Behind 9 nights of revelry lies stories of worship

The nine nights of dance and revelry, known as garba, are what  many know of Navratri. But it has a wider meaning and vast history behind its celebration.  

Beginning from the new moon day in Ashwin month, the nine-day festival marks the different roop (avatars) adopted by Goddess Jagadamba to kill rakshas (demon) Chandmund. It is believed that during the nine-day fight with the demon, the Goddess adopted myriad avatars and on the tenth day, she killed him.

This day is celebrated as ‘Vijayadashami’ (victory on 10th day).
Deepak Shukla, a noted professor at Sola Bhagwad Vidyapeeth, spoke to DNA about the nine forms (roop) and swaroops of the goddess.

He said, “The goddess form on first day is of Shailputri where she is seated on an ox as her vahana (vehicle). The second form of goddess is called Brahmacharini. The other forms of the goddess worshipped during the nine days are Chandraghanta, Kusumanda, Shandmata, Katyayini, Kaalratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri.”

Chandraghanta form of goddess resembles goddess seated on a lion and behind her is the half moon (Chandra) shaped like a bell (ghanta). The seventh form of goddess is Kalratri, where the goddess has a dark complexion like night (ratri) and has a dead body as her vehicle.

The devotees during the nine days observe fast and perform puja daily of the different forms of goddess. During the first three days, devotees worship the form of Mahakali. The next three days are of Mahalaxmi puja wherein devotees worship and perform pooja of Mahalaxmi. On the last three days, devotees worship Saraswati form.

Stating more about the Goddess of the three forms, Shukla said that Mahakali form represents ‘Tamasik’ (anger) nature. “Similarly, Mahalaxmi form represents the ‘Rajasvi’ nature of the goddess which means to give materialistic happiness and peace to her devotees. The third and the last form of the goddess is Saraswati which represents ‘Satvik Sukh’ meaning ‘Enlightenment and knowledge’.” He further said that all forms together form Goddess Jagadamba which represents Saumya (kind-hearted) nature of the goddess.