Shakti or the power of Goddess Durga is known as Dasha Mahavidya. From the time span of nine days starting from the new moon of the Hindu month of Ashwin, starts the most auspicious time when people can perform any activity or event and meet with success because of the blessings of the Divine Mother. In these nine days, the nine different Swaroops or forms of the Goddess Durga are worshipped fervently.

· Durga Shailputri: Shailputri means the daughter of the mountain, Himalaya. In this form, we see the Divine Mother holding a trident in Her right hand and a lotus in Her left. She is seen seated on an ox.

In Her previous birth, She was called Sati, Bhavani and was the daughter of King Daksha. After a lot of penance, She married Lord Shiva. But Her father, King Daksha, was not too pleased. He had arranged for a Yagya/Yagna (ritual done around the sacrificial fire) where he invited everyone except his son-in-law, Lord Shiva. Upset and humiliated, Sati decided to attend the event uninvited. There, Her father insulted Lord Shiva and in a fury, She stood on the sacrificial fire and burnt Herself alive.

Lord Shiva, enraged, ordered his followers to demolish the Yagya. Sati was reborn as the daughter of the king of the mountains, Himalaya with the name of Parvati – Hemvati, and got married to Lord Shiva again. This Swaroop of Hers is worshipped on the first day of the Navratri celebrations.

· Brahmacharini: Brahmacharini or Tapasyacharini is the Goddess’s second form. The name holds the meaning of true penance and meditation. Her form depicts Her holding rosary beads in Her right hand, and a Kamandalu, a pot containing holy water, in Her left. In Her previous life, when She was reborn as the daughter of Himalaya, She performed severe penance to win Lord Shiva as Her husband. Narad Muni, the divine sage, advised Her to take up meditation to do so. Her intense devotion, steadfastness and strict meditation for years under extreme conditions, gave Her the name of Brahmacharini.

· Chandraghanta: Goddess Durga’s third form is known as Chandraghanta or Shakti. Chandra means moon and Ghanta is the bell. This name finds its explanation in the half-circular moon on the temple of the Goddess that resembles a bell. She is three eyed with ten hands. Each hand holds a different weapon. She is seated on a lion and is worshipped on the third day of the Navratri celebration. Her hue is golden and Her appearance always spreads calmness and eternal peace all round. She is an unprecedented image of bravery. Worship of this deity helps to eliminate the sorrows, hazards and dangers in one’s life.

· Kushmanda: Kush means happiness, She created the universe with a smile. She is radiant as the sun and rides a lion. She is Ashtabhuja or eight handed. Her seven hands hold the holy pot, Kamandalu, a bow, an arrow, a lotus, a pot containing wine, a disc and a club. The eighth hand holds a string of rosary beads that is believed to provide success and prudence.

· Skanda Mata: Lord Kartik/Kartikeyan/Karthikeyan is also known as Skanda. As Goddess Durga is His mother, She is referred to as Skanda Mata. She is a deity of fire with four arms. She holds Her son Skanda, with Her top right hand, and a lotus in Her lower hand. The top left hand is positioned in a blessing gesture or Abhaya Mudra. She is fair complexioned, seated on a lotus and therefore, is also referred to as Padmasana

· Katyayani: Sage Katyaayan was the son of the great sage Kat. He observed rigorous penance and worship of Bhagavati Paramba with a desire to get Paramba as his daughter. His wish was granted. The daughter born, was named Katyayani. She has four hands. The top right hand is positioned in a gesture of providing courage, while the other hand is positioned in a gesture of rendering a boon. The top left hand holds a sword and the other a lotus. The Goddess rides a lion and is worshipped on the sixth day of the Durga Puja.

· Kalratri: Ratri means night, so, Her complexion is as dark as the night. She has long, unmatted hair, with Her three eyes that are shining and bright. She has four arms and is seen mounted on a shav/shava or a dead body. Her right hand holds a sword, while Her lower hand is in a blessing stance. The left hand holds a burning torch and the lower left hand is in a fearless position. She is known as Shubhamkari or the auspicious one. Her form encourages Her devotees to be fearless.

· Maha Gauri: It is said that the body of Goddess Gauri got dirty due to the dust and earth, while She was observing penance to attain Lord Shiva. So, He cleansed Her with the holy waters of the Ganges. Her body transformed with a bright and a luminous glow like lightning, and so Her eighth form is known as Maha Gauri. Her clothes and ornaments are also white. Her visage is calm and peaceful, and She is three eyed. She rides on a bull. Her four hands denote different meanings, like the left hand is in the fearless gesture and the lower one holds a trident. One right hand has a tambourine while the lower right hand is in blessing style.

· Siddhidatri: The ninth form is Siddhidatri. There are eight Siddhis (Special powers which can only be attained from severe penance and meditation) – Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakamya, Iishitva and Vashitva. Mata Shakti gives all these Siddhies. It is mentioned in the Devi Puran that Lord Shiva got all these Siddhis by worshipping Mata Shakti.

With Her gratitude, Lord Shiva’s body also contains the Goddess and so He has the form and name of Ardha Narishvar. Ardha means half. The Goddess rides on a lion. The Siddhidatri form is worshipped by all Gods, rishis, munis (saints and sages), siddhas, yogis, sadhakas (devotees) for attaining merit and boons through their severe penances.

As human beings, we also have to cultivate our emotions, feelings and aspirations to be high, noble, pure, transparent, peaceful, powerful, balanced, harmonious and selfless.  Before one reaches the stage of purity of thoughts and action, one has to go through a difficult stage of slaying the tamas or the state of ignorance, superstition and delinquency. This state is represented by the asura, who is being slayed by Durga, the spiritual mind, and is attacked by the lion, the purified vital mind.

This state of being, brings peace and stability in humans, as well as in the country. The reverse of this will bring disaster. To conquer tamas and to tame rajas effectively, to reach the Sattva, it is essential to have ‘pure knowledge’ (Saraswati) accompanied with ‘the power of chivalry’ (Kartikaya), ‘riches of the mind’ (Lakshmi) and the ‘ability to remove opposition’ (Ganesha). Thus, Durga symbolises unity necessary for the upliftment of the soul.

Dharmaraj Joshi