THE NINE BENEVOLENT FORMS OF MA DURGA

     The wonderful facts about number nine.   

      Number nine is a very auspicious number in Hindu as well as in most religions. Its influence is evident in astrology and Hindu philosophy. There are nine universal substance or elements: Earth, Water, Air. Fire, Ether, Time, Space, Soul and Mind. According to Yoga, a human body has nine doors- two eyes, two ears, the mouth, two nostrils and the openings for procreation and defection.

      In Indian aesthetics there are nine kind of Rasa. In Christianity no.9 is the Angles Number that is a sign from Angles that your life path and soul mission involve being service to humanity through use of your natural skill and talents. It suggests that you are a god- send worker. It denotes Universal love, eternity, faith, universal spiritual laws, karma, and spiritual enlightenment. It also teaches  empathy, compassion obligation, mysticism, optimism and divine wisdom. 
     Angel Number 9 is indicating that it is time to end a phase, situation or relationship that is no longer serving you in a positive way. Rest assured that ‘new’will enter your life that will enhance and benefit your life and lifestyle in many ways. Prepare yourself today as there is much work for you to do.

     Interestingly Goddess Durga incarnated into nine different forms to reinstate faith and uplift seekers. Navratana means nine jewels just like the nine beautiful merciful benevolent forms of goddess Durga. And Navaratri is a nine day festival dedicated to Goddess Durga, who appeared in different forms, which I have already mentioned in power of prayer-1, 2.

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Nine different forms of Goddess Durga.

   
     Power of prayer- 1, 

      Power of prayer in part-2.

      Shailputri: As daughter of the mighty Himalaya, represents the first of nine Durgas (incarnation of cosmic energy). She is beautiful depicted as holding trident and a lotus in each hand and shown mounted on a bull.(signifies rage, again a form of energy.)

      Brahmacharini: She is shown as holding a water pot (Kumbha) in one hand and a rosary in the other. She is considered as a holder of knowledge and wisdom. Rudrakhsa (rosary beads) form her favorite ornamentation.

     Chandraghanta: As Chadraghanta, the goddess is depicted as having golden skin and with a moon-crescent near her forehead. She is shown as having three eyes and ten hands, eight of which carry weapons and two of which form gestures of giving boons and stopping harms. She is shown as sitting on a tiger. She is usually associated with the giver of knowledge, bliss and serenity.

     Kushmanda: The fourth Durga is known as Kushmanda. She is depicted as emanating a cosmic aura and is depicted as having eight hands, seven of which carry weapons while the eighth carries a rosary.

     Skanda Mata: Skanda Mata literally means the mother of Skanda. Skanda was the son of Lord Shiva and Parvati and was the leader of the army of gods.The goddess is shown as having four hands, two of which carry lotuses while two are in defending and granting gestures. She is shown sitting on a lion with her son Skanda in her lap.

    Katyayani: Katyaynai is so named because of her stay at the hermitage of sage Katyayan for the purpose of penance. She is sometimes also said to be the daughter of sage Katyayan. She also is shown astride a lion and has three eyes and four arms. In one hand she holds a lotus and in another a weapon. The third and fourth hands show defending and granting gestures.

     Kaalratri: The seventh Durga, Kaalratri, is depicted as having black skin with bountiful hair, four arms and astride a donkey. In one hand she holds a cleaver and in another a burning torch. With the other two hands she forms gestures of granting and defending. She represents the enemy of darkness and ignorance.

    Maha Gauri: Maha Gauri is depicted as the fairest of the nine Durgas and is often dressed in white or green. She emanates peace and compassion and is shown with three eyes and as riding a bull. She also has four arms, one of which carries a tambourine and another a trident. The other two form defending and granting gestures. It is said that when Parvati, consort of Lord Shiva, became dirty while observing penance, Lord Shiva bathed her with the holy waters of river Ganga. Parvati's body turned lightning bright and thus she came to be known as Maha Gauri (Gauri means fair).

    Siddhidatri: Siddhidatri means the giver of siddhis (magical or spiritual powers for the control of self, others and the forces of nature). It is said in Devipuran that the Supreme God, Lord Shiva received all of these powers by propitiating the Maha Shakti. The Goddess is sometimes shown atop a lion and sometimes atop a lotus. She is shown as having four arms, which hold a club, a conch shell and a lotus. The fourth hand forms a gesture of granting. Siddhidatri is considered to be the most powerful of all the nine forms of Durga.

Wishing you Happy Navaratri, 

pic. and inputs from web.