Devi Musing- Navaratri guide 🔱 🪔 🪷

Happy Sharad Navratri! The most auspicious nine nights of Durga Devi began on Sunday! 🌹

Each night is dedicated to a particular manifestation of Durga when she killed the demon Mahisasur, the buffalo demon. He represents laziness, ignorance, and inertia. This is a time to celebrate the triumph of “good versus evil.”

Each Goddess represents a night with a color, mantra, and more. These nine nights are auspicious for our inner study and sadhana (spiritual practice). Take time to go within as we honor these energies.

The first three nights are dedicated to Durga Devi and are seen to help cleanse misfortune and remove negativity.

Night one 10.11: Shilaputri Devi 🏔️

Meaning: daughter of the mountain king. She is seen holding a trident and a lotus and riding a bull. She gives the boon of fulfilling wishes.

Color: Yellow

Mantra: Om Shaam Sheem Shoom Shailputryai Namaha

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Night Two 10.12: Brahmacharini Devi 🧘🏽‍♀️

This Goddess symbolizes the penance and meditative nature of the Goddess. She represents a celibate woman. She wears white and holds a mala and a sacred Kamandulu.

Color: Green

Mantra: Om Braam Breem Broom Brahmcharinyai Namaha

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Night Three 10.13: Chandragantha Devi 🌕

Form of Durga, who rides a tiger and holds weapons in her ten hands. Her anger destroys enemies, and she can be called upon for protection against inner demons.

Color: Grey

Mantra: Om Hreem Kleem Shreem Chandraghantayai Namaha

Night 4-6 of Navaratri! 🪔🔱🌺

These three days are dedicated to the Goddess Lakshmi and represent the material mode of Passion (Rajas). This is a good time to channel our energies into harmonious things rather than scatter our energy to what doesn’t serve us.

Night Four 10.14: Kushmanda 💫

Brilliant as the Sun god himself. Her name means the one who created this universe as a “little cosmic egg.” She brings forth warmth and life. She has eight arms holding a Kamandalu, Bow, Arrow, Lotus, a Jar of Nectar, Discus, and Mace. In her eighth hand, she holds a mala capable of giving eight Siddhis and nine Niddhis. She rides a tiger and bestows unlimited pleasures.

Color: Orange

Mantra: Om Hreem Kushmandayai Jagatprasootyai Namaha

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Night Five 10.15: Skandamata 🪷

The mother of Skanda (Kartikeya). She is four-armed and rides on a lion. She carries a lotus, a kamandalu, and a bell. She is often pictured with her son on her lap and one hand in a blessing posture. She cares for devotees as if they were her child and removes obstacles.

Color: White

Mantra: Om Hreem Saha Skandmatryai Namaha

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Night Six 10.16: Katyayani ⚔️

The daughter of Sage Kaatyaayana. She is four-armed and carries a sword, shield, and lotus. One hand is depicted as giving a blessing. She rides a lion. Women pray to her to bless them with a good husband. Her worship is conducive to Dharma, wealth, pleasures, and salvation.

Color: Red

Mantra: Om Hreem Shreem Katyayanyai Namaha

Night 7-9 Navaratri! 🏔️📿🪔

The last three days of Navaratri are dedicated to Sattva (goodness) and are represented by Saraswati Devi. She allows us to find our creative center and express ourselves from this place.

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Night seven 10.17: Kalaratri 🔥

She is four-armed and rides a donkey. She carries a sword, trident, and noose. With one hand, she blesses. Although frightening in appearance, Kalaratri Devi helps purify the darkness within the world and bestows boons to her devotees. She grants a purified mind, fearlessness, and the removal of any turmoil.

Color: Royal Blue

Mantra: Om Aim Hreem Kleem Kalratryai Namaha

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Night eight 10.18: Mahagauri 🔱

She is four-armed and rides on a bull or a white elephant. She carries a trishul and a damaru. Two hands are in a blessing posture. Mahagauri, meaning “extremely fair complexion,” is the purified form of the Goddess after a long penance and austerity. She gives her devotees invincible powers, merits, and virtues in this life and the next.

Color: Pink

Mantra: Om Hreem Shreem Glaum Gam Gauri Geem Namaha

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Night nine 10.19: Siddhidatri 🪷

In this form, Durga is seated on a lotus and is four-armed. She holds a lotus, mace, discus, and book. She is the universal mother, and her name means “bestower of supernatural powers.” All beings, heavenly and demonic, worship her. Her worship destroys all diseases.

Color: Purple

Mantra: Om Hreem Saha Siddhidatryai Namaha |

⚔️ The next day, on 10.20, is celebrated as Vijayadashami or Dussehra. This day is a culmination of the nine nights of Durga and her victory over the demon Mahisura. This is also the day that Lord Rama defeated Ravana. Some also celebrate this as Saraswati Puja, which makes it an excellent day to start some education.

I pray these nine nights are enlightening. I highly suggest going to your local Hindu temple to see the beautiful festivities in person. JAY MA! 🪔

Drop your thoughts below! 👇

xx, Dee

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Devi Musing- Navaratri guide 🔱 🪔 🪷