Skanda-Mata Mother of Skanda White Marble Nava Durga Statue 24"

Navadurga, which translates to nine Durgas, is the manifestation of Durga in Her nine different avatars or aspects. These nine manifestation are Śhailaputrī, Brahmachāriṇī, Chandrakaṇṭā, Kuṣhmāṇḍā, Skandamātā, Kātyāyanī, Kālarātrī, Mahāgaurī and Siddhidātrī - together worshiped during the Navrātri festival (Nine Divine Nights). On each of the nine nights of Navratri one of the forms of Durga is worshiped.  Each of the nine forms of the goddess has a special significance as listed below.

1  Śailaputrī (Daughter of the Himālayas)
Shailaputri literally means the daughter (putri) of the mountains (shaila).  Variously known as Sati Bhavani, Parvati or Hemavati, the daughter of Hemavana (the king of the Himalayas) she is the first among Navadurgas.  She is worshiped on the first day of Navaratri.  She is the embodiment of the power of the trimurty of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.  She rides a bull and carries a trident and a lotus in her two hands.

2  Brahmachāriṇī (One who observes the state of celibacy doing penance)
She is worshiped on the second day of Navaratri and is the second form of Mother Goddess.  Bharmacharini means one who practices devout austerity.  She enlightens us in the magnificent embodiment of Durga with great powers and divine grace.  She holds a rosary in her right hand and a water utensil in her left hand.  She is blissful and endows happiness, peace, prosperity and grace upon all devotees who worship her.

3  Chandraghaṇṭā ( One who bears the moon in her necklace )
The third manifestation of the Goddess Durga is Chandraghanta.  She is worshiped on the third day of Navaratri, for peace, tranquility and prosperity in life.  She has a chandra, or half moon in her forehead in the shape of a ghanta or bell.  She is charming, has a golden, bright complexion and rides a lion.  She has ten hands, three eyes and holds weapons in her hands.

4  Kūṣmāṇḍa (the creator of the universe)
Kushmanda is the fourth form of the mother goddess and is worshiped on the fourth day of Navaratri.  She is considered the creator of the universe. The universe was no more than a void full of darkness, until her light spreads in all directions like rays from the sun.  Often she is depicted as having eight or ten hands.  She holds weapons, glitter, rosary in her hands, and she rides a lion.

5  Skanda-Mātā (The mother of Skanda, Kārttikeya, born out of her powers)
The fifth aspect of the Mother Durga is known as Skanda Mata - the mother of Skanda or Lord Kartikeya (in South India, Murugan) who was chosen by gods as their commander in chief in the war against the demons.  She is worshiped on the fifth day of Navaratri.  She is accompanied by the Lord Skanda in his infant form.  Skanda Mata has four arms and three eyes, holds the infant Skanda in her right upper arm and a lotus in her right hand which is raised upwards.  The left arm is in pose to grant boons and her 2 upper hands she holds 2 lotus flowers.

6  Kātyāyanī (The daughter of sage Kātyāyana, who incarnated to help the Devas)
The sixth form of Mother Durga is known as Katyayani, who is worshiped on the six day of Navaratri.  The story behind this incarnation follows the life of a great sage named Kata.  Kata was very famous and renowned in the lineage of saints.  He underwent long austerities and penance in order to receive the grace of the Mother Goddess.  He wished to have a daughter in the form of a goddess.  Because of his lifelong devotion to Her, the Mother Goddess granted his request and Katyayani was born to Kata as an avatar of Durga.

7  Kālarātrī (black as night, destroyer of Kālī)
This is the seventh form of Mother Durga and is worshiped on the seventh day of Navaratri. She has a dark complexion, disheveled hair and a fearlessness posture. A necklace flashing lightning adorns her neck. She has three eyes that shine bright and terrible flames emanate from her breath. Her vehicle is the donkey. Her raised right hand always seems to grant boons to all worshippers and all her right lower hand is in the pose of allaying fears.  Her left upper hand holds a thorn-like weapon, made of iron and there is a dragger in the lower left hand. She is black like Goddess Kali and holds a sparkling sword in her right hand battle all evil. Her gesture of protection assures us of freedom from fear and troubles.  She is also known as Shubhamkari - one who does good.

8  Mahāgaurī (the wife of Lord Shiva, doing great penance)
She is worshiped on the eighth day of Navaratri.  Her power is unfailing and instantly fruitful.  As a result of her worship, all sins of past, present and future get washed away and devotees are purified in all aspects of life.  Maha Gauri is intelligent, peaceful and calm.  Due to her long meditations in the forests of the Himalayas, she developed a dark complexion.  When Lord Shiva cleaned her with the water of the Ganges, her body regained its beauty and she came to be known as Maha Gauri, which mean extremely white.  She wears white clothes, has four arms, and rides on a bull.  Her right hand is in the pose of allaying fear and her right lower hand holds a trident.  The left upper hand holds a dhamru, or drum, and the lower one is in the pose of granting boons to her devotees.

9  Siddhidātrī (Provider of Siddhis, giver of mystic powers)
Siddhidatri is the ninth form of Goddess and is worshiped on the ninth day of Navaratri.  Siddhidatri has supernatural healing powers.  She has four arms and is always in a blissful and enchanting disposition.  She rides on the lion as her vehicle.  She blesses the Gods, saints, yogis, tantrics and all devotees as a manifestation of the Mother Goddess.