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Navadurga

Updated: 12/10/2025, 5:28:47 PM Wikipedia source

Navadurga (Sanskrit: नवदुर्गा, IAST: Navadurgā), also spelled Navdurga and Navadurgas, are nine manifestations and forms of Durga in Hinduism, especially worshipped during Navaratri and Durga Puja. They are often considered collectively as a single deity, mainly among the followers of Shaktism and Shaivism sect of Hinduism. According to Hindu mythology, the nine forms are considered the nine stages of Durga during the nine-day long duration of the war with demon-king Mahishasura, where the tenth day is celebrated as the Vijayadashami (lit. 'victory day') among the Hindus and is considered as one of the most important festivals.

Infobox

Devanagari
नवदुर्गा
Sanskrit transliteration
navadurgā
Affiliation
Adi Shakti, Durga, Parvati, Devi
Mantra
oṁ aim hrīṁ śrīṁ mahādurgāyai namo namaḥ
Weapon
Khanda (sword), Bow and arrow, Trishula, Sudarshan Chakra, Gada (mace), shield, shankha, Ghanta
Mount
Lion, tiger, nandi, ox, mule and lotus
Festivals
Navaratri, Durga Puja, Vijayadashami, Durga Ashtami
Consort
Shiva

Tables

· The nine forms
Shailaputri "The Daughter of a Mountain"
Shailaputri "The Daughter of a Mountain"
S. No.
1.
Name
Shailaputri "The Daughter of a Mountain"
Vahana
Nandi (bull)
Stage
Parvati in her stage of childhood with the divine and principal form being Durga
Mantra
ॐ देवी शैलपुत्र्यै नमः
Depiction
She is adorned with light ornamentation on her limbs and was clothed in red and pink robes. She has two hands both holding a trident and lotus. She is seated upon the behind of a white bull.
Brahmacharini "The Mother of devotion and penance"
Brahmacharini "The Mother of devotion and penance"
S. No.
2.
Name
Brahmacharini "The Mother of devotion and penance"
Vahana
None
Stage
Durga in her phase of asceticism.
Mantra
ॐ देवी ब्रह्मचारिण्यै नम:
Depiction
She is dressed as a female ascetic and is adorned by dried-up Rudraksha beads and flowers as her ornamentation. She has two hands, both of which carried a rosary and a water utensil.
Chandraghanta "The Destroyer of demons"
Chandraghanta "The Destroyer of demons"
S. No.
3.
Name
Chandraghanta "The Destroyer of demons"
Vahana
Tiger
Stage
Durga in the form of Shakti.
Mantra
ॐ देवी चंद्रघण्टायै नम:
Depiction
She has ten hands, nine of them are armed by a trident, mace, bow, arrow, lotus, sword, bell and a waterpot, while one other hand blesses her devotees. She is seated upon a fierce tiger.
Kushmanda "The Goddess of The Cosmic Egg"
Kushmanda "The Goddess of The Cosmic Egg"
S. No.
4.
Name
Kushmanda "The Goddess of The Cosmic Egg"
Vahana
Lion
Stage
Durga in the form of Mahashakti.
Mantra
ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं कूष्मांडायै नम:
Depiction
She has eight hands, six of which held a discus, mace, lotus, bow, and arrow in one hand, sword and rosary and the two other hands carried a jar of honey and waterpot. She is mounted upon the back of a lion.
Skandamata "The Goddess of motherhood and children"
Skandamata "The Goddess of motherhood and children"
S. No.
5.
Name
Skandamata "The Goddess of motherhood and children"
Vahana
Durga in her stage of motherhood.
Stage
ॐ देवी स्कन्दमातायै नम:
Mantra
She has four hands, two of which held lotuses, the third holding her son, the six-headed infant Kartikeya seated on her lap, and the fourth saves her devotees. She is seated upon the back of a lion.
Katyayani "The Goddess of Power"
Katyayani "The Goddess of Power"
S. No.
6.
Name
Katyayani "The Goddess of Power"
Vahana
Durga in the warrior stage, ready to fight any Asura.
Stage
ॐ देवी कात्यायन्यै नम:
Mantra
She is adorned with heavy ornamentation on her limbs and is dressed in green and pink vestments. Her four hands each carried a sword, shield, lotus and trident. She's seen seated on a fearsome lion.
Kalaratri "The Goddess of Auspiciousness and Courage"
Kalaratri "The Goddess of Auspiciousness and Courage"
S. No.
7.
Name
Kalaratri "The Goddess of Auspiciousness and Courage"
Vahana
Donkey
Stage
Durga in her form of destruction.
Mantra
ॐ देवी कालरात्र्यै नम:
Depiction
She has three bloodshot eyes, unkempt hairs, and wears a garland of skulls around her neck, which shone like lightning. Her four hands all held a trident, scimitar, vajra, and a cup. She is seated upon the behind of a donkey as her vehicle mount.
Mahagauri "The Goddess of Beauty and Women"
Mahagauri "The Goddess of Beauty and Women"
S. No.
8.
Name
Mahagauri "The Goddess of Beauty and Women"
Vahana
Ox
Stage
Durga in her form of recovery.
Mantra
ॐ देवी महागौर्यै नम:
Depiction
She has four hands, three of which carried a trident, mini-drum, and a pink lotus while her one hand promised her devotees protection. She is seated upon a white ox.
Siddhidhatri " The Goddess of Supernatural Powers or Siddhis"
Siddhidhatri " The Goddess of Supernatural Powers or Siddhis"
S. No.
9.
Name
Siddhidhatri " The Goddess of Supernatural Powers or Siddhis"
Vahana
Lotus
Stage
Durga in her stage of reaching her highest and supreme form as Mahashakti.
Mantra
ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं सिद्धिदात्र्यै नम:
Depiction
Each of her four hands carried a discus, conch shell, pink lotus and a mace. She is seated upon a fully bloomed lotus.
S. No.
Image (Depiction)
Name
Vahana
Stage
Mantra
Depiction
Ref
1.
Shailaputri "The Daughter of a Mountain"
Nandi (bull)
Parvati in her stage of childhood with the divine and principal form being Durga
ॐ देवी शैलपुत्र्यै नमः
She is adorned with light ornamentation on her limbs and was clothed in red and pink robes. She has two hands both holding a trident and lotus. She is seated upon the behind of a white bull.
2.
Brahmacharini "The Mother of devotion and penance"
None
Durga in her phase of asceticism.
ॐ देवी ब्रह्मचारिण्यै नम:
She is dressed as a female ascetic and is adorned by dried-up Rudraksha beads and flowers as her ornamentation. She has two hands, both of which carried a rosary and a water utensil.
3.
Chandraghanta "The Destroyer of demons"
Tiger
Durga in the form of Shakti.
ॐ देवी चंद्रघण्टायै नम:
She has ten hands, nine of them are armed by a trident, mace, bow, arrow, lotus, sword, bell and a waterpot, while one other hand blesses her devotees. She is seated upon a fierce tiger.
4.
Kushmanda "The Goddess of The Cosmic Egg"
Lion
Durga in the form of Mahashakti.
ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं कूष्मांडायै नम:
She has eight hands, six of which held a discus, mace, lotus, bow, and arrow in one hand, sword and rosary and the two other hands carried a jar of honey and waterpot. She is mounted upon the back of a lion.
5.
Skandamata "The Goddess of motherhood and children"
Durga in her stage of motherhood.
ॐ देवी स्कन्दमातायै नम:
She has four hands, two of which held lotuses, the third holding her son, the six-headed infant Kartikeya seated on her lap, and the fourth saves her devotees. She is seated upon the back of a lion.
6.
Katyayani "The Goddess of Power"
Durga in the warrior stage, ready to fight any Asura.
ॐ देवी कात्यायन्यै नम:
She is adorned with heavy ornamentation on her limbs and is dressed in green and pink vestments. Her four hands each carried a sword, shield, lotus and trident. She's seen seated on a fearsome lion.
7.
Kalaratri "The Goddess of Auspiciousness and Courage"
Donkey
Durga in her form of destruction.
ॐ देवी कालरात्र्यै नम:
She has three bloodshot eyes, unkempt hairs, and wears a garland of skulls around her neck, which shone like lightning. Her four hands all held a trident, scimitar, vajra, and a cup. She is seated upon the behind of a donkey as her vehicle mount.
8.
Mahagauri "The Goddess of Beauty and Women"
Ox
Durga in her form of recovery.
ॐ देवी महागौर्यै नम:
She has four hands, three of which carried a trident, mini-drum, and a pink lotus while her one hand promised her devotees protection. She is seated upon a white ox.
9.
Siddhidhatri " The Goddess of Supernatural Powers or Siddhis"
Lotus
Durga in her stage of reaching her highest and supreme form as Mahashakti.
ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं सिद्धिदात्र्यै नम:
Each of her four hands carried a discus, conch shell, pink lotus and a mace. She is seated upon a fully bloomed lotus.

References

  1. Parvati has been described in the nine stage in nine different depiction, where she become the Maha Shakti in last stage
  2. Times of India
    https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/religion/rituals-puja/navdurga-nine-forms-of-energy/articleshow/68207186.cms
  3. Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, 2nd Edition
    https://books.google.com/books?id=v2yiyLLOj88C&pg=PA2600
  4. Navaratri, TOI.
  5. Amazzone 2010, p. 184.
  6. Ramachandran 2020, pp. 21–23.
  7. Amazzone 2010, p. 187.
  8. Ostor 2004, p. 68.
  9. Ramachandran 2020, p. 67.
  10. Sharma 2021, p. 73.
  11. Ramachandran 2020, p. 23.
  12. Ramachandran 2020, pp. 29–30.
  13. Mittal 2006, p. 63.
  14. Ostor 2004, p. 34.
  15. Ramachandran 2020, pp. 48–51.
  16. Mishra 1989, p. 36.
  17. Sivkishen 2016, p. 176. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSivkishen2016 (help)
  18. Ramachandran 2020, pp. 68, 70.
  19. The Agni Purana
Image
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