Navaratri Avatars
Navaratri, the name itself has the special significance. Nava means ‘New’ and also denotes ‘Nine’. Ratri means ‘Nights’. If you got a question of why we celebrate Dussehra for 9 days? Then here is the answer for you. According to the Puranas Lord Durga killed a demon named Mahishasura. Before killing him a huge war was set between them for 10 days. Each day Durga has taken the new avatar and tried to kill him and finally on the 10th day she got succeed in killing him. That day is known as Vijaya Dasami. Here check out the 9 forms of Lord Durga.
Dussehra: Why do we Celebrate Vijaya Dashami? Its Significance
Dussehra is one of the important festivals in India. It is a festival of 9 days which is also known as Navaratri. People worship Lord Durga on these nine days in nine forms. Every day is special in Navaratri. Every avatar has the special story and significance in the festival. So just know about nine forms of Durga Devi.
Shailaputri:
Shailaputri means Lord Parvathi who is the daughter of Himalaya Mountains. In previous birth, she is known as Sati. Her father insulted Lord Shiva, so sati committed suicide and again born as Parvati. She is one of the forms of Durga. She placed her asana on Nandi (bull) and carries trisul in her right hand and lotus in left hand.
Brahmacharini:
After completing life as Sati, she has born as Parvathi. In this birth also she fallen in love with Shiva. As Narada instructed, she did penance for lord shiva. She carries japamala in her right hand and kamandal in her left hand. She is very beautiful.
ChandraGhanta:
She is very bright as the sun. She wears half moon on her head. She made her asana on the tiger. She carries gada, Trishul, sword, kamandal, lotus, arrow, Dhanush, japa mala in eight hands and with her 9th right hand she gives abhayamudra and 10th left hand gives varamudra
Kushmanda:
She is the creator of the universe. Here Ku means little; ushma means energy; anda means cosmic egg. With her beautiful smiles she destroyed the darkness and created the bright world
Skandamatha:
She carries skanda(Kumara Swamy) on her lap. As being mother of Karthikeyan she is known as Skanda Matha. On fifth day of Navaratri People worshiped her. She has four arms and three eyes. Skandamatha has three eyes and four arms and holding skanda on her right arm.
Katyayani:
She is god of victory. Katyayani is the daughter of katyayan, who underwent penance to have a daughter in the form of a goddess, the Mother Goddess granted his request and grant him Katyayani, one of the avatar of Durga. She has three eyes and eight hands. She placed her asana on lion. People worshiped her on the sixth day of Navaratri.
Kalaratri:
She had dark complexion with wild hair, her vehicle is Donkey. She protects us from evil things. She is in fearless posture with the sword in her hand. By praying to her, people will get free from enemies. Kalaratri is also called as Shubhamkari.
Mahagauri:
Mahagauri is worshipped on the eight day of Navaratri. She is intelligent, calm and peaceful. She is very pure like white flower. She has four arms and her vehicle is bull and wears white clothes.
Siddhidatri:
She is the god of super natural powers. Siddhidatri is the ninth form of Durga maa. By worshipping this goddess we can blessed with wealth and good health. She rides on the Lion as her vehicle.