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Showing posts from October, 2018

Navratri Day 9 – Worship Devi Siddhidaatri

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Navratri Day 9 – Worship Devi Siddhidaatri Navratri Day 9: Maa Siddhidaatri Ardhanarishwar We have reached the last day of the auspicious nine-night festival, Navratri, on the final day; the devotees worship the ninth incarnation of Goddess Durga – Devi Siddhidaatri . After worshiping the nine forms of Devi Durga, the tenth day will be celebrated as Vijayadashami or Dussehra .  The name Siddhidaatri means the one who grants or fulfills every kind of wish; Siddhi means supernatural power or meditative ability, and Dhatri means the one blesses or gives that power. She is believed to possess and bestows all type of Siddhis. There are eight  Siddhis , they are Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakamya, Iishitva & Vashitva. She is the grantor of 26 different wishes to her Bhaktas. Lord Shiva attained all the siddhis by worshiping this Goddess. It is believed that one side of Lord Shiva’s body is that of Goddess Siddhidatri. Therefore, he is a

Navratri Day 8 – Worship Devi Mahagauri

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Navratri Day 8 – Worship Devi Mahagauri  Navratri Day 8: Maa Mahagauri  The eighth day of Navratri celebrations is known as  Ashtami  or Durgaashtami . On this day Mata   Mahagauri  is worshipped.  Mahagauri  means extremely white, “ maha ” meaning great and “ gauri ” meaning white or fair. The name derives from the fact that  Parvati  had a fair complexion. Here she rides a bull and has four hands.  Mahagauri  radiates peace and compassion. She is often dressed in a white or green sari. She holds a damru  (drum) and a trident. She has remarkably fair skin and therefore she is compared with the conch, the moon and the white flower of Kunda. Radiant, bright, humane, and compassionate, Maa is usually depicted in a white or green saari and riding a bull. She is also known as Shwetambardhara . Maa Mahagauri purifies the souls of her devotees and removes all their sins. She has a calming effect on the lives of her devotees and she also helps them improve their kn

Navratri Day 7 – Worship Devi Kalaratri

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Navratri Day 7 – Worship Devi Kalaratri Navratri Day 7: Maa Kalaratri As Navratri enters day seven, festivities are in full swing. The seventh day of Navratri is dedicated to the most fearsome of all avatar - Maa Kalaratri   Devi , as dark as a moonless night. She is also recognized by her other name - Shubhankaari . As mentioned in the  Skanda Purana , Lord Shiva  goes to his wife,  Parvati  to help the gods as they are terrorized by the demon-king,  Raktabeej .  Parvati sends Goddess  Kaalratri , a bewitchingly beautiful female to help. Some sources say that  Parvati  removes her golden skin, to reveal her  Kaalratri  black-skinned form and goes forth to help. She is portrayed with 3 eyes which emit rays like lightning and she wears a necklace of thunder lightning. She had 4 hands, carrying a cleaver and a torch on the other while keeping her right hands in Abhaya and Varada mudras. She rides a donkey. Maa Kalratri destroys ignorance and brings light into