Nine Avtaar of Maa Durga : Durga's Avtar Nine Avtar and Mantras

Who is Mata Durga ?

In ancient times, there was a monster named Durgam. Durgam pleased Lord Brahma Ji and subdued all the Vedas, from which the power of the Gods became weak. Then Daityas defeats the Gods and captured to the heaven. Then the Gods were worshiped of Goddess Bhagwati. The gods called for the power to kill the Shumbha-Nishumbha, Madhu-Katabh and Chand-Munda.

Goddess appeared on the call of Gods. He asked the reason for calling them to the gods. All the deities in one voice told that the monster named 'Durgam' has taken over all the Vedas and Paradise and has given us many tortures. Goddess assured them that She would kill the Monster Durgam.

When this news came to know to the king of Rakshasha Durgam, he again attacked Gods. Then Goddess Bhagwati protected the Gods and destroyed the army of Daityas. Seeing the demolition of the army of Daityas, Durgam came to war himself. Then Mata Godavari inspired many other forces, including Kali, Tara, Chinnamasta, Srividya, Bhubaneswar, Bhairavi, Bagla, and inspired them to fight. In the fiercest battle Bhagwati slaughtered the Daityas. Due to the slaughter of a monster called the inaccessible, Bhagwati also became famous as the name of Durga.

Navratra : During the nine days, devotees solemnly fast and worship the nine manifestations or forms of Goddess Durga, also known as Shakti. Each day has a special significance, and one form of the Goddess is worshipped. Each day is also associated with one colour, and one planetary body.

9 Avtar of Maa Durga: In holy Granthas, there are nine Avtars of Mata Durga.

1. Shailaputri : Shailputri is the first holy Avtar of Goddess Durga. She is the daughter of the King of Mountains - Himalaya. King Himalayas and his wife Maneka had many penance, as a result of which Durga landed on earth as their daughter. Only then was his name Shelaputri (Shell = Mount and Putri = daughter). The vehicle of Mata Shailaputri is in the bull and she holds in her right hand Trishool and in the left hand lotus flower. Shailaputri is worshipped on the first day of Navratra. 

Mantra to worship Mata Shailputri-

वन्दे वाञ्छितलाभाय चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखराम्। 

वृषारुढां शूलधरां शैलपुत्रीं यशस्विनीम्॥

2 Bhrahmcharini : The Second Avtar of Mata Durga is Brahmacharini. (Brahma = Tapasya), Mata Durga In this Avtar, holds chanting garland in her right hand and a kamandal in the left hand. On the advice of Narada Muni, Mata Brahmacharini performed harsh austerity to get Shiva.To achieve Mukti, Mata Shakti has known Brahma knowledge and for that reason she is worshiped in the name of Brahmacharini. Mata provides the highest spiritual knowledge to their devotees. On Dwitiya of Navratra goddess Brahmacharini is worshiped. Brahmcharini Mata Mantra-

दधाना करपद्माभ्यामक्षमालाकमण्डलू। 

देवी प्रसीदतु मयि ब्रह्मचारिण्यनुत्तमा॥

3 Chandraganta : This is Durga's third Avtar. Chandra means Moon and ghat means moonlight. This Avtar of Mata gives absolute peace. Worshiping Maata brings peace and prosperity. She is like a light of Gold and her vehicle is lion. Mata Chandra Ghata have ten arms. Her arms hold different things such as Kandak, Band, Trushool and Padm Phool. Worshiping of Lord Chandraghanta releases troubles from life. Goddess Chandraghanta is worshiped on Tritiya of Navratra. Mantras for Mata Chandraganta-

पिण्डजप्रवरारुढा चण्डकोपास्त्रकैर्युता। 

प्रसादं तनुते मह्यां चन्द्रघण्टेति विश्रुता॥

4 Kushmanda : is the fourth Avtar of Mata Durga. When there was nothing on earth and darkness was everywhere, Mother Kushmanda gave birth for creation Jivan. At that time the Mata lived in the Sun. Mata Kushmanda created the energy in the universe too. Mata Kushmanda has eight hands, hence she is also known as Ashtabhuja Devi. Mata Kushmanda's vehicle is lion and in her hand there are Kamandal, Chakra, Lotus Flowers, Amrit Matka, and Japa Mala (Mala for Chanting) On Chaturthi, Devi Kushmanda is worshipped.

Mata Kushmanda is the Goddess of purity; worshiping her and all diseases and sorrows are removed. Kushmanda Mata Mantras-

सुरासम्पूर्णकलशं रुधिराप्लुतमेव च।

दधाना हस्तपद्माभ्यां कूष्माण्डा शुभदास्तु मे॥

5 Skandamata : is the fifth Avtaar of Mata Durga. Mata Durga got married to Lord Shiva. During the war with Daityas, the Gods needed a wayward leader to lead in war. Kartik, son of Shiv Paravati, who is also called Skanda, became the leader of the God's Army. Kartik / Skanda, Mata Parvati is sitting in her lap, sitting on her lion, so she is worshiped in the name of Skandamata. Skand Mata have four arms, the flower of the Mata lotus is caught in the upper hand and one of the below Mata gives a Vardan by hand and holds Kartik from the other. Goddess Skandamata is worshipped on Panchami. Skandmata Mantras-

सिंहासनगता नित्यं पद्माश्रितकरद्वया। 

शुभदास्तु सदा देवी स्कन्दमाता यशस्विनी॥

6 Katyani Mata : Maa Durga's sixth Avtar is Katyayani. Once a great saint who was named Kata was very famous in his time. Kata saint worshiped long time to get blessing from Mata. Mata has happy with the long worship of Kata saint and fullfill his demand and Mata herself born as a daughter of Kata saint and named Katyani. Mantras for worshiping Mata katyani -

चंद्र हासोज्ज वलकरा शार्दू लवर वाहना| 

कात्यायनी शुभं दद्या देवी दानव घातिनि||

7 Kaal Ratri Mata : The seventh Avtar of Mata Durga is Kalaratri. In this Avtar Mata looks like Black Night and her hair is scattered, she wears bright appetite. They have three bright eyes, thousands of flames come out when they breathe. She shaves on shava (dead body), razor sharp sword in her right hand. His lower hand is for blessings. . The torch of torch is in his left hand and in his lower left hand he makes his devotees fearless. They are also called "auspicious", which means that do well. On Saptami, Devi Kalaratri is worshipped. Mantras of Mata Kaal Ratri-

एकवेणी जपाकर्णपूरा नग्ना खरास्थिता, लम्बोष्टी कर्णिकाकर्णी तैलाभ्यक्तशरीरिणी। 

वामपादोल्लसल्लोहलताकण्टकभूषणा, वर्धनमूर्धध्वजा कृष्णा कालरात्रिर्भयङ्करी॥

8 Mata Mahagrouri : Mata Maha Gouri is the eighth Avtar of Durga Mata. Mahagauri means extremely white (maha meaning great and gauri meaning white. The name derives from the fact that Parvati had a fair complexion. Here she rides a bull and has four hands.According to religious Grathas, due to long Tapasya of Mata to get Lord Shiva, the color of the Mata Parvati became dark and the body was weakened, being pleased with Mata's Tapasya, when Lord Shiva washed Parvati with Ganga Jal, the colour of Mata became as white as the Light, thus Mata named Maha Gouri. Known as Ashtami Mata Mahagauri is worshipped on this day. Mantras of Mata Maha Gouri-

श्वेते वृषे समारुढा श्वेताम्बरधरा शुचिः।

महागौरी शुभं दघान्महादेवप्रमोददा॥

9. Mata Sidhdatri : Mata Sidhidatri is ninth and Last Avtar of Mata. On Navami day, Navaratri ends with the worship of Mata Siddhidatri and worship of Kanya Pujan. Siddhidathana gives devotees all kinds of accomplishments. According to the belief, Lord Shiva received the Siddis after worshiping Mata Sidhidatri. Mata Siddhidathira has four arms, in which Gada, lotus flower, Shankh and chakra and Mata siting on Lotus Flower. The vehicle of Mata Siddhidathri is lion

The last day of the festival also known as Navami, people pray to Devi Siddhidaatri. Mantras for Mata Sidhdari-

सिद्धगन्धर्वयक्षाघैरसुरैरमरैरपि।

सेव्यमाना सदा भूयात् सिद्धिदा सिद्धिदायिनी॥

Mata Sita worshiping Mata Parvati-

जय -जय गिरिवर राज किशोरी । जय महेश मुख चन्द चकोरी।।

जय गजबदन षडाननमाता ।जगत जननी दामिनी दुति गाता।।

नहिं तव आदि मध्य अवसाना । अमित प्रभाउ बेदु नहिं जाना।।

भव भव विभव पराभव कारिनि। विश्व बिमोहनि स्वबस बिहारिनि।।

पति देवता सुतीय महुँ मातु प्रथम तव रेख।

महिमा अमित न सकहिं कहि सहस् सारदा सेष।।

सेवत तोहि सुलभ फल चारी।बरदायनी पुरारी पिआरी।।

देबि पूजि पद कमल तुम्हारे ।सुर नर मुनि सब होहिं सुखारे।।

मोर मनोरथु जानहु नीकें। बसहु सदा उर पुर सबहीं के ।।

कीन्हेऊँ प्रगट न कारन तेहीं।अस कहि चरन गहे बैदेही ।।

बिनय प्रेम बस भई भवानी । खसी माल मूरति मुसकानी ।।

सादर सियँ प्रसादु सिर धरेऊ। बोली गौरि हरषु हियँ भरेऊ ।।

सुनु सिय सत्य असीस हमारी । पूजिहिं मनकामना तुम्हारी ।।

नारद बचन सदा सुचि साचा । सो बरू मिलिहि जाहिं मनु राचा ।।

मनु जाहिं राचेउ मिलिहि सो बरू सहज सुंदर साँवरो ।

करुना निधान सुजान सीलु सनेह जानत रावरो ।।

एहि भाँति गौरि असीस सुनि सिय सहित हियँ हरषीं अली ।

तुलसी भवानिहि पूजि पुनि पुनि मुदित मन मंदिर चली ।।

जानि गौरि अनुकूल सिय हिय हरषु न जाय कहि ।

मंजुल मंगल मूल बाम अंग फरकन लगे ।।