Navaratri Wishes...

Wishing all my readers a Happy Navaratri, Durga-pujar subo-abhinondan and a Happy Dussehara...!

 Also, wishing my South Indian friends and readers a great and pompous Ayudha Puja (In this puja, Saraswati puja is performed on the 9th day).

The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti/Devi are worshiped. Each goddess has a different form and a special significance. Nava Durga, if worshipped with religious fervor during Navaratri, it is believed, lift the divine spirit in us and fill us with renewed happiness. All the nine names of goddess are narrated in ‘Devi Kavacha’ of the ‘Chandipatha’ scripture. 

प्रथम् शैल-पुत्री च, द्वितियं ब्रह्मचारिणि, तृतियं चंद्रघंटेति च चतुर्थ कूषमाण्डा, पंचम् स्कन्दमातेती, षष्टं कात्यानी च सप्तं कालरात्रेति, अष्टं महागौरी च नवमं सिद्धिदात्री!!

* First day : Ekaam is dedicated to Goddess Shailputri (daughter of Himalaya) .

* Second day: Duj is dedicated to Goddess Bramcharini (peaceful form of Durga) .
* Third day : Tritiya is dedicated to goddess Chandra ghanta (anger form of Durga)
* Fourth day : Chaturthi is dedicated to goddess Kushmanda (happy form of Durga)
* Fifth day : Panchmi is dedicated to goddess Skand mata (blessing form of Durga)
* Six day : Shasthi is dedicated to Goddess Katyayani(daughter form of Durga)
* Seven day : Saptami is dedicated to Goddess Kalratri (cruel and violent form of Durga)
* Eight day : Astami is dedicated to Goddess Maha gauri (form of mata parvati and symbol of purity)
* Ninth day : Navmi is dedicated to the goddess Siddhidatri(knowledge form of Durga)

(Guess what, till today I was not aware of these nine forms, while digging facts for this post, I came across the names and forms of Devi..)