Navadurga
Navadurga | |
---|---|
Power, strength, protection, knowledge, wealth, fertility and Moksha | |
Devanagari | नवदुर्गा |
Sanskrit transliteration | navadurgā |
Affiliation | Adi Shakti, Durga, Parvati, Devi |
Mantra | oṁ aim hrīṁ śrīṁ mahādurgāyai namo namaḥ |
Weapon | Khanda (sword), Bow and arrow, Trishula, Sudarshan Chakra, Gada (mace), shield, shankha, Ghanta |
Mount | Lion, tiger, nandi, ox, mule and lotus |
Festivals | Navaratri, Durga Puja, Vijayadashami, Durga Ashtami |
Consort | Shiva |
Offspring | Kartikeya, Ganesha |
Navadurga (Sanskrit: नवदुर्गा, IAST: Navadurgā), also spelled Navdurga and Navadurgas, are nine manifestations and forms of Durga in Hinduism,[1][2] especially worshipped during Navaratri and Durga Puja.[3] They are often considered collectively as a single deity, mainly among the followers of Shaktism and Shaivism sect of Hinduism.[4][4]
According to Hindu mythology, the nine forms are considered the nine stages of Durga during the nine-day long duration of the war with demon-king Mahishasura, where the tenth day is celebrated as the Vijayadashami (lit. 'victory day') among the Hindus and is considered as one of the most important festivals.[5]
Background
[edit]During the festival of Navaratri, nine girls are worshipped and fed as they are considered to be the incarnations of these nine goddesses.[6] Then, the Nabapatrika ritual during Durga Puja involves tying the branches of eight plants with their leaves with a banana plant (naba meaning 'nine', and patrika meaning 'leaves').[7]
The nine forms
[edit]The main nine forms of Durga worshipped in Hinduism:
S. No. | Image
(Depiction) |
Name | Vahana | Stage[A] | Mantra | Depiction | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Shailaputri
"Daughter of Mountain" |
Nandi (bull) | Parvati in her stage of childhood with the divine and principal form being Durga | ॐ देवी शैलपुत्र्यै नमः | She is adorned with light ornamentation on her limbs and was clothed in red and pink robes. She has two hands both holding a trident and lotus. She is seated upon the behind of a white bull. | [9] | |
2. | Brahmacharini
"Mother of devotion and penance" |
None | Durga in her phase of asceticism. | ॐ देवी ब्रह्मचारिण्यै नम: | She is dressed as a female ascetic and is adorned by dried-up Rudraksha beads and flowers as her ornamentation. She has two hands, both of which carried a rosary and a water utensil. | [10] | |
3. | Chandraghanta
"Destroyer of demons" |
Tiger | Durga in the form of Shakti. | ॐ देवी चंद्रघण्टायै नम: | She has ten hands, nine of them are armed by a trident, mace, bow, arrow, lotus, sword, bell and a waterpot, while one other hand blesses her devotees. She is seated upon a fierce tiger. | [11] | |
4. | Kushmanda
"Goddess of The Cosmic Egg" |
Lion | Durga in the form of Mahashakti. | ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं कूष्मांडायै नम: | She has eight hands, six of which held a discus, mace, lotus, bow, and arrow in one hand, sword and rosary and the two other hands carried a jar of honey and waterpot. She is mounted upon the back of a lion. | [12] | |
5. | Skandamata
"Goddess of motherhood and children" |
Durga in her stage of motherhood. | ॐ देवी स्कन्दमातायै नम: | She has four hands, two of which held lotuses, the third holding her son, the six-headed infant Kartikeya seated on her lap, and the fourth saves her devotees. She is seated upon the back of a lion. | [13] | ||
6. | Katyayani
"Goddess of Power" |
Durga in the warrior stage. | ॐ देवी कात्यायन्यै नम: | She is adorned with heavy ornamentation on her limbs and is dressed in green and pink vestments. Her four hands each carried a sword, shield, lotus and trident. She's seen seated on a fearsome lion. | [14] | ||
7. | Kalaratri
"Goddess of Auspiciousness and Courage" |
Donkey | Durga in her form of destruction. | ॐ देवी कालरात्र्यै नम: | She has three bloodshot eyes, unkempt hairs, and wears a garland of skulls around her neck, which shone like lightning. Her four hands all held a trident, scimitar, vajra, and a cup. She is seated upon the behind of a donkey as her vehicle. | [15] | |
8. | Mahagauri
"Goddess of Beauty and Women" |
Ox | Durga in her form of recovery. | ॐ देवी महागौर्यै नम: | She has four hands, three of which carried a trident, mini-drum, and a pink lotus while her one hand promised her devotees protection. She is seated upon a white ox. | [16] | |
9. | Siddhidhatri
"Goddess of Supernatural Powers or Siddhis" |
Lotus | Durga in her stage of reaching her highest and supreme form as Mahashakti. | ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं सिद्धिदात्यै नम: | Each of her four hands carried a discus, conch shell, pink lotus and a mace. She is seated upon a fully bloomed lotus. | [17] |
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Agni Purana
[edit]The Agni Purana lists the Navadurgas as:[18]
- Rudrachanda
- Prachanda
- Chandogra
- Chandanayika
- Chanda
- Chandavati
- Chandarupa
- Atichandika
- Ugrachanda
See also
[edit]References
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ Parvati has been described in the nine stage in nine different depiction, where she become the Maha Shakti in last stage of Siddhidhatri, after gaining Siddhis.[8]
Citations
[edit]- ^ J. Gordon Melton; Baumann, Martin (2010). Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, 2nd Edition. ABC-CLIO. pp. 2600–2602. ISBN 978-1-59884-204-3.
- ^ a b Amazzone 2010, p. 184.
- ^ Ramachandran 2020, pp. 21–23.
- ^ Amazzone 2010, p. 187.
- ^ Ostor 2004, p. 68.
- ^ Ramachandran 2020, p. 67.
- ^ Sharma 2021, p. 73.
- ^ Ramachandran 2020, p. 23.
- ^ Ramachandran 2020, pp. 29–30.
- ^ Mittal 2006, p. 63.
- ^ Ostor 2004, p. 34.
- ^ Ramachandran 2020, pp. 48–51.
- ^ Mishra 1989, p. 36.
- ^ Sivkishen 2016, p. 176.
- ^ Ramachandran 2020, pp. 68, 70.
- ^ Gangadharan, N (1954). The Agni Purana. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. p. 132. ISBN 9788120803596.
Sources
[edit]- "Navratri 2021: What are the nine forms of Maa Durga and the special prasad offered to them". The Times of India. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
- Ramachandran, Nalini (2020). Nava Durga: The Nine Forms of the Goddess. Penguin Books. ISBN 978-93-5305-981-1.
- Amazzone, Laura (2010). Goddess Durga and Sacred Female Power. University Press of America. ISBN 978-0-7618-5313-8.
- Ostor, Akos (2004). The Play of the Gods: Locality, Ideology, Structure, and Time in the Festivals of a Bengali Town. Orient Blackswan. ISBN 978-81-8028-013-9.
- Mishra, P. K. (1989). Culture, Tribal History, and Freedom Movement: Dr. N.K. Sahu Commemoration Volume. Agam Kala Prakashan.
- Pintchman, Tracy (2001). Seeking Mahādevī: Constructing the Identities of the Hindu Great Goddess. State University of New York Press. ISBN 9780791490495.
- Sharma, Vidya Sagar (2021). Mata Vaishno Devi (Prabhat Prakashan) (in Hindi). Prabhat Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-7315-903-9.
- Mittal, J. P. (2006). History Of Ancient India (a New Version) : From 7300 Bb To 4250 Bc. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. ISBN 978-81-269-0615-4.
- Sivkishen (2015). Kingdom of Shiva. Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd. ISBN 978-81-288-3028-0.