Nav Durga

The significance of the nine forms of Durga by Bhanumathi Narasimhan

Nav Durga

Bhanumathi Narasimhan
First Edition October 2015
Design: Guru Anvekar
Illustrations: Insine Cartoonist
Layout: Sarina Mahboobani
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Having faith in the

Divine Mother is the source of
the greatest strength.

Bhanumathi Narasimhan
is the sister of His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, humanitarian leader
and ambassador of peace, and shares his vision for a stress-free
violence-free world. Bhanumathi is the Director of Women Welfare
and Child Care Programs of the The Art of Living, a not-for-profit,
educational and humanitarian NGO engaged in bringing stress relief
and service initiatives in 154 countries. She has deep roots in
spirituality and a broad vision for service to humanity.

Prologue
The energy which is the womb of the entire creation, which has given birth to all
that is there, is called Devi or Mother Divine. Everything in this creation - your body,
mind, intellect, ego, the physical and subtle energies are all the manifestations of
the one energy into many different forms. And this one energy is called Devi. The
Mother Divine is also called Shakti which literally means energy.

Durga, Lakshmi & Saraswati

In the Hindu tradition, all the different attributes of the divine have been given a
form. Since we identify so much with form, the ancient Rishis devised a form for
each attribute or quality of divinity. It is much easier to identify and pray to a form
than to pray to an unseen energy. And this is the reason why Hinduism has
multiple names and forms of one divinity.
Lets take the example of a rainbow to explain this further. A rainbow is one entity
but it has seven colors and each color has a different name. In the same way,
there is one divinity and each quality of the divinity has a different name. The
quality of the divine that is responsible for the physical manifestation of the
creation is called Devi or the Mother Divine.
This one energy is then further classified into three different energies, which are:

Durga:
The energy which transforms negativity into positivity. We all have Durga Shakti in
us. If we see two people fighting, it is very natural to try to get them to stop fighting.
This is Durga Shakti, which is the natural tendency of each person to turn negative
situations, thoughts and emotions into positive ones.

Lakshmi:
The energy that brings abundance and prosperity. Abundance and prosperity is
not only in terms of monetary wealth but also the wealth of courage, skills, talents,
etc. The source of all kinds of wealth is from the energy called Devi Lakshmi and
we all have wealth in some form or another.

Saraswati:
The energy that bring knowingness and knowledge. The energy which brings
forth knowingness is called Devi Saraswati. Every human being has a desire to
know. When children are growing up, they question everything. This quest for
knowingness and all that which is there to be known stems from Devi Saraswati.

The Nav Durga

The Durga form of the Mother Divine has been further classified into nine different
attributes, and each attribute has a form associated with it. It is these nine forms of
Devi Durga that are worshipped during the festival of Navratri to ward off all
negativity from our lives. This book has been put together to delve deeper into the
symbolism behind each one of the nine forms of Nav Durga and give the reader
a better understanding of the ancient festival in modern times.
This prologue has been inspired from and based on the talks by
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Shailaputri
The first among the Navdurga is Shailaputri. Shaila means stone, and putri
means daughter. When the mind is wavering, chanting the name of this Devi
helps the mind to be centered and committed. It gives us strength, courage and
composure.

Brahmacharini
Brahmacharya means celibacy, and celibacy brings a lot of strength.
Brahmacharya also has a higher meaning than just celibacy. Brahma means
infinity and charya means moving. Put together, it means moving in infinity, which
signifies knowing your vast nature. You are not just the body, you are like a glow
of light. When this truth comes to your awareness, then you are in Brahmacharya.
When we pray to this form of Mother Divine, we invoke the quality Brahmacharya.
When our consciousness starts moving in the infinity, we become vast and
powerful with a lot of vigor, valor and strength.

Chandraghanta
On the third day of Navratri, the Divine Mother is worshipped in the form of
Chandraghanta. This form of Devi is depicted as wearing a bell-like ornament in
the shape of the moon.
The moon is connected with the mind, and the Ghanta (or the bell) is an
instrument connected with alertness. The ringing of the bell brings the mind to the
present moment. Just as the moon waxes and wanes, the mind also wavers.
Chanting the name of this Devi brings the mind in our control with
increased alertness.
When the qualities of alertness and steadfastness arises, then the mind is like an
adornment. Such a mind adds beauty to ones nature.

Kushmanda
Kushmanda means pumpkin. A pumpkin has many seeds and each seed
contains the potential for many more pumpkins. This is representative of the
creative power and its eternal nature. The whole creation is like a pumpkin.
As Kushmanda, the Devi contains the entire creation within her.
She is the Devi who can give you the highest prana (creative energy).

Skandamata
Skandamata is the mother of Skanda or Subramanya (Lord Karthikeya). She is
depicted as riding a lion with the baby Skanda on her lap. This signifies courage
and compassion. The lion signifies courage, while Mother Divine is the
embodiment of compassion.
Skanda is the skillful one. Often when one is very skillful, they tend to be arrogant.
Most of the talented people have arrogance. But here the skill is combined with a
humility that nurtures innocence.
When we pray to this form of Mother Divine, we are bestowed with the qualities of
skill along with innocence and courage along with compassion.

Kathyayini
Kathyayini represents the nurturing aspect of the Divine Mother. She embodies
the values of sharing and caring. Young girls pray to her for a good husband. She
signifies the finer qualities of being in a relationship. Marriage comes with a sense
of security, commitment, togetherness, team spirit and belongingness. But the
ultimate relationship is the union with oneself (soul).

Kaalaratri
Kaala is time. Time consumes everything in creation and time is a witness to
everything as well. Ratri means deep rest, absolute rest at the level of the body,
mind and soul. Without rest, how can you be bright? Kaalaratri represents the
deepest rest so that you can attain dynamism.

Maha Gauri
Gaura varna means white color. White represents purity, and purity comes out of
innocence. Maha Gauri is the combination of brilliance and innocence.
Gau also means knowledge. When you pray to Maha Gauri, she gives you the
wisdom that is the elixir of life.

Siddhidhatri
Siddhidhatri is the one who gives you siddhis (perfection). When you want
something, and before the want arises, if it is available to you, that is called Siddhi.
As a sadhak or seeker, you will get many siddhis on the path. However, if you
misuse or run behind them, they will be lost.
Siddhidhatri fulfills all desires and bestows powers naturally. Perfection and
enlightenment are the gifts of Siddhidhatri which are attained in the
presence of a Master.

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