddess Changraghanta is mainly worshipped in Tamil Nadu.

Maha Kali

On the first three days of the navratras we pray to Maha Kali to destroy all our vices.She is the power that protects our spiritual aspiration from its many pitfalls and therefore we worship the destructive aspect of the Mother.

Navratras: Ma Brahmacharini is Worshipped on the Second Navratra

Ma Brahmacharini

Ma Brahmacharini

The second Durga Shakti is Brahmacharini. A personification of loyalty, she is spreading the message of pristine love to the world. A trove of knowledge and wisdom, the rudraksha beads are Her most treasured ornaments. Brahma means one who observes penance or tapa and is endowed with virtuous conduct. The idol of this Goddess is very gorgeous. There is a rosary in her right hand and a kumbha or water pot in the left one. She is awash with merriment.

Sage Narada

A tale is famed about her. In her previous birth she was Parvati or Hemvati the daughter of Himvan. Once when she was busy frolicking with her friends, Naradaji came and predicted on seeing her palm, "You will get married to a naked-terrible Bhole Baba who was with when you were Sati, the daughter of Daksha, in your previous birth. But now you have to perform penance to attain him."

Lord Shambu with Sati, His Consort

Thereupon Parvati insisted and told her mother Menaka that she would marry none other than Shambhu, or remain unwed. Saying this she did austere penance. Ever since she is famed as tapacharini or Brahmacharini and since then her name Uma became renowned the world over.