Maiya Durga is worshipped in different forms. SHE is a form of "Shakti".
The evolution of Shri Maha Saraswati, Shri Maha Laxmi and Shri Mahakali (the 3
main forms of "Shakti") took place from Shri Brahma, Shri Vishnu and Shri Mahesh
respectively.
Each of these 3 deities gave rise to 3 more forms and hence in all, these 9
forms together are known as Nav-Durga
1. Maiya Shailputri ..... Meri Maiya Navratri commences with the 1st night
devoted to the puja of Meri Maiya Shailputri. Shail means mountains; Parvati,
the daughter of king of Mountains Himavan, is known as "Shailputri". HER 2
hands, display a trident and a lotus. SHE is mounted upon a bull.
2. Maiya Bhramcharni ..... One hand holds a "Kumbha" or water port and the other
rosary. SHE personifies love and loyalty. Meri Maiya Bhramcharni is store-house
of knowledge and wisdom. Rudraksha is HER most adorned ornament.
3. Maiya Chandraghanta ..... Worshipped on the 3rd night this Meri Maiya Durga
Shakti is astride a tiger, displays a golden hue to HER skin, possesses ten
hands and 3 eyes. Eight of HER hands display weapons while the remaining two are
respectively in the mudras of gestures of boon giving and stopping harm. Chandra
+ Ghanta, meaning supreme bliss and knowledge, showering peace and serenity,
like cool breeze in a moonlit night. Meri Maiya is worshipped in this form in
Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu) India.
4. Maiya Kushmanda ..... The 4th night begins the worship of Meri Maiya
Kushmanda, possessed of eight arms, holding weapons and a mala or rosary. HER
mount is a tiger and SHE emanates a solar like aura. "Kumbh Bhand" means to see
cosmic vivacity in Pindi shape or knowledge of cosmic intricacies in human race.
The abode of Meri Maiya Kushmanda is in Bhimaparvat.
5. Maiya Skandmata ..... Using a lion as a vehicle SHE holds HER son, SKAND in
HER lap while displaying 3 eyes and 4 hands; two hands hold lotuses while the
other 2 hands respectively display defending and granting gestures. Its said, by
the mercy of Meri Maiya Skandmata, even the idiot becomes an ocean of knowledge.
The great and legendary Sanskrit Scholar Kalidas created his two masterpieces
works viz. "Raghuvansh Maha Kavya" and "Meghdoot" by the grace of Meri Maiya
Skandmata.
6. Maiya Kaatyayani ..... As mother, Meri Maiya Kaatyayani stayed in the Ashram
of sage Katyayan for penance, hence SHE named as Kaatyayani. This 6th Shakti is
also astride a lion with 3 eyes and 4 arms. One left hand holds a weapon and the
other a lotus. The other 2 hands respectively display defending and granting
gestures. HER complexion is golden coloured.
7. Maiya Kaalratri ..... Black skin with bountiful hair and 4 hands, 2 clutching
a cleaver and a torch, while the remaining 2 are in the mudras of "giving" and
"protecting". HER vahana is a faithful donkey. The destroyer of darkness and
ignorance, Meri Maiya Kaalratri is the seventh form of Nav-Durga meaning scourer
of darkness; enemy of darkness. Meri Maiya Kaalratri's famous shrine is in
Calcutta, India
8. Maiya Mahagauri ..... Four arms with the fairest complexion of all the Durga
Shaktis. Peace and compassion radiate from HER being and SHE is often dressed in
a white or green sari. SHE holds a drum and a trident and is often depicted
riding a bull. Meri Maiya Mahagauri can be seen in a temple at Kankhal near
pilgrim centre Haridwar, India
9. Maiya Siddhiratri ..... Ensconced upon a lotus, most commonly, with 4 arms,
and is the possessor of 26 different wishes to grant HER bhakts. Meri Maiya
Siddhiratri's famous pilgrim centre, is located in Nanda Parvat in the
Himalayas.
Happy Navratri
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