Navaratri means Nine Nights, and it is easily one of the biggest festivals celebrated across India.
Navratri occurs multiple times a year. There's Magha Navratri, Chaitra Navratri, Ashadha Navratri,and Sharad Navratri. Of these the Sharad Navratri is the most popular and significant Navratri. It is also called the Maha Navratri.
It is believed that Goddess Durga descends on the earth on the first day of Navratri and stays with her devotees for nine days. It also signifies her slaying of powerful demons in a battle that is believed to have continued for ten days and on each day Goddess Durga took on different faces to kill the Asuras or Demons. The tenth day is celebrated as Vijaydashami, also the day on which Sri Ram won the battle against Lanka king Ravan.
Each night of Navratri is in honor of a different form of the goddess. Below is the chant associated with each of the Goddesses.
Prathama Tithi
Goddess Shailaputri - Shiva's beloved SHakti - Parvati
She is the absolute form of Mother Nature, the initiator, triggers the beginning and power to create.
Focus on the Muladhara Chakra and Meditate on new beginings, initiations, maintaining stability and creation
Linked astrologically to Moon.
Chant this mantra to worship Maa Shailaputri…
वंदे वाद्द्रिछतलाभाय चंद्रार्धकृतशेखराम | वृषारूढां शूलधरां शैलपुत्री यशस्विनीम् ||
Vandē vāddrichatalābhāya candrārdhakr̥taśēkharāma | vr̥ṣārūḍhāṁ śūladharāṁ śailaputrī yaśasvinīm ||
Dwitiya Tithi
Goddess Brahmacharini - The Renouncer
After creation you need self control and determination to stay on path of growth - whether its physical or spiritual.
Focus on the Swadisthana Chakra and Meditate on becoming more determined and persevering in the face of obstacles too.
Linked astrologically to Mars
Chant this mantra to seek Maa’s divine blessings…
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ ब्रह्मचारिणी रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नम:।। दधाना कर पद्माभ्याम अक्षमाला कमण्डलू। देवी प्रसीदतु मई ब्रह्मचारिण्यनुत्तमा।।
Yā dēvī sarvabhūtēṣu mām̐ brahmacāriṇī rūpēṇa sansthitā | Namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namō nama: || Dadhānā kara padmābhyāma akṣamālā kamaṇḍalū | Dēvī prasīdatu ma’ī brahmacāriṇyanuttamā ||
Tritiya Tithi
Goddess Chandraghanta - Remover of Negativity
On our path to success we are often faced with our deepest fears and negative self beliefs.
Focus on the Manipuraka Chakra and Meditate on removing all the negative beliefs that bind you from achieving your destiny.
Linked astrologically to Venus
Chant this mantra to worship Maa Chandraghanta…
पिण्डज प्रवरारुढ़ा चण्डकोपास्त्र कैर्युता | प्रसादं तनुते मह्यं चंद्र घंष्टेति विश्रुता ||
Piṇḍaja pravarāruṛhā caṇḍakōpāstra kairyutā | prasādaṁ tanutē mahyaṁ candra ghanṣṭēti viśrutā ||
Chaturthi Tithi
Goddess Kushmanda - Radiant as Sun
Kushmanda means the Cosmic Egg..the one that sits in the center of the sun and radiates life giving light.
Focus on the Anahata Chakra and Meditate on giving happiness and love and visualize receiving good health and wealth.
Linked astrologically to Sun
Chant the following mantra to worship Maa Kushmanda…
सुरासम्पूर्णकलशं रुधिराप्लुतमेव च । दधाना हस्तपद्माभ्यां कूष्माण्डा शुभदास्तु मे ॥
Surāsampūrṇakalaśaṁ rudhirāplutamēva cha | Dadhānā hastapadmābhyāṁ kūṣmāṇḍā śubhadāstu mē ||
Panchami Tithi
Goddess Skandamata - Mother of Kartikeya
Skandamata provides the courage to take decisive action. It leads to empowerment and prosperity.
Focus on the Vishuddhi Chakra and Meditate on receiving power and visualize taking action towards your goals.
Linked astrologically to Saturn
Chant this mantra to worship Goddess Skandamata…
सिंघासनगता नित्यम पद्माश्रितकरद्वया | शुभदास्तु सदा देवी स्कन्द माता यशश्विनी ||
Siṅghāsanagatā nityama padmāśritakaradvayā | śubhadāstu sadā dēvī skanda mātā yaśaśvinī ||
Shashthi Tithi
Goddess Katyayani - Goddess who annihilated the demon Mahishasura
Katyayani had conquered Mahishasura and returned balance and harmony to the universe
Focus on The Agnya or THird Eye Chakra and Meditate on balancing relationship dynamics. Open your heart and remove obstacles that prevent you from a fulfilling partnership
Linked astrologically to Jupiter
Chant this mantra to worship Goddess Katyayani…
कात्यायनि महामाये महायोगिन्यधीश्वरि । नन्द गोपसुतं देविपतिं मे कुरु ते नमः ॥
Kātyāyani mahāmāyē mahāyōgin’yadhīśvari | Nanda gōpasutaṁ dēvipatiṁ mē kuru tē namaḥ ||
Saptami Tithi
Goddess Kalaratri - Rescuer of those lost in darkness
Kala means time it denotes the inevitable passing of time and the impermananent nature of life.
Focus on Sahasraara or Crown Chakra and Meditate on driving away all the demons that cause fear, ignorance, pain and suffering and invite understanding
Linked astrologically to Mercury
Chant this mantra to worship Maa Kaalratri…
वाम पादोल्ल सल्लोहलता कण्टक भूषणा | वर्धन मूर्ध ध्वजा कृष्णा कालरात्रि भर्यङ्करी ||
Vāma pādōlla sallōhalatā kaṇṭaka bhūṣaṇā |vardhana mūrdha dhvajā kr̥ṣṇā kālarātri bharyaṅkarī ||
Ashtami Tithi
Goddess Mahagauri - The Bright one
She represents purity and provides motherly influence and fulfils the wishes of her children
Meditate on stability to family and community and being able spread light to others
Linked astrologically to Rahu or North Node of Moon
Chant this mantra to worship Maa Mahagauri…
श्वेते वृषे समारूढा श्वेताम्बरधरा शुचिः | महागौरी शुभं दद्यान्त्र महादेव प्रमोददा ||
Śvētē vr̥ṣē samārūḍhā śvētāmbaradharā śuciḥ | mahāgaurī śubhaṁ dadyāntra mahādēva pramōdadā ||
Navami Tithi
Goddess Siddhidatri - giver of siddhis or special powers
Siddhis are powers that remove the veil of Maya or illusion and free us from its clutches
Goddes Siddhidatri mystically heals us by revealing our inner hidden powers to us.
Meditate on Opening doors of consciousness, enhancing intuition and having spiritual insight
Linked astrologically to Ketu or South Node of Moon
Chant this mantra to worship Maa Siddhidatri
सिद्धगधर्व यक्षाद्यैरसुरैरमरैरपि। सेव्यमाना सदा भूयात सिद्धिदा सिद्धिदायिनी।।
Sid’dhagadharva yakṣādyairasurairamarairapi | Sēvyamānā sadā bhūyāta sid’dhidā sid’dhidāyinī ||