Navadurga means nine forms of Maa Durga — Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri. During nine days of Navratri these forms are worshipped sequentially. Each form has its own mantra, color, bhog and shakti.
Chaitra Navratri 2026: 19 March (Thursday) to 27 March (Friday) — Ramnavami 27 March. Sharadiya Navratri 2026: 11 October (Sunday) to 19 October (Monday) — Vijayadashami (Dussehra) 20 October. Plus two Gupt Navratris — Magh (January) and Ashadh (July) — celebrated by sadhakas for tantra-sadhana. This article covers detailed description of nine devis, mantras, bhog and sadhana-vidhi.
✦ Day 1: Maa Shailaputri
Shailaputri due to being daughter of Himalaya (parvataraja). In previous birth was Sati (Daksha's daughter), this birth daughter of Himalaya. Trishul in right hand, lotus in left. Vehicle — Vrishabh (Nandi). Devi of Muladhara chakra.
Mantra: "Om Devi Shailaputryai Namah". Color: Red (symbol of shakti, energy). Bhog: Desi ghee or ghee-made sweet. Result: Disease-removal, long life. Moon free from Shailaputri's doshas.
✦ Day 2: Maa Brahmacharini
Brahma + Charini = one who moves in Brahma (tap). Did harsh tapasya for thousands of years to obtain Shiva as husband — eating only bel-leaves. Jap-mala in right hand, kamandalu in left. Wears white clothes walks barefoot.
Mantra: "Om Devi Brahmacharinyai Namah". Color: Blue (peace). Bhog: Sugar or panchamrit. Result: Tapasya-power, restraint, knowledge. Special puja for students. Devi of Swadhishthan chakra.
✦ Day 3: Maa Chandraghanta
Half-moon on forehead in shape of bell — hence Chandraghanta. Ten arms — sword, arrow, bow, mace, trishul, kamandalu, lotus, mala, abhay and var mudra. Vehicle — lion. Body has gold radiance. Both gentle and ready for war.
Mantra: "Om Devi Chandraghantayai Namah". Color: Yellow (radiance, courage). Bhog: Milk-made sweet — kheer, barfi. Result: Courage, fearlessness, enemy-destruction. Devi of Manipur chakra. Venus planet control.
✦ Day 4: Maa Kushmanda
Ku (small) + Ushma (energy) + Anda (universe) = one who creates universe like a small egg. Adi-shakti of creation. Eight arms — kamandalu, bow, arrow, lotus, amrit-kalash, chakra, mace, jap-mala. Vehicle — lion.
Mantra: "Om Devi Kushmandayai Namah". Color: Green (prosperity). Bhog: Malpua. Result: Health, wealth, fame. Devi of Anahat chakra. Adhishthatri of Sun planet — Sun-dosha removal.
✦ Day 5: Maa Skandamata
Mother of Lord Skand (Kartikeya). Four arms — two with lotus, one holding bal-Skand in lap, one in abhay mudra. Vehicle — lion. White color, seated on lotus.
Mantra: "Om Devi Skandamatayai Namah". Color: White (purity). Bhog: Bananas. Result: Child-happiness, motherhood, knowledge-growth. Vishuddha chakra. Mercury planet controller. Mother-child love-bhav supreme.
✦ Day 6: Maa Katyayani
Avatar as daughter of sage Katy — for slaying of Mahishasura. Four arms — sword, lotus, abhay, var mudra. Vehicle — lion. Golden color, very radiant.
Mantra: "Om Devi Katyayanyai Namah". Color: Red. Bhog: Honey. Result: Marriage-yog, desired groom. Brijwasi maidens worshipped Katyayani to obtain Krishna as husband (Bhagavata Purana). Agya chakra. Jupiter-controller.
✦ Day 7: Maa Kalaratri
Even night of Kala (time/death) — one who ends even Kala. Slayer of Shumbh-Nishumbh-Raktbeej. Black color, scattered hair, lightning-mala in neck, four arms — dagger, iron thorn, abhay, var. Vehicle — donkey. Three eyes. Fire emerges from breath.
Mantra: "Om Devi Kalaratryai Namah". Color: Blue/blue-black. Bhog: Jaggery. Result: Bhoot-pret-badha destruction, Saturn-dosha peace, disease-removal. Sahasrar chakra. Adhishthatri of Saturn planet. Beloved of tantra-sadhakas.
✦ Day 8: Maa Mahagauri
Very white color — white clothes, white ornaments. Parvati obtained Shiva through harsh tap, body became dark from tap. Shiva bathed her with Ganga-water then became very fair. Four arms — trishul, damru, abhay, var. Vehicle — Vrishabh. Age like 8-year-old girl.
Mantra: "Om Devi Mahagauryai Namah". Color: Pink. Bhog: Coconut. Result: Sin-destruction, fortune, happiness-prosperity. Rahu planet controller. Ashtami pujan — Kanya-pujan (8 girls fed and worshipped — as representative form of Mahagauri).
✦ Day 9: Maa Siddhidatri
Giver of eight-siddhis — Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakamya, Ishitva, Vashitva. Four arms — mace, chakra, conch, lotus. Vehicle — lion or lotus. Shiva himself obtained siddhis from Siddhidatri — secret of Ardhanareeshwar form.
Mantra: "Om Devi Siddhidatryai Namah". Color: Purple. Bhog: Sesame or halwa-puri-chana. Result: All-siddhi, moksha, wish-fulfillment. Navami pujan — havan. Ketu planet controller.
✦ Navratri Vrat Rules and Sadhana
Vrat-types: Nirjala (only water) — difficult, Phalahari (fruits, milk, water-chestnut flour, kuttu, sabudana) — common, One-time meal — sattvic. Onion-garlic abandoned. Brahmacharya for nine days.
Daily vidhi: Morning bath then maa's picture/idol at puja-place. Kalash-sthapana (first day) — sow barley in clay kalash, sprouts in nine days. Akhand-jyoti lit. Durga-Saptashati paath. Aarti.
Ashtami/Navami Kanya-pujan: 2-10 year girls (8 or 9) and one boy (Batuk Bhairav). Wash feet, tilak, food (puri, halwa, chana), dakshina-clothes. This considered direct form of Navadurga.
✦ 2026 Main Navratri-Dates
Chaitra Navratri 2026: 19 March (Shailaputri-Ghatasthapana) → 20 March (Brahmacharini) → 21 March (Chandraghanta) → 22 March (Kushmanda) → 23 March (Skandamata) → 24 March (Katyayani) → 25 March (Kalaratri) → 26 March (Mahagauri, Ashtami) → 27 March (Siddhidatri, Ramnavami).
Sharadiya Navratri 2026: 11 October (Shailaputri-Ghatasthapana) → 12 October (Brahmacharini) → 13 October (Chandraghanta-Kushmanda one day) → 14 October (Skandamata) → 15 October (Katyayani) → 16 October (Kalaratri) → 17 October (Mahagauri, Ashtami) → 18 October (Siddhidatri, Navami) → 19 October (Vijayadashami/Dussehra) → 20 October (Dussehra-shobhayatra).
Ghatasthapana Muhurat (Chaitra 19 March 2026): Morning 06:18 to 07:42 (Shubh choghadiya), Abhijit-muhurat 11:55 to 12:42 (best).
📚Sources & References
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✦ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the order of Navadurga this same?▼
In Durga-Saptashati and Markandeya-Purana this order linked with chakra-jagaran — from Muladhar to Sahasrar. Sequential awakening of nine chakras from Shailaputri to Siddhidatri. For tantra-sadhaka nine nights = nine chakra-shuddhi.
Can women do Navratri vrat during menstrual cycle?▼
Traditional rule — puja-touch forbidden during menstruation. But can keep vrat itself running — can do mental jap, mantra-smaran. After 4-5 days bath then resume puja. Modern acharyas say — this is biology, not impurity — remembering maa from heart is sufficient.
Is only Chaitra-Sharadiya Navratri there?▼
No — there are four Navratris. 1) Chaitra (March-April) 2) Sharadiya (September-October) — most famous 3) Magh-Gupt (January-February) 4) Ashadh-Gupt (July-August). Two Gupt Navratris special for tantra-sadhana — Das-Mahavidya puja.
What is meaning of Dussehra-Vijayadashami?▼
Vijayadashami = Vijay + Dashami (victory of tenth day). Maa Durga obtained victory over Mahishasura on tenth day after nine-day battle. Also Sri Ram killed Ravan on Dashami (according to Valmiki-Ramayana). Shastra-pujan, Aparajita-pujan, Seemollanghan (crossing boundary — start new work), Shami-tree pujan — main works.
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