Lord Nava-Durga Maha PujaSiddha Nava Durga Maha Pujan
1st day Puja of Mata Shailaputri
Goddess Maa Durga's first form in the Nava-Durga series of divine forms, amongst the nine, is Mata Shailaputri. She was nomenclatured as Shailaputri after being born in the house of the king of the mountains, Himalaya. In this mold the mother is seen holding a trident in her right hand and a lotus in her left and she is mounted on an ox. In the past life she was the daughter of Daksha, the son of Lord Brahma. She was known as Sati then. As the daughter of Daksha she was married to the God of Gods, Mahadeva. Daksha once arranged for a ceremony of the holy fire (Yagna), and chose not to invite his daughter and son-in-law. Sati was restless to join the ceremony at her father’s place and even defied her husband’s advice of not attending the Yagna without an invitation. On going uninvited to the ceremony, she felt that everyone was giving her a cold shoulder except her mother who greeted her with a hug. Her siblings too were no exception and were sarcastic in their remarks. The guests too present in the function were uttering disrespectful comments about her husband. To her surprise her father too was harsh and rude in his approach. She was dejected and was so heart broken that she burnt herself to ash in the holy fire. Shiva, on hearing this incident was enraged and ordered his followers to immediately demolish the Daksha Yagna. After burning herself to death, Sati was reborn as the daughter of the king of the mountains, Himalaya and became known as Shailaputri. Thus amongst all the nine forms of Devi Durga, Mata Shailaputri is the most powerful and glorified of all. Mata Shailaputri is worshiped in the first day of the Navratri celebrations.
2nd day Puja of Mata Brahmacharini
Durga’s second appearance is in the form of Mata Brahmacharini. Here "Brahma" means meditation. That is, the Goddess is the meditator or a practitioner of penance. Mata Brahmacharini is seen here holding a string of rosary beads in her right hand and a Kamandalu (an urn containing holy water) in her left hand. In her previous life, when she was reborn as the daughter of Himalaya, she performed severe penance to have Mahadeva as her husband. The sage Narada advised her to take up meditation to win Shiva. For undergoing strict meditation she was known as Brahmacharini or Tapasyacharini. Ignoring the beating sun and thundershowers, she began a three hundred year meditation living only leaves that fell on the forest floor. She furthered her penance making it even stricter by relinquishing food and water for another few hundred years. As Mata Brahmacharini gave up eating leaves Mata Brahmacharini is also referred to as "Aparna". Practicing this painstaking contemplation she became weak and skinny. Unable to withstand the plight of her daughter her mother, Manoka requested her to give up her resolution. Shocked at the sight of Durga she exclaimed "u" and "ma". In Sanskrit 'u' is a word of address, and 'ma' means 'don't' or 'not wanted'). That is why Durga is also called "Uma". On the other hand overwhelmed by Durga’s devotion and perseverance, all the Gods and sages in the heaven were placated. At last, grandfather Brahma, pleased with devi’s austerities made an oracle, "O maiden! No one could achieve or endure the penance you have performed till date. I am captivated by your meditation and devotion. Your wish will be fulfilled and you will certainly have Shiva as your husband. You may now return home and rest. Your father will come soon to take you". This form of Durga gives the devotees everlasting success. Worship of Mata Brahmacharini appearance enriches the faculties of sacrifice, honesty and self-discipline. In times of utter distress the worship of this form gives success and the willpower to come out victorious. This form of Maa Durga is worshiped in the second day of the Durga puja.
3rd day Puja of Mata Chandraghanta
Mata Durga’s third form is known as Chandraghanta. Mata Chandraghanta name finds its justification in the half moon seen on the temple of the Goddess that resembles a bell. The deity has ten arms. The ten hands of the Goddess brandish ten different weapons. Mounted on a lion this form of the mother is worshiped on the third day of the Navratri celebration. It is believed that a devotee who manages to earn the devi’s blessings can set himself free from his sins and hazards that he has committed or may face in his life. The devotee gains the power to sense the supernatural, to see it and even smell the eternal fragrance. He is also able to distinguish the otherwise inaudible celestial sounds. This is the time when the devotee should be alert. Although the deity is always envisaged in the fearsome mood of demolishing the evil, her appearance always spreads a calm and eternal peace all round. Mata Chandraghanta’s devotees spread peace and happiness wherever they go. We should all whole-heartedly worship the Mata with a devoted soul. Worship of the deity helps one eliminate the sorrow, hazards and dangers in ones life.
4th day Puja of Mata Kushmanda
The fourth appearance of the devi is in the form of Mata Kushmanda. The Mata gets the name as Mata Kushmanda created the universe with a smile. When there was darkness everywhere and there was no existence of the universe she created the universe with a smile. Mata Kushmanda is believed to be the source of eternal power. The Mata Kushmanda has eight arms and that is why she is also known as "Ashtabhuja". The deity’s seven hands hold the holy urn (Kamandul), a bow, an arrow, a lotus, a pot containing wine, a disc and a club. The eighth hand holds a string of rosary beads that is believed to provide success and prudence. Pumpkin is termed as "Kushmandam" in Sanskrit. Amongst the sacrificial vegetables that are offered in the worship of the Goddess (naibidhya), pumpkin is the most important vegetable with which Mata Kushmanda is most placated. That is why she is named "Kushmanda". Mata Kushmanda is worshiped on the fourth day of the Navratri celebration abiding by the rituals that are described in the Sashtra and the Purans. Worship of this form of the Mata Kushmanda exterminates sorrow and diseases and augments life, fame and strength. Mata Kushmanda is appeased with the slightest of devotion and if any one whole-heartedly worships the deity he will certainly gain her favour.
5th day Puja of Mata Skandamata
Fifth form of the mother is known as Mata Skandamata. Kumar Kartik’s other name is Skanda. As devi Durga is the mother of Kartik, she is referred to as "Skandamata". This form of the deity has four arms. The Mata is seen holding her son Skanda with the top right hand and she is holding a lotus in her lower hand. The top left hand is positioned in a blessing gesture and the other hand holds a lotus. The Mata Skandamata is fair and sits on a lotus. That is why the Mata Skandamata is also known as "Padmasana". Here she is seen mounted on a lion. If anyone worships her whole-heartedly, she fulfills the wish of the devotee.
6th day Puja of Maata Katyayani
Maata Katyayani is the sixth form of Devi Durga. Sage Maata Katyayani was the son of the great sage Kat. Sage Maata Katyayani was born in the "Katya" clan. He was engaged in rigorous penance and worship of "Bhagavati Paramba". His prayer was all about requesting the mother to appear in his house-hold as his daughter. Mata Bhagavati obliged him. After some time, when, the world was terrorized of Mahishasura, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva with their divine powers gave form to a Goddess to combat asura and destroy him. Maata Katyayani was the first to worship her and that is why she is known as "Mata Kattayani". It is mentioned in the Shastra that Maata Katyayani was born as the daughter of the sage Maata Katyayani . Taking birth on the fourteenth day of the new moon in "Aashwin" (September-October), she accepted the worship of the sage Maata Katyayani on Saptami, Astami and Navami and ultimately slew Mahishasura on Dashami. The deity’s complexion is as bright as gold. She has four hands. The top right hand is positioned in a gesture of providing courage and the other hand is positioned in a gesture of rendering a boon. The top left hand is holding a sword and the other holding a lotus. The Mata is mounted on a lion and Maata Katyayani is worshiped on the sixth day of the Durga puja. If one worships the deity with a pure soul he attains success in religion, wealth, passion and salvation. Disease, sorrow and fear are eliminated. Worship of Maata Katyayani deity helps one to emancipate himself from the sin he may have committed over the cycle of his births and rebirths. We should all devote our prayers to the Mata to lead a better life.
7th day Puja of Maata Kaalratri
Maata Goddess's seventh form is "Maata Kaalratri". Her complexion is as dark as the night. Her cascading hair is let loose and she is seen wearing a garland that radiates light as bright as lightning. Maata Kaalratri is fearsome with her menacing three eyes, radiating fire. Maata Kaalratri is mounted on an ass. She has four hands, of which, the top right hand is in a gesture of rendering boon to all. The other hand on her right is rendering fearlessness. The top left hand is holding an iron dagger and the other hand is holding a sickle. Although she has a menacing appearance, Maata Kaalratri always delivers favorable results and her devotees need not fear her manifestations is holding an iron dagger and the other hand is holding a sickle. Although she has a menacing appearance, Maata Kaalratri always delivers favorable results and her devotees need not fear her manifestations. Maata Kaalratri is worshiped on the seventh day of the Durga puja. Maata Kaalratri destroys the evil. If anyone whole-heartedly pleads of saving him from any impending danger, she protects him. As and when the Goddess is called, the evils instantaneously disappear from the place. By the Goddess's grace, the devotees overcome their fear of fire, water, animals and foes.
8th day Puja of Maata Mahagouri
The Mother's eighth form is known as "Maata Mahagouri". Her complexion is totally white. Her garments are also white. Maata Mahagouri is mounted on an ox and has four hands. Her top right hand is rendering fearlessness and the hand below holds a trident. The top left hand holds a "Damru" and the hand below is in a gesture of giving a boon. To have Shiva as her husband she went through a rigorous penance in the form of "Parvati". As a result of this arduous meditation her complexion turned dark. Lord Shiva, pleased with the devotion of Parvati, bathed her in the holy water of the Ganges. As she bathed in the holy water she turned fair. From then onwards she became known as "Mahagouri". Maata Mahagouri is worshiped on the eighth day of the Durga puja. The devotee is benefited on all fronts as he worships the deity. Due to the Maata Mahagouri's grace the devotee attains supernatural salvation, he is relieved from all his pains and fatigue and can set himself free from his previous sins. He is never faced with sorrow and poverty and never commits any sin. The devotee wins pure and endless virtue.
9th day Puja of Maata Siddhidatri
Maata Durga's ninth mold is the form of "Maata Siddhidatri". Maata Siddhidatri delivers success. According to "Markendeo Puran" there are eight types of success, such as "Anima", "Laghima", "Prapti", "Prakashya", "Mahima", "Ishhattya", "Bashittya", "Sarvakaam bashayita" and "Sarvagyata". But in the "SriKrishna Janmakhanda" of the "Brahmavaivarta Puran", there are another ten types of success such as "Doorsravan", "Parakayaprabeshan", "Baksiddhi", "Kalpavrikshattwa", "Srishti", "Samharkaransamartha", "Amarattwa", "Sarvanaykattwa", "Bhavna" and "Siddhi". Thus there are eighteen types of successes. Maata Siddhidatri is capable of rendering all these forms of successes to her devotees. According to the Purans, Lord Shiva achieved salvation by the grace of this deity. The deity is seen sometimes sitting on a lotus and sometimes mounted on a lion. Mata Siddhidatri has four armed. The lower right hand of the Goddess holds a disc and the upper right hand holds a club. The lower left hand holds a conch shell and the upper hand holds a lotus. Mata Siddhidatri is worshipped on the ninth day of the Maata Durga puja. Maata Siddhidatri is the ultimate form of the Goddess among the Navadurga. After having performed the worship of the other forms of the Goddess according to the rituals mentioned in the Sashtra, the devotee can then start the worship of this deity. Those who worship the Maata Siddhidatri with full devotion are bestowed with all the success. Maata Siddhidatri has been unified with the forces of sustenance and salvation of the great Lord Vishnu.
