Navadurga which literally means nine Goddess Durgas, constitute, according to Hi ndu mythology, the manifestation of Durga in nine

different forms. These nine fo rms of manifestation are Shailaputri, Brahmachari?i, Chandragha??a, Ku?hma??a, S kandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri; together worshipped during the Navratri (Nine Divine Nights) celebration in Autumn each year. Forms of manifestation Durga, the Mother Goddess of the Hindus and a form of Devi and Shakti, is believ ed to have manifested in various forms, and Navadurga Maa are believed to be the most sacred aspects of Goddess Durga. According to a Hindu tradition, it is bel ieved that there are three major forms in which Goddess Durga manifested herself , namely, Mahasaraswati, Mahalakshmi and Mahakali who are the active energies (S hakti) of Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra respectively (without these goddesses the god s will lose all their powers). These three forms of Durga further manifested in three more forms each, and thus emerged the nine forms of Durga, which are colle ctively called Navadurga or Nine Durgas. Navadurga are famously worshipped durin g the Autumn Navaratri or the Nine days, initiating the devotees into a period o f festivities according to Hindu calendar. Meditative mantra Each one of the Navadurga is known by a particular name and the deity has a part icular dhyana-mantra, a mantra for meditation, a free English version of which i s mentioned below: Shailaputri May the illustrious Shailputri Durga whom I salute and whose head is adorned by a halfmoon, who rides nandi, a bull and carries a spear fulfill the desires of m y heart. She is known as 1st phase of Durga when she took birth as the daughter of Great Himalayas. Brahmacharini May the supreme Brahmachari ands and whose nature is to e-Knowledge-Bliss absolute, Maa Parvati before marriage Chandraghanta Durga, who holds rosary and kamandalu in her lotus h attain Sachchidanandamaya Brahmaswarupa the Existenc be propitious on me. Devi is Devi's that phase when was Devi Yogni and Devi Tapsvini.

May that Durga Devi, who rides on Tiger, who is endowed with intense anger and v iolence and is renowned by the name of Maa Chandraghanta, bestow her grace on me . Chandraghanta Maa is known and named Chandraghanta or Chandra-Khanda as Maa Du rga wears the semi-circular moon (Chandra) which appears like a bell (Ghanta) on her forehead. Kushmanda May Kushmanda Ma Durga who holds two pitchers full of blood in her lotus hands a nd the universe is created, sustained and drawn within Devi's ownself in a wink be propitious for me. In this form Mother Durga creates solar system by liberati ng her power to Lord Sun. Skandamata May the renowned Durga Devi Skandamata who is eternally seated on a throne and w hose hands are adorned with lotuses, be ever propitious to me. As Mother of Skan da or Kartikeya, Maa Parvati or Maa Durga is known as Skandmata. Kathyayini May the ever watchful Durga Devi Katyayani, who holds shining Chandrahasa (Sword ) in Devi's hand and rides a magnificent lion and destroys the demons, bestow we lfare on me. When Maa Parvati's Partial expansion took birth in Sage Katya's hom e and gets energy from trinity and demi Gods, then the Goddess was known as Maa Katyani.

Kaalratri May she Bhayankari Maa Durga who is with long lips, riding an ass, shining in va rious hues looks formidable because of the halo of Devi's lustre and is adorned with multi coloured ornaments remove my darkness of ignorance. In Skand Purana, Maa Parvati liberates Devi's golden outer sheath and becomes dark complexioned t hen Goddess becomes Goddess Kaalratri. Mahagauri May the Mahagauri Ma Durga who rides a white Vrishaba the bull and who wears spo tless white clothes and remains ever pure and also provides ever lasting bliss t o Mahadeva Lord Shiva bestow all auspiciousness. Devi is 16 years old unmarried Goddess Parvati. Siddhidaatri May the ever victorious Siddhidayini Ma Durga, who is always worshipped by the h ordes of siddha, gandharva, yaksha, asura, and Deva, bestow success at my every venture. She is one who was worshiped by Lord Shiva to become in the form of God dess Ardhnarishwara, then Goddess Shakti Appeared from the left side of Lord Shi va. NavaDurga Life Phases Parvati, the Supreme Goddess of Power known as sagun form of Devi Adi-Parashakti primarily gives the concept of Nav-Durga Devi. In Reality Nav Durga are the lif e phases of Maa Parvati. 1.In beginning When Lord Rudra worshiped Maa Adi-parashakti for creation, Lord R udra cleared different levels of Shakti and Maa Shakti appeared in 'Saguna' form from the left half of Lord Shiva. The Goddess was Siddhidatri. 2.Then Goddess started living inside center of Sun so that Sun liberates energy by the grace of Goddess, the Goddess is known as Goddess Kushmanda. 3.The same Goddess then took birth in home daksha, Goddess was a great sati and her unmarried form is known as Goddess Brahmacharini. 4.After the self immolation of Maa Sati she appeared as daughter of Lord Himalya , the Goddess is then recoganized as Goddess Shailputri. 5.At the age of 16 Goddess Durga was extremely beautiful and very fair complexio n and known as Goddess Mahagauri. 6.When Devi gets married with Lord Shiva, as Lord Shiva, Devi also liked to wear half chandra on her forehead, and recoganized as Goddess Chandraghanta. 7.When Devi became the mother of Lord Skanda or Lord Kartikeya, Devi was then kn own with name Goddess Skandmata. 8.Then Devi took the form of Goddess Katyani to destroy Demon Mahishasura. 9.Goddess Gauri or Goddess Parvati removed Devi's outer golden skin to fight aga inst demons Shumbha-Nishumbha, Devi became very dark Goddess's this form is call ed Goddess Kaalratri.