Durgamaa: She is also worshipped as Navadurga.
Nava Durga means the nine forms of Goddess Durga. Each form has special significance. Nava Durga,is worshipped in a big way and ceremoniously during the festival of NavaRaatri.
The 'Devi Kavacha'of the 'Chandipatha'scripture mentions all the nine form of Durgamata.The details of the nine forms are given below.
1)Shailaputri
2)Brahmacharini
3)Chandraghanta
4)Kushmanda
5)Skandamata
6)Katyayani
7)Kaalratri
8)Mahagauri
9)Siddhidatri
(1) Shailaputri-
'Shailaputri' is the daughter of the mountain 'Shaila',who is also known as Parvatimata,Hemavatimata and Sati Bhavanimata.She is worshipped the first among Navadurgas.
She is worshipped on the first day ofNavaratri. Shailaputri is the embodiment of the power of the trinity,Brahma,Vishnu and Shiva.She mounts on a bull and has a trident and a lotus in her hands.
(2) Bahmacharini-
'Brahmachan' is worshipped on the second day of Navaratri and is the second form of Durgamata.Bharmacharini means one who practices devout austerity and she is a way to 'Moksha'(Salvation).
She holds a rosary and water pot in her hands.She is very blissful and showers her devotees with prosperity, happiness, peace and wealth.
(3) Chandra Ghanta-
She has a half moon(Chandra) on her forehead in the shape of a bell(Ghanta),that is why she is named as. 'Chandraghanta'.She is the third form of Goddess Durga, worshipped on the third day of Navaratri.She gives peace, happiness,tranquility and prosperity.
She has a golden bright complexion,ten hands,three eyes and mounts on a lion. She holds weapons in her hands.She is the symbol power and bravery,who has a great potential to slay the demons.
(4) Kushmanda-
'Kushmanda' is the fourth form of Durgamata,who is worshipped on the fourth day of Navaratri.Her name is a combination of words Ku-Ushm-Anda,means a warm egg.So,she is believed to be the creator of the universe.
She enlit the universe,which was dark and void,with her rays.She has sary,weapons,glitter etc.,in her hands, and she is mounted n a lion.She is shown as having ten or eight hands.
(5) Skanda Mata-
'Skanda Mata'is the fifth form of Durgamata is the mother of Skanda ie Lord Kartikeya.She has a bright complexion and is depicted as seated on a lotus.She is worshipped on the fifth day of Navaratri and seen with Lord Skanda in his child form.
Skanda Mata has four hands and three eyes.She holds the child Skanda and a lotus in her hands.The left arm is in blessing posture and the lower hand also holds a lotus.
(6) Katyayani-
Katyayani', is the sixth form of Ma Durga, who is worshipped on the six day of Navaratri.As per the legend,The king Kata,who was a great sage and was wellknown in the lineage of saints.had a son named 'Katya',
Kata performed penance in order to get the blessings of the Durgama,to have a daughter in the form of a goddess.Pleased with his devotion,Durgamata granted his request and Katyayani was born to Kata as an avatar of Durgamata.
As per Vaikruttik Rahasya from Durga Saptashati, Mahakali is worshipped with 10 hands(Prathama charatra), Mahalakshmi is worshipped with 18 hands(Madhayama charitra) & Mahasaraswati with 8 hands(Uttara charitra).
10 Mahavidyas
Kali: The ultimate form of Brahman, "Devourer of Time" (Supreme Deity of Kalikula Systems)
Tara The Goddess as Guide and Protector, or Who Saves.Who offers the ultimate knowledge which gives salvation(also known as Neel Saraswati).
Lalita-Tripurasundari(Shodashi): The Goddess Who is "Beautiful in the Three Worlds" (Supreme Deity of Srikuls systems); the "Tantric Parvati" or the "Moksha Mukuta"
.Bhuvaneshvari: The Goddess as World Mother, or Whose Body is the Cosmos
Bhairavi: The Fierce Goddess
Chinnamasta: The Self-Decapitated Goddess
Dhumavati: The Widow Goddess,or the Goddess of death.
Bagalamukhi: The Goddess Who Paralyzes Enemies
Matangi: the Prime Minister of Lalita (in Srikula systems); the "Tantric Saraswati"
Kamala: The Lotus Goddess; the "Tantrik Lakshmi."
The Mahabhagavata Purana and Brhaddharma Purana however, list Shodashi (Sodasi) as Tripura Sundari, her another name. The Guhyatiguyha-tantra associates the Mahavidyas with the ten Avataras of Vishnu and states that the Mahavidyas are the source from which the avatars of Vishnu arose. All ten forms of the Goddess, whether gentle or terrifying, are worshiped as the universal Mother
Dhumavati is associated with Matsya or Fish incarnation, Goddess Bagala is associated with Kurma or the Tortoise incarnation, Bhairavi is associated with Varaha or Boar incarnation, Chinnamasta is associated with Narasimha, Tripura Sundari is associated with Parashurama, Bhuvaneshwari is associated with Vamana, Tara is that of Sri Rama, Kali is the force of Krishna, Kamala is associated with Buddha (some scholars do not consider Buddha as incarnation of Vishnu and instead they consider Balram, the elder brother of Krishna),Durga is associated with the Kalki incarnation, whose arrival is expected.
Edited by mnx12 - 12 years ago
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