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Goddess Durga (Navadurga)
The demon Mahishasura, after a boon from Brahma that no man or god could kill him, conquered the three worlds. The combined energy of all gods manifested as Goddess Durga. She battled Mahishasura for nine nights and slew him on the tenth day (Vijayadashami). Each night is dedicated to a different form of the Goddess (Navadurga).
Victory of divine feminine power (Shakti) over evil. Each of the nine forms represents a different aspect of feminine energy — from ferocity to compassion.
Nine nights of Goddess worship with specific forms each day: Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kaalratri, Mahagauri, Siddhidatri. Fasting, Garba/Dandiya dancing (Gujarat), recitation of Durga Saptashati. Many observe strict fasting for all 9 days.
Many observe a 9-day fast (fruits, sabudana, kuttu atta). Some fast only on the first and last day.
Ghatasthapana on Day 1 must be performed during Abhijit Muhurta (around midday, roughly 11:45 AM to 12:30 PM). If Abhijit is not available, use the first one-third of the day during Pratipada tithi. Avoid Chitra Nakshatra for Ghatasthapana.
On this auspicious Ashwin Shukla Pratipada, I undertake the nine-day Navaratri worship of the nine forms of Goddess Durga for the destruction of evil, attainment of strength, prosperity, and divine grace.
Clean the puja area and spread a red cloth on the platform. Fill a copper/brass kalash with water, place mango leaves around its rim, and set a coconut on top wrapped in red cloth. Place the kalash on a bed of soil mixed with barley seeds. Light the Akhand Jyoti. Day 1 is dedicated to Maa Shailaputri — the daughter of the mountains.
Worship Maa Brahmacharini — the austere form of Parvati who performed intense tapas. Offer sugar, fruits, and white flowers. Chant the Durga Beej Mantra 108 times. Maintain the Akhand Jyoti by replenishing ghee/oil.
Durga Beej Mantra
ॐ दुं दुर्गायै नमः
Worship Maa Chandraghanta — adorned with a half-moon bell on her forehead, she destroys evil. Offer milk-based sweets and yellow flowers. Ring a bell during the puja to invoke her grace.
Worship Maa Kushmanda — the creator of the cosmic egg (Brahmanda) with her smile. Offer malpua (sweet pancake) and petha (pumpkin sweet). She radiates like the sun and bestows cosmic energy.
Worship Maa Skandamata — the mother of Kartikeya (Skanda). Offer bananas and other fruits. She grants wisdom and salvation. Sit in meditation after the puja.
Worship Maa Katyayani — born in the ashrama of sage Katyayana, she is the warrior form who slew Mahishasura. Offer honey and recite the Navarna Mantra. Unmarried girls worship her for a good husband.
Navarna Mantra (Nine-Syllable Mantra)
ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे
Worship Maa Kaalratri — the fiercest form, dark as night, who destroys ignorance and evil spirits. Offer jaggery or gur. On this day, also perform Saraswati Sthapana by placing books and instruments before the altar for blessing.
Worship Maa Mahagauri — radiant white, the purest form, who fulfils all wishes. Perform the Ashtami Havan with ghee and samagri while chanting the Durga Gayatri. Then perform Kanya Pujan — invite 9 young girls (representing 9 Devi forms), wash their feet, offer tilak, gifts, food, and sweets, and seek their blessings.
Durga Gayatri Mantra
ॐ कात्यायनाय विद्महे कन्यकुमारि धीमहि तन्नो दुर्गिः प्रचोदयात्
Worship Maa Siddhidatri — the bestower of all 8 Siddhis (supernatural powers). Perform the final Navami Havan with 108 ahutis (oblations) of ghee. Offer special bhog and sweets. Check the barley sprouts grown in the kalash — tall green sprouts signify a prosperous year.
Each morning: wake before sunrise, bathe, light fresh incense, offer red flowers and kumkum to the Durga idol, replenish the Akhand Jyoti with ghee, sprinkle water on the barley sprouts, chant the Durga Beej Mantra 108 times, and perform aarti. In the evening, repeat aarti and offer naivedya.
Durga Beej Mantra
ॐ दुं दुर्गायै नमः
On Vijaya Dashami, perform the final aarti and seek forgiveness for any lapses during the 9 days. Remove the coconut from the kalash. Extinguish the Akhand Jyoti. Distribute the barley sprouts as prasad. Immerse the Durga idol in water (if clay) or store reverentially.
Durga Beej Mantra
ॐ दुं दुर्गायै नमः
oṃ duṃ durgāyai namaḥ
Salutations to Goddess Durga, the invincible one who removes all suffering
108x Japa CountNavarna Mantra (Nine-Syllable Mantra)
ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे
oṃ aiṃ hrīṃ klīṃ cāmuṇḍāyai vicce
Om — the primordial sound; Aim — Saraswati beej; Hreem — Lakshmi beej; Kleem — Kali beej; salutations to Chamunda — the slayer of Chanda and Munda
108x Japa CountDurga Gayatri Mantra
ॐ कात्यायनाय विद्महे कन्यकुमारि धीमहि तन्नो दुर्गिः प्रचोदयात्
oṃ kātyāyanāya vidmahe kanyakumāri dhīmahi tanno durgiḥ pracodayāt
We meditate upon Katyayani. May that virgin Goddess illuminate our intellect. May Durga inspire and guide us.
Mahishasura Mardini Stotram (Verse)
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute
Victory, victory to you, O slayer of the buffalo demon Mahishasura, O one with beautiful braided hair, O daughter of the mountain!
Durga Saptashati (700 Verses)
The primary scripture for Navaratri. Ideally recite all 13 chapters over 9 days. Can be divided: Ch 1 on Day 1, Ch 2-4 on Days 2-4, Ch 5-8 on Days 5-8, Ch 9-13 on Day 9.
Mahishasura Mardini Stotram
A popular devotional hymn attributed to Adi Shankaracharya. Recite during the evening aarti.
॥ श्री अम्बे गौरी की आरती ॥ जय अम्बे गौरी, मैया जय श्यामा गौरी। तुमको निशदिन ध्यावत, हरि ब्रह्मा शिवरी॥ जय अम्बे गौरी॥ मांग सिन्दूर विराजत, टीको मृगमद को। उज्जवल से दोउ नैना, चन्द्रवदन नीको॥ जय अम्बे गौरी॥ कनक समान कलेवर, रक्ताम्बर राजै। रक्तपुष्प गल माला, कंठन पर साजै॥ जय अम्बे गौरी॥ केहरि वाहन राजत, खड्ग खप्पर धारी। सुर-नर मुनिजन सेवत, तिनके दुखहारी॥ जय अम्बे गौरी॥ कानन कुण्डल शोभित, नासाग्रे मोती। कोटिक चन्द्र दिवाकर, सम राजत ज्योति॥ जय अम्बे गौरी॥ शुम्भ निशुम्भ विदारे, महिषासुर घाती। धूम्र विलोचन नैना, निशदिन मदमाती॥ जय अम्बे गौरी॥ चौंसठ योगिनी गावत, नृत्य करत भैरों। बाजत ताल मृदंगा, अरु बाजत डमरू॥ जय अम्बे गौरी॥ भुजा चार अति शोभित, वर मुद्रा धारी। मनवांछित फल पावत, सेवत नर नारी॥ जय अम्बे गौरी॥ श्री अम्बे की आरती, जो कोई नर गावै। कहत शिवानन्द स्वामी, सुख सम्पत्ति पावै॥ जय अम्बे गौरी॥
|| śrī ambe gaurī kī āratī || jaya ambe gaurī, maiyā jaya śyāmā gaurī | tumako niśadina dhyāvata, hari brahmā śivarī || jaya ambe gaurī || māṅga sindūra virājata, ṭīko mṛgamada ko | ujjavala se dou nainā, candravadana nīko || jaya ambe gaurī || kanaka samāna kalevara, raktāmbara rājai | raktapuṣpa gala mālā, kaṇṭhana para sājai || jaya ambe gaurī || kehari vāhana rājata, khaḍga khappara dhārī | sura-nara munijana sevata, tinake dukhahārī || jaya ambe gaurī || kānana kuṇḍala śobhita, nāsāgre motī | koṭika candra divākara, sama rājata jyoti || jaya ambe gaurī || śumbha niśumbha vidāre, mahiṣāsura ghātī | dhūmra vilocana nainā, niśadina madamātī || jaya ambe gaurī || cauṃsaṭha yoginī gāvata, nṛtya karata bhairoṃ | bājata tāla mṛdaṅgā, aru bājata ḍamarū || jaya ambe gaurī || bhujā cāra ati śobhita, vara mudrā dhārī | manavāṃchita phala pāvata, sevata nara nārī || jaya ambe gaurī || śrī ambe kī āratī, jo koī nara gāvai | kahata śivānanda svāmī, sukha sampatti pāvai || jaya ambe gaurī ||
Halwa, poori, chana (chickpea curry), kheer, fresh fruits, coconut, seasonal sweets, and special prasad for Kanya Pujan including poori-chana and halwa
Destruction of evil forces and negative energies, attainment of Shakti (divine feminine power), fulfilment of wishes, protection from enemies, prosperity and success in all endeavours, and the grace of all nine forms of Goddess Durga
On Vijaya Dashami (Day 10), immerse the clay Durga idol in a river, lake, or large water body. If using a permanent idol, symbolically touch it to water and return it to the altar.