Devi Navaratri

Devi Navaratri (देवी नवरात्रि) is one of the most celebrated festivals of Bharat, holding a special social and spiritual place in the eastern and southern belts — West Bengal and the North East, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. In North India, Ram Leelas climax with the burning of Ravana's effigy; in western India, the Garba and Dandiya Raas light up the nights. Beyond temple pujas, temporary and brightly lit mandaps at street corners and socially important points bring villages, towns, and cities alive as annual social gatherings in full glory.

The Nava Ratras and the Sapta Matrikas

The Nava Ratras are the nine nights of worship of Adi Para Shakti and the Sapta Matrikas — the seven mothers, each born of a different cosmic function:

The Nava Durgas

The nine forms of Durga worshipped during Navaratri are:

1. Shaila Putri — daughter of the Himalayas, with the crescent moon, giver of mental peace and equanimity
2. Brahmacharini — holding rosary and kamandalu; Devi of creation, existence, knowledge, and absolute bliss; the yogini and tapaswini in virgin form
3. Chandraghanta — riding a tiger, embodiment of wrath and valour, adorned with the half-moon and a bell (ghanta)
4. Kushmanda — sustainer of the solar system headed by radiant Surya Deva
5. Skanda Mata — seated on a bejewelled golden throne; ever propitious to the virtuous, quick destroyer of evil, the symbol of courage and Dharma Shaasana
6. Katyaayani — holding the Chandrahaasa (long unsheathed sword), riding a sky-bound lion, ever ready to destroy evil
7. Kaala Raatri — the most ferocious form, riding an ass, destroying pitch darkness and deep ignorance with a dazzling sword
8. Devi Maha Gauri — riding a vrishabha (bull) in resplendent clothes, bestowing all-round auspiciousness
9. Siddhi Daatri — ever victorious, paving the ways of success and fulfilment

Key Attributes of Goddess Durga

• Deity: Maha Bhagavati Durga (the supreme Adi Para Shakti)
• Consort: Lord Shiva
• Vahana: Lion (Simha)
• Weapon: Trishula, Chakra, sword, and divine arms of the gods (four or eighteen hands)
• Mantra: "Om Hrim Srim Chandikayai Namah" and "Om Aim Hrim Kleem Chamundayai Vichche"
• Symbol: The Kalasha (sacred pot) and the Akhanda Deepa (unbroken lamp)

Kanya Puja

On a designated raised platform (vedi), about six feet wide and one and a half feet high, the sponsor of the Navaratras — clean and composed after their Sandhyavandanam — seeks the blessings of appointed brahmanas (nine, five, three, or at least one), offering new clothes and dakshina. After Swasti mantras and Veda Parayana, an idol of Durga Devi seated on a lion with four or eighteen hands is installed, along with a pot of sacred river water placed over a Yantra representing the chambers of the Trinity and the planetary heads.

The puja commences with the mantra "Om Hrim Srim Chandikayai Namah", accompanied by aartis, instrumental music, song, and dance in praise of Maha Devi Bhagavati. Bala Kanya Bhog — prasad offered to virgin girls aged two to ten years — is an essential rite. The kanyas are addressed as Kumari, Trimurti, Kalyani, Rohini, Kali, Chandika, Shambhavi, Durga, and Bhadra, and are worshipped with the Kanyaa Aavahana mantra:

Mantraakshara mayeem Lakshmim Maatrunaam Rupa dhaarineem, Nava Durgaatmikaam Saakshaat kanyaanmavaa hyamyaham | Jagatpujye Jagadwandye Sarva Shakti Swarupini, Pujaam grihaana Koumaari Jaganmaatarnamostutey

After the Aavahana, the puja proceeds with Paada Prakshaalana (washing the feet of the Kumari) and offering Vastra, Kumkuma, Gandha, Dhupa, Deepa, and Bhojana. During the puja, recitation of Chandi Patha is required, while others prescribe the Lalita Sahasranama too.

The Upaanga Lalita Vrata is scheduled on Ashwiyuja Shukla Panchami, performed at Aparaahna (the afternoon) — or the previous Aparaahna if the time is not available; some opine the Lalita puja is better performed at night.

Saraswati Puja

The sacred puja of Devi Saraswati is performed on Ashviyuja Shukla Paksha Saptami, significantly in the Moola Nakshatra. The Sthapana (installation) is in Moola, Aavahana and puja in Purvaashaadha, Bali daana in Uttaraashaadha, and Udwaasana in Shravana:

Mooleshu Sthaapanam Devyaah Purvaashaadhaasu pujanam, Uttaraasu Balim tadyacchravaney na visarjayet

The Rudraamala Grandha prescribes a slightly different arrangement, but in any case the Aavahana of Saraswati is done three muhurtas before Suryastama. The Saraswati puja is initiated with a detailed dhyana of the Devi — holding ankusha (goad), aksha-sutra (rosary), pasha (noose), and veena, adorned with a pearl necklace and crescent moon in her hair — followed by the formal offering of aasana, paadya, arghya, panchamritasnana, vastra, gandha, akshata, pushpa, deepa, naivedya, and taamboola. The Vrata concludes with Katha Shravana (hearing of the sacred story).

The Grand Finale: Saptami, Ashtami and Navami

Special worship is arranged on Saptami, Durga Ashtami, and Maha Navami — the seventh, eighth, and ninth days:

• Saptami — the day Maha Bhagavati takes a bodily incarnation (Saakar) to destroy Mahisha Asura, the buffalo demon
• Durga Ashtami — Durga Devi appears fierce and prepares for battle, massacring the demons; it is also believed Bhadra Kali incarnated in a furious form to devastate the Yajna of Daksha Prajapati, surrounded by innumerable Yoginis
• Maha Navami — Maha Bhagavati punishes the evil forces, restores her creation to normalcy, and establishes the balance of power

The following day, Vijaya Dashami, is one of high celebration and gratitude to Maha Bhagavati for her leelas. Whoever observes the Navaratri pujas with devotion is certain to reap the four fruits of Dharma (virtue), Artha (prosperity), Kama (worldly fulfilment), and Moksha (eternal bliss). Even those who committed the heinous Pancha Patakas — killing sages and brahmanas, stealing gold, drinking and gambling, adultery, or associating with sinners — would be spared if the Navaratri worship is performed with faith.

Navaratri Vidhis

The duties prescribed for the Navaratras include:

• Kalasha Sthapana followed by daily trikala puja as per Vamshaachaara
• Saptapadi and other japas
• Akhanda Deepa (unbroken lamp) kept aflame day and night
• Maalaa bandhana as per Kulaachaara
• Upavaasa (fasting) and Nakta-Ekabhukta (single meal at night) niyamas
• Suvaasini and Kanyaa pujas with bhojana
• Chandi Saptashati paatha and Homa karyas

Kalasha Sthapana should not be performed at night. The Kalasha is arranged on a clean vedika with Pancha Pallavas, milk, fruits, taambula (betel leaves and nuts), kumkuma, dhupa, and deepa. On Pratipada morning, after Abhyangana (head bath), the householder makes the Sankalpa, then performs Ganapati Puja for a trouble-free ritual, Punyahavachana, and brahmana varanam. Earth is prayed to and touched with the mantra Mahaadyou, and Ankuraaropana is performed with the appropriate mantras. The Kalasha is filled with sacred water, Pancha Pallavas, ratnas, and hiranya, and puja is offered to Varuna Deva, the Kula Devata, and the Devi:

Jayanti Mangalaa Kashi Bhadra Kaali Kapaalini, Durgaa Kshamaa Shivaa Dhaatri Swaahaa Swadhaa Namostutey | Aagaccha Varadey Devi Daityua darpa nishudini, Pujaam grahaana Sumikhi namastey Shankara priye

Thereafter, along with stotras like Shri Sukta, Purusha Sukta, and the Prathama Ruk, the Devi is worshipped with the Shodasopacharas (sixteen offerings), followed by Bali daana, Kushmaanda daana, and Shanti mantras ending with Om Shaantisshaanthisshaantih. The devotee resolves: "Akhanda deepakam Devyaah preetaye Nava ratrakam, Ujjwalaye dahoraatra mekachitto Dhrudha Vrata" — to keep the Akhanda Deepa firmly aflame throughout the Nava Ratris.

Navaavarana Puja

After ensuring external and internal purity (Bahya Suddhi and Antar Suddhi), the worshipper performs Achamana, Pranayama, and Bhuta Suddhi — meditatively dissolving earth into water, water into fire, fire into air, air into ether, ether into Ahamkara, Ahamkara into Mahat, and Mahat into Prakriti or Maya. Jeeva Suddhi follows, aligning the self with Parama Devi, and the six chakras are installed in the body while chanting "Om Aim Hrim Kleem Chamundayai Vichche".

The puja proceeds facing east, with the Sri Chakra Yantra placed before the devotee. The lowest triangle honours Lord Ganesha; the bottom-left the Sun God, the top-left Lord Vishnu, and the top-right Lord Shiva. The Lokapalas guard the directions: Indra (East), Agni (South-East), Yama (South), Nirruti (South-West), Varuna (West), Vayu (North-West), Soma or the Moon (North), and Ishana (North-East). The Devi is then worshipped with Kara Nyasa and Anga Nyasa mantras.

The Navaavarana Puja offers worship in nine enclosures (avaranas):

The puja concludes with the worship of the Sri Chakra in its entirety. If the detailed worship is not possible, the powerful Panchadasakshari mantra may be recited 108 times daily with concentration on the Sri Yantra: Ka E La Hreem - Ha Sa Ka Ha La Hreem - Sa Ka La Hreem.

Practical / Modern Context

Navaratri offers a nine-day annual reset for the modern mind. The festival is built around disciplined routines — fasting, early rising, daily puja at fixed times, and the unbroken lamp — which cultivate self-discipline and focus. The Garba and Dandiya Raas of western India have become a global celebration of community and joy, while the Kolu display of dolls in South India keeps families connected across generations.

Devotees who cannot perform elaborate rituals can still follow the essence: light a lamp each evening, recite one chapter of the Devi Mahatmyam daily, and offer a simple bhog. The Nava Durgas, each governing a day, provide a meditative focus for inner work — invoking courage, wisdom, prosperity, and protection in turn.

Common Misconceptions

1. Navaratri requires elaborate ritual to be meaningful — Sincere worship with a single lamp, an earthen kalasha, and daily recitation of the Devi Mahatmyam is equally effective. Faith, not grandeur, is the requirement.
2. Only women or families with specific traditions can observe it — The Upaanga Lalita Vrata, Saraswati Puja, and daily pujas are open to all. The scriptures prescribe kanyaa puja and sankalpa for householders, but individual worship is universal.
3. The festival is only about defeating demons — The deeper purpose is inner transformation: the nine nights are a journey through the gunas and the Nava Durgas, culminating in Vijaya Dashami, the victory of dharma within the mind.

Conclusion

Devi Navaratri is the grand festival of the Divine Mother — nine nights of worship, fasting, music, and dance that unite families and communities across India. From the Sapta Matrikas and Nava Durgas to the detailed vidhis of Kalasha Sthapana, Kanya Puja, Saraswati Puja, and Navaavarana worship, the festival is a complete manual of Shaktism in practice. Observed with devotion, it bestows Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha — and celebrates the eternal victory of the Mother over evil.

Related Prabhukedwar Guides

• Complete Guide to Chanting Gayatri Mantra
• Kashi Vishwanath Temple & Sacred Banaras
• Meaning of Om Namah Shivaya Mantra

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