Navratri or Nav Ratri means 9 nights dedicated for 9 divine forms of Maa, Adishakti Maa Durga.

Maa Durga

Maa Durg

Maa Shailaputri

  • Day of worship: 1st day of Navratri
  • Governing planet: Moon
  • Mantra: Om Devi Shailaputryai Namah ॐ देवी शैलपुत्र्यै नम
  • Iconography: She rides a bull, carrying a Trishul(trident) in her right hand and a lotus flower in Her left hand.

Maa Brahmacharini

  • Day of worship: 2nd day of Navratri
  • Governing planet: Mars
  • Mantra: Om Devi Brahmacharinyai Namah ॐ देवी ब्रह्मचारिण्यै नम
  • Iconography: Walks on bare feet, carrying a japa mala in Her right hand and a kamandalu in Her left hand.

Maa Chandraghanta

  • Day of worship: 3rd day of Navratri
  • Governing planet: Venus
  • Mantra: Om Devi Chandraghantayai Namah ॐ देवी चन्द्रघण्टायै नम
  • Iconography: Goddess Chandraghanta mounts the tigress. She wears the semi-circular moon(Chandra) on her forehead. The half-moon on her forehead looks like the bell(Ghanta) and hence, Her name. She is depicted with ten hands. Goddess Chandraghanta carries Trishul, Gada, sword and kamandalu in Her four left hands and keeps the fifth left hand in Varadamudra. She carries a lotus flower, arrow, Dhanush and Japa Mala in Her four right hands and keeps the fifth right hand in Abhaya Mudra.
  • Special powers: This form of the Mother Goddess is ready for war with all her weapons, to protect the peace and welfare of Her devotees.It is believed that the sound of the moon-bell on her forehead drives all types of spirits away from Her devotees.

Maa Kushmanda

  • Day of worship: 4th day of Navratri
  • Governing planet: Sun
  • Mantra: Om Devi Kushmandayai Namah ॐ देवी कूष्माण्डायै नम
  • Iconography: Rides on a lioness and has eight hands. She holds a kamandalu, Dhanush, Bada and Kamal in Her right hands. Her left hands hold Amrit Kalash(pot of nectar), japa mala(prayer beads), Gada and Chakra – in that order.
  • Specific power: She created the universe in the flash of Her smile and is believed to bestow siddhis(supernatural powers) and niddhis(wealth) to Her devotees.

Maa Skandamata

  • Day of worship: 5th day of Navratri
  • Governing planet: Mercury
  • Mantra: Om Devi Skandamatayai Namah ॐ देवी स्कन्दमातायै नम
  • Iconography: Goddess Skandamata mounts the ferocious lion. She carries baby Skanda in her lap. Lord Skanda(also known as Kartikeya or Lord Murugan) is the brother of Ganesha. Goddess Skandamata is depicted with four hands. She carries lotus flowers in Her upper two hands. She holds baby Skanda in one of Her right hands and keeps the other right hand in Abhayamudra. She sits on a lotus flower and because of that, is also known as Goddess Padmasana.
  • Special powers: Devotees who worship this form of the Mother Goddess get the added benefit of blessings of Lord Skanda, the God of War(also known as Kartikeya).

Maa Katyayini

  • Day of worship: 6th day of Navratri
  • Governing planet: Jupiter
  • Mantra: Om Devi Katyayanyai Namah ॐ देवी कात्यायन्यै नम
  • Iconography: Goddess Katyayani rides on a magnificent lion and is depicted with four hands. She carries a lotus flower and sword in her left hands respectively and keeps her right hands in Abhayamudra and Varadamudras.

Maa Kaalratri

  • Day of worship: 7th day of Navratri
  • Governing planet: Saturn
  • Mantra: Om Devi Kalaratryai Namah ॐ देवी कालरात्र्यै नम
  • Iconography: Her complexion is dark black and She rides on a donkey. She is depicted with four hands. Her right hands are in Abhayamudra and Varadamudra. She carries a sword and deadly iron hook in her left hands.

Maa Mahagauri

  • Day of worship: 8th day of Navratri
  • Governing planet: Rahu
  • Mantra: Om Devi Mahagauryai Namah ॐ देवी महागौर्यै नम
  • Iconography: She rides the bull, just like Goddess Shailputri. She has four arms, holding a Trishul in one of her right hands and depicts the Abhayamudra with the other right hand. She carries a Damaru in one left hand and depicts the Varadamudra in her other left hand.

Maa Siddhidaatri

  • Day of worship: 9th day of Navratri
  • Governing planet: Ketu
  • Mantra: Om Devi Siddhidatryai Namah ॐ देवी सिद्धिदात्र्यै नम
  • Iconography: Goddess Siddhidatri sits on Kamal and rides on the lion. She is depicted with four hands. She has Gada in the one right hand, Chakra in the other right hand, lotus flower in the left hand and Shankh in the other left hand.
  • Specific power: She bestows all types of siddhi(supernatural powers) to her devotees and hence is worshipped by humans, ghandarvas, asuras and devas alike.