Navratri, nine festive nights dedicated to Goddess Durga, is an auspicious time to worship Nav Durga, nine aspects of Goddess Durga. Each day a Goddess or a form of Durga is worshipped during Durga Navratri. Though, nine Goddesses worshipped during Navratri may vary from place to place, the Navadurga Goddesses mentioned in the Scriptures are same in every region.

List of Nav Durga Goddesses – Dedicated days during Navratri:

• Shailaputri Mata Puja – First day (Padyami – Pratipada) – also observed Ghatasthapana
• Brahmacharini Puja – Second day (Vidiya – Dwitiya) – also observed as Preeti Vidiya
• Chandraghanta Puja – Third day (Thadiya – Trutiya)
• Kushmanda Puja – Fourth day
• Skandamata Pooja – Fifth day – also observed Lalita Panchami – Upang Lalita Vrat in Maharashtra
• Katyayani Pooja – Sixth day – also observed as Maha Sashti
• Kalaratri Pooja – Seventh day – Maha Saptami (Saraswati Puja avahan)
• Mahagauri Pooja – Eighth day – Durgashtami (Saraswati puja)
• Siddhidatri Puja – Ninth day – Mahanavami (Saraswati Puja in Kerala)

Siddhidatri navdurga, ninth and the last aspect of Goddess Durga, is worshipped on the last day or the ninth day or Mahanavami day during Durga Navaratri. In 2009, Siddhidatri Puja date is September 27.

 Siddhidatri Puja and Dhyana Mantra:

Siddha gandharva yakshadhyie asuraira marairapi

Sevya maanaa sadaa bhooyaath siddhidaa Siddhidaayini

Siddhidatri dhyana mantra is the best stotra to recite for attaining all types of Siddhis and Nidhis. This mantra is recited on Mahanavami day during Navratri to get blessings of the Goddess. Siddhidatri Navadurga devi is worshipped by sadhaks or Siddhas to acquire all chakras and spiritual procedures with their attentive sadhanas. They develop competendy to conquer the whole world by performing Siddhidhatri pooja.

Mahagauri is the eighth form of Navadurga. She is worshipped on the eighth day or Durgashtami day during Navaratri. In 2009, the date of Mahagauri Puja is September 26.

Apperance or iconography of Mahagauri Navdurga:

Mahagauri is extremely fair in her body complexion. Hence she is compared with the conch and Moon. She is always idolized as eight year old girl. All her garments and ornaments or jewellery she wears are also white. She has four arms hence called as Chaturbhuji. She rides a bullock. She holds a Trishul (trident) with right upper hand and Damaru (drum) with left upper hand. Her both lower hands are in Abhaya and Varada mudra (blessing and boon granting postures). She remains calm and serene.

Spiritual importance of Maha Gowri Navdurga Pooja:

Maha gowri puja during Navaratras is very important one for Yogis and sadhaks. Her worship or rememberance or meditation of Mahagowri makes the devotee free from his material world and keeps him stay away from sorrows. She leads her bhakt to the path of virtue.

Dhayana Mantram of Mahagauri Mata:

Mahagowri dhyana mantram or slokam is recited on the eighth day during Navaratras.

Shwethe vrusha samaarudha shwetambara dharaa shuchih

Mahagauri shubham Dadyaan mahadeva pramodadaa

Goddess Katyayani, the sixth aspect of Navdurga, is worshipped on the sixth day during Durga Navratri. In 2009, the date of Katyayani Mata puja is September 24.

Spiritual importance of Katyayani Navdurga Pooja:

Goddess Katyayani puja is performed on the sixth day during Durga Navratra. On the day of Katyayani puja, Yogis or Sadhak who perform the pooja keep their mind on Ajna Chakra or Agna Chakra. Ajna Chakra is the most important Chakra or the step in spiritual practice. During this pooja, devotees offer themselves to Katyayani. Katyayani pooja during Durga Navratri makes devotees mentally and physically fit and keeps them in a state to face any challenges in their life.

Dhyana Mantra of Katyayani Navadurga:

Chandrahaasojhwala karaa Shardhula varavaahana

Katyayani shubham dadyath devi danava ghathinee

The above Dhyana sloka or stotram is recited on the sixth day (Katyayani puja) in Durga Navrati pooja. Chanting the stotra of Katyayani on Maha Shashti or Durga Sashti makes the devotee free from all his sorrows and keeps him happy forever.

Katyayani is the sixth aspect of Navdurga Goddesses worshipped during Navratri puja. Goddess katyayani is worshipped on the sixth day in Durga Navratri pooja. In 2009, the date of Katyayani Navdurga puja is September 24.

The legend of Goddess Katyayani Mata:

Katyayani was born as the daughter of Katyayana, who was performed an austere penance to get the Mother Goddess as his daughter. Maa Katyayani was worshipped by Lord Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma and all other Gods for three days – 7^th, 8^th and 9^th days during Shukla paksha of Ashwin month – to demolish demon Mahishasura. Katyayani pleased with the puja of Gods and demolished Mahishasura on Vijaya Dashami day.

Appearance or Iconography of Maa Katyayani:

Goddess Katyayani is depicted as Chaturbhuji (four-armed) Goddess in Puranas and other sacred texts. Katyayani holds a sword and a lotus in her upper and lower left hands. The upper and lower right hands show Abhaya and Varada mudra (blessing pose). Vehicle or vahanam of Katyayani Mata is a lion.