Nav Ratri & Nine Durgas

1. Navratri Navratri
and and
the the
Nine Nine
Durga Durga
GoddessesGoddesses

2. Goddess Durga
The embodiment of feminine and
creative energy
Also known as the Divine Mother
She protects mankind from evil
and misery by destroying vices
She is sitting upon a Lion

3. -
FirstAvatar Shailputri
1
st
night devoted to
Maa Shailputri
Shail means Mountains
She carries a Trident and a Lotus
She is sitting upon a bull

4. -
SecondAvatar
Bhramcharni
2
nd
night devoted to
Maa
BhraMcharni
She personifies Love and Loyalty
She carries a Kumbha and
a Rosary
Rudraksha is her most adorned
ornament

5. Third Avatar -
Chandraghanta
3
rd
night devoted to
Maa
chandraghan
ta
She personifies Supreme Bliss
and Knowledge
She is prayed to for protection
from harm
She has 10 hands, from which 8
have weapons
She is riding on a Tiger

6. Fourth Avatar -
Kushmanda
4
th
night devoted to
Maa
KuShManda
She is prayed to for curing
ailments and sorrows
She has 8 hands, holding
weapons and a mala
She is riding on a Tiger

7. Fifth Avatar - Skandmata
5
th
night devoted to
Maa
SKandMata
She is prayed to for fulfilling ones
desires
She has 4 hands, holding two
lotuses and her son
She is riding on a Lion

8. Sixth Avatar - Kaatyayani
6
th
night devoted to
Maa
Kaatyayani
She is prayed to for granting the
wishes of her devotees
She has 4 hands, holding a lotus
and a sword
She is riding on a Lion

9. Seventh Avatar -
Kaalratri
7
th
night devoted to
Maa Kaalratri
She is prayed to for removing
sins and clearing obstacles
She has 4 hands, holding a
cleaver and a torch
She is riding on a Donkey

10. Eighth Avatar -
Mahagauri
8
th
night devoted to
Maa
Mahagauri
She is prayed to for purification
and the removal of sins
She has 4 hands, holding a trident
and drum
She is riding on a Bull

11. Ninth Avatar -
Siddhiratri
9
th
night devoted to
Maa Siddhiratri
She is prayed to for acquiring
great powers (Siddhis)
She has 4 hands, holding a chakra,
mace, lotus flower and conch
She is riding on a Lotus

13. NAV-RATRI
NAV-RATRI (nine-nights),
is for the nine days when
we thank the female
principle of nature and the
goddesses connected to
them.

The nine nights are
dedicated to the three
main goddesses of
Hinduism - Parvati,
Lakshmi and Sarasvati.

14. NAV-RATRI
The first three nights are dedicated to the goddess
of action and energy. Her different manifestations:
Kumari, Parvati and Kali are worshipped during
these days. They represent the three natures/
classes of womanhood - the virgin young girl,
auspicious wife/ mother and the angry old hag! This
is not a criticism of women, just a classification. It
helps us recognize the different aspects of our own
nature.

15. Kumari, the virgin young
girl

16. Parvati: Auspicious
wife/mother

17. Kaali, the angry old woman
This is not a criticism of
women.
The classification helps
us recognize different
aspects of our own
nature

18. Maa Lakshmi
Lakshmi is worshipped for
the next three days in her
various aspects as the
goddesses of peace,
plenty and bliss.
Fulfillment is more
important than wealth
itself. As the goddess of
wealth, she governs not
just the bank balance, but
also such basic things as
family, friends, food etc.

19. Maa Saraswati
Saraswati is the goddess of
knowledge. Not just the
knowledge of how to earn a
living, but how to "live" as well.
She is the goddess of the
spiritual knowledge and the
knowledge that frees us from
this bind of Samsara. She is
worshipped during the final
three days of the Navratri.

20. NAV-RATRI
The nine nights are there for us to revel in the
knowledge of the goddesses that live within us,
imbibing us with their spiritual energy and power.
Used for the good, they help liberate us from the mire
of this world (help us attain NIRVANA). Use these
energies unwisely, and they will snare us in the maya
of this world. We should meditate these aspects of the
nine nights, that was the reason they originally came
into being.

21. This festival is devoted to the
Mother Goddess known with
different names as Durga, Kali,
Bhavani, Amba, and Chandika,
has been celebrated in it's most
unique and different ways in
various parts of India and abroad
with devotional songs, bhajans
and cultural programs with the
world renowned Garba or Dandiya
Raas in the state of Gujarat.
Maa
Durga

22. This festival is
celebrated in most
unique and different
ways in different parts
of India and abroad
with devotional songs,
bhajans and cultural
programs

23. with the world
renowned Garba or
Dandiya Raas in the
state of Gujarat.

24. [email protected]