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Navadurga Stotram is Glorification
The Navadurga Stotram is dedicated to each form of Durga Devi. It is exceptionally powerful when recited during Navaratri and Fridays. This Stotram sings the glories of devi sequentially. Each form represents a distinct quality and is hence characterised by a different name and form. The first goddess invoked is Devi Shailaputri.
According to the first verse
Devi Shailaputri
Goddess Shailputri fulfills all wishes, adorns a crescent moon on her head, rides on a bull, and carries a trishul just like Lord Shiva. To fully comprehend the benefits of Navadurga Stotram, it is important to know the significance of each goddess. Shaila means mountain, while Putri means daughter.
Hence Shailaputri is the daughter of the mountain king Himavan. She is the goddess of the Mooladhara Chakra. Since she is the rebirth of Devi Sati, marking a fresh beginning, devotees worship this form on the first day of Navratri. At Devi’s birth, the flowers bloomed untimely, birds chirped, crops swayed, cool breeze blew, indicating the dawn of spring.
Hence, the household which worships devi Shailaputri and sings the first verse of the Stotram with devotion, never faces poverty or dearth of natural resources. Devi fills the house with prosperity and auspiciousness. The goddess wears a white saree with a tint of pink.
It is mandatory to invoke her blessings before we move on to the other forms of devi.
Devi Brahmacharini
The goddess of day 2 is Devi Brahmacharini. She represents austerity and virginity. Her blessings are mandatory for renunciation to dawn. This form of the goddess attracted Lord Shiva by her penance. You may also like our video titled Benefits of Om Namah Shivaya Chanting | Om Namah Shivaya Mantra Benefits
Those who take pains for god-realization hold a special place in the lord’s heart. Devi Brahmacharini is a live example.
This goddess holds a rosary and Kamandalu in her hands. She is also known as Aparna or the goddess who even sacrificed eating leaves. Singing the second verse pleases Devi Brahmacharini and awards the boon of dispassion which is a rare benediction.
Devi Chandra Ghanta
The third goddess is Chandraghanta devi. She is Vivahita or married. A half-moon adorns her forehead resembling the shape of a bell or Ghanta. Hence, she is known as Chandraghanta. The sound of her bell drives away negative and evil forces. The presence of the moon grants peace of mind. She represents the Manipuraka chakra located at the navel.
Seated on a tiger, devi is clad in red. Red is used as an alert sign to frighten the Asuras. The Sindoori red colour of her dress also represents a happy married life. Her ten arms hold various weapons to protect her devotees. It gives them the courage to face difficult life situations and emerge victorious. Mahishasura used brute power to conquer the devas. However, Chandraghanta devi used intelligence as well, represented by the moon.
Such victory is permanent and long-lasting. Power without intelligence, is like an uncontrolled horse, directionless and susceptible to defeat.
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Devi Kushmanda
The goddess of day 4 is Kushmanda. Ku means little, Ushma means brilliance and Anda means egg shaped. Hence, she is the source of all light. In the path of Kundalini yoga, she represents the Anahata Chakra. According to the Navadurga Stotram, she holds two pitchers of nectar and blood.
This eight-handed goddess gives the sun the power to illuminate the world and she resides in the Surya Mandal.
By singing the fourth verse of the Navadurga Stotram, devi blesses one with a brilliant personality and the ability to influence and lead others. Brilliant ideas automatically trigger. She dispels all ignorance from one’s life by making one more Satvik.
Devi Skanda Mata
The fifth verse of the Navadurga Stotram is dedicated to Skandamata
Skanda is another name for Karthikeya while Mata means Mother. Hence Skandamata is the motherly figure holding the six-headed Murugan on her lap. She is an ocean of parental love and is very benign to her devotees. I have already made a detailed video on Murugan Gayatri mantra. Watch our video titled Who is Lord Karthikeya? | Benefits of Chanting Murugan Gayatri Mantra to know. Like a child, one may present one’s wish before her, if she finds the wish beneficial for the devotee, she definitely fulfills it.
According to the Navadurga Stotram Devi Skandamata rides a Lion, and holds lotuses with her pair of hands.
Devi Katyayani
The sixth goddess concerned is Ma Katyayani. Since she was born to Sage Katyayan, she is called Katyayani. The Gopis of Vrindavan worshiped this form of Durga and attained Lord Krishna as their beloved. It is a custom for unmarried girls to worship Katyayani devi and acquire a compatible husband.
Couples facing marital issues see improvement in their relationship. Devi nourishes the family with love and understanding. According to the Navadurga Stotram, she holds a shining Chandrahasa sword in her hands, and her vehicle is a lion.
Devi Kalarathri
We worship Kalarathri Devi on the seventh day of Navaratri. ’Kala’ means death while ‘Ratri’ means night. Hence Kalarati is the deadly night or doomsday for sinners.
The Navadurga Stotram describes her as wearing hibiscus flowers around her ears, and sitting on a donkey. She is sparsely covered and her left leg is adorned with thorny metallic coils. Her lips are long and body is smeared with oil. Ma Kalarathri protects a since devotee from black magic and evil forces who regularly chants the seventh verse of the Navadurga Stotram.
Devi Gauri
Maha Gauri is the eighth Navaratri Goddess.
Maha Gauri and Shailaputri devi are identical in their appearance. Both commonly hold a trident and sit on a bull. The difference is that Shailaputri devi holds a lotus, while Maha Gauri holds a Damaru.
Shailaputri devi is two handed while Maha Gauri has four hands. As her name suggests, Maha Gauri is extremely fair and beautiful. Chanting the eighth verse of the Navadurga Stotram pleases the goddess. She has the power to grant liberation and eliminate all darkness from one’s life.
Devi Siddhidatri
Finally, Siddhidatri or the granter of Siddhis is the ninth revered form of Durga devi. She sits peacefully on a lotus.
Manavas, Devas, Rishis and Siddhas pay their respect to her from all sides. She grants Ashtasiddhis or supernatural powers to a sadhaka who devotedly chants the eighth verse of the Navadurga Stotram. To know about siddhis in detail watch our video titled How to attain Siddhi on Mantras? | Power of Mantra with Example.
Thus the Navadurga Stotram is all-auspicious and acquires the grace of the Navadurga who shall assist the chanter in both his material and spiritual journey.
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