Goddess Skandamata is four-armed and rides a lion-like Goddess Durga. She carries a lotus in one of her hand, a water-bearer or a bell in another, one of her hands is always depicted in a blessing gesture extended towards her devotees and in her fourth hand, she holds Lord Skanda or Murugan who is seated on her lap. She is depicted as a fair complexioned goddess seated on a lotus for which she is also called Goddess Padmasana.

Goddess Skandamata awards salvation, power, prosperity, and treasures to her devotees. She also provides wisdom to her devotees who worship her. The devotee who worships her attains all achievements and success in their life and bears a pure heart. Goddess Skandamata should be worshipped with a pure heart devoid of worldly bondage and utmost devotion, the person who does this is blessed by the Goddess with power and prosperity.

According to legends, the birth of God Skanda can be found in the Skanda Puran. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati’s energies combined into a divine form when they were meditating. Lord Indra came to know about this and instructed Lord Agni to steal this divine energy as it was foretold that the child born out of the energies of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati will kill the demon Tarakasur.

When Goddess Parvati found what Lord Agni had done she cursed him to be all-burner who would not know the difference between right and wrong and will scorch anyone who touches him and will forever be surrounded by black smoke. Shiva’s son Kartikeya takes birth from the six Kritikas (Mother) and not Goddess Parvati. Lord Kartikeya was named thus because he was born and reared by the Kritikas. However, Goddess Parvati took him back from Kritika Lok and accepts him as her son making him a great mother and setting an example in front of the world. Goddess Parvati took Lord Kartikeya back to Mount Kailasha riding a lion in the form of Goddess Skandamata and blesses him to fight against the demon Tarakasur.

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As per Hindu beliefs, Devi Kushmanda has the power to provide energy to the Sun and also rules the celestial body. Devotees offer red flowers to the lioness mounting Devi Kushmanda and chant prayers on the fourth day of Navratri to worship her. According to Hindu mythology, Maa Kushmanda produced the “cosmic egg” with her smile thus bringing light to the universe. As per the beliefs, Kushmanda has the strength to live in the core of the Sun from where it received brightness. She is also believed to give directions to the Sun God, Surya.

Hindu beliefs state that after taking the form of Siddhidatri, Goddess Parvati lived in the centre of the after which she was also known as Kushmanda. God Siddhidatri rides on the lioness and has eight hands. She has Kamandal, Dhanush, Bada and Kamal in the four right hands and Amrit Kalash, Jap Mala, Gada and Chakra in the left hands. Due to her eight hands, she is also known as Ashtabhuja Devi. Her Jap Mala is believed to have tremendous powers. Her one hand is always on abhayamudra with which she blesses her devotees.

The Goddess Kushmanda is known so due to her association with Brahmanda and Kushmanda. Sharad Navratri 2017 will end on September 29 with Dussehra or Vijaya Dashami being celebrated on September 30, 2017. The day is known by various names in different parts of the country. Special prayers are offered in temples and households on this day. Celebrations on this day vary depending on the particular region.

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The Iconography of Devi Chandraghanta is described in religious texts as the deity mounting a 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. Chandraghanta is depicted with ten hands carrying Trishul (trident), Gada, sword and kamandal (water pot) in her four left hands while keeping the fifth left hand in Varadamudra. She carries a lotus flower, arrow, Dhanush and Japa Mala (rosary) in her four right hands and keeps the fifth right hand in Abhaya Mudra.

She looks after the peace and growth of her followers. It is believed that the sound of the moon-bell on her forehead drives all types of evil spirits away from devotees. The followers must offer fresh Jasmine flowers to Maa Chandraghanta while chanting the holy mantra, ॐ देवी चन्द्रघण्टायै नमः॥ Om Devi Chandraghantayai Namah. According to the Hindu legends, devotees praying to Devi Chandraghanta are blessed with grace, bravery and courage. They get free of all of their sins, distress, physical sufferings and mental griefs.

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According to mythological texts, Goddess Brahmacharini is given the name because of harsh penance she did to get Lord Shiva as her husband. Brahmacharini is a combination of two Sanskrit roots – Brahma(shortened from Brahman), means “the one self-existent Spirit, the Absolute Reality, Universal Self, Personal God, the sacred knowledge” and charini is the feminine version of one who is a charya, which means “occupation with, engaging, proceeding, behaviour, conduct, to follow, going after”.

The story of Maa Brahmacharini is widely read and heard during the festival. After taking birth in Himalaya’s family, she realized her love for Lord Shiva. From an early age, she only wished to marry the Supreme God. She followed a path of austerity to fulfill her desire. At first, she lived on by eating Bilva leaves and later completely abstained from food and water to get fully engrossed in worshipping Lord Shiva. Seeing her dedicated Tapasya (penance) for years, a pleased Shiva granted her wish to become her husband.
This form of Navdurga is depicted as a yogini wearing a white sari with an orange border. She is shown walking on bare foots while holding kamandalu (water pot) in her left hand and rosary in her right hand. Worshipping Maa Brahmacharini will take away all sufferings of the devotee. Being the epitome of extreme tolerance and steely determination, she blesses her followers with unshakable grit and motivation. She also governs the Lord Mangal (planet Mars), the provider of all fortunes. The followers must offer fresh jasmine flowers to the Devi and also chant this mantra – ॐ देवी ब्रह्मचारिण्यै नमः॥ Om Devi Brahmacharinyai Namah.

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Devi Shailputri is also known as Sati, Bhavani, Parvati or Hemavati. In her previous birth, as Sati, she was born to the vain and proud king, Daksha Prajapati who never accepted her decision of marrying Lord Shiva. According to Hindu mythology, Daksha organized a grand Yagna but did not invite Shiva. An angry and stubborn, Sati reached the site to question her father who further insulted Lord Shiva. Unable to tolerate the humiliation and insulting remarks against her husband, Sati immolated herself. She was reborn as Parvati in King of Mountains, Himalaya’s house and got married to Lord Shiva, this time with blessings from her father.

The first form amongst Navadurga, Goddess Shailputri is depicted having two hands – carrying Trishul (trident) in the right and a lotus flower in the left hand. She is seen mounting Nandi, a bull. Being the daughter of Himalaya, the entire world is granted strength from the Shailaputri aspect of Purna Prakriti Durga. She governs the moon, the provider of all fortunes. If an individual is troubled due to any bad effect of the moon, they must worship Devi Shailaputri to get rid of it. Her favourite flower is jasmine, which must be offered during puja. Devotees must also offer red coloured cloth piece to this form of Adi Shakti as well wear same coloured outfit while worshipping. They must chant this mantra to please Maa Shailputri – ॐ देवी शैलपुत्र्यै नमः॥ Om Devi Shailaputryai Namah.

Source: India.com

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Navratri 2017 Day 1: Worship Maa Shailputri, the First Form of Goddess Durga

Navratri 2017 Day 2: Worship Maa Brahmacharini, the Second Form of Goddess Durga

Navratri 2017 Day 3: Worship Maa Chandraghanta, the Third Form of Goddess Durga

Navratri 2017 Day 4: Worship Maa Kushmanda, The Fourth Form of Goddess Durga

Navratri 2017 Day 5: Worship Goddess Skandamata, The Fifth Form of Goddess Durga

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