Navadurga

Nine manifestations of Hindu goddess Durga

Navadurga (Sanskrit: नवदुर्गा, IAST: Navadurgā), also spelled Navdurga and Navadurgas, are nine manifestations and forms of Durga in Hinduism,^[1][2] especially worshipped during Navaratri and Durga Puja.^[3] They are often considered collectively as a single deity, mainly among the followers of Shaktism and Shaivism sect of Hinduism.^[4][4]

According to Hindu mythology, the nine forms are considered the nine stages of Durga during the nine-day long duration of the war with demon-king Mahishasura, where the tenth day is celebrated as the Vijayadashami (lit. 'victory day') among the Hindus and is considered as one of the most important festivals.^[5]

Background

During the festival of Navaratri, nine unmarried virgin girls up to the age of nine years are worshipped and fed as they are considered to be the incarnations of these nine goddesses.^[6] Then, the Nabapatrika ritual during Durga Puja involves tying the branches of eight plants with their leaves with a banana plant (naba meaning 'nine', and patrika meaning 'leaves').^[7]

The nine forms

The main nine forms of Durga worshipped in Hinduism:

Agni Purana

The Agni Purana lists the Navadurgas as:^[18]

1. Rudrachanda
2. Prachanda
3. Chandogra
4. Chandanayika
5. Chanda
6. Chandavati
7. Chandarupa
8. Atichandika
9. Ugrachanda

See also

• Hinduism portal

• Mahavidya
• Navaratri

References

Notes

1. Parvati has been described in the nine stage in nine different depiction, where she become the Maha Shakti in last stage of Siddhidhatri, after gaining Siddhis.^[8]

Citations

1. "The Nine Forms of Goddess Mahadevi Durga". Times of India. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
2. J. Gordon Melton; Baumann, Martin (2010). Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, 2nd Edition. ABC-CLIO. pp. 2600–2602. ISBN 978-1-59884-204-3.
3. Navaratri, TOI.
4. Amazzone 2010, p. 184.
5. Ramachandran 2020, pp. 21–23.
6. Amazzone 2010, p. 187.
7. Ostor 2004, p. 68.
8. Ramachandran 2020, p. 67.
9. Sharma 2021, p. 73.
10. Ramachandran 2020, p. 23.
11. Ramachandran 2020, pp. 29–30.
12. Mittal 2006, p. 63.
13. Ostor 2004, p. 34.
14. Ramachandran 2020, pp. 48–51.
15. Mishra 1989, p. 36.
16. Sivkishen 2016, p. 176. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSivkishen2016 (help)
17. Ramachandran 2020, pp. 68, 70.
18. Gangadharan, N (1954). The Agni Purana. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. p. 132. ISBN 9788120803596.

Sources

• "Navratri 2021: What are the nine forms of Maa Durga and the special prasad offered to them". The Times of India. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
• Ramachandran, Nalini (2020). Nava Durga: The Nine Forms of the Goddess. Penguin Books. ISBN 978-93-5305-981-1.
• Amazzone, Laura (2010). Goddess Durga and Sacred Female Power. University Press of America. ISBN 978-0-7618-5313-8.
• Ostor, Akos (2004). The Play of the Gods: Locality, Ideology, Structure, and Time in the Festivals of a Bengali Town. Orient Blackswan. ISBN 978-81-8028-013-9.
• Mishra, P. K. (1989). Culture, Tribal History, and Freedom Movement: Dr. N.K. Sahu Commemoration Volume. Agam Kala Prakashan.
• Pintchman, Tracy (2001). Seeking Mahādevī: Constructing the Identities of the Hindu Great Goddess. State University of New York Press. ISBN 9780791490495.
• Sharma, Vidya Sagar (2021). Mata Vaishno Devi (Prabhat Prakashan) (in Hindi). Prabhat Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-7315-903-9.
• Mittal, J. P. (2006). History Of Ancient India (a New Version) : From 7300 Bb To 4250 Bc. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. ISBN 978-81-269-0615-4.
• Sivkishen (2015). Kingdom of Shiva. Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd. ISBN 978-81-288-3028-0.