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]
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:
Parvati in her stage of childhood with the divine and principal form being Durga
ॐ देवी शैलपुत्र्यै नमः
She is adorned with light ornamentation on her limbs and was clothed in red and pink robes. She has two hands both holding a trident and lotus. She is seated upon the behind of a white bull.
She is dressed as a female ascetic and is adorned by dried-up Rudraksha beads and flowers as her ornamentation. She has two hands, both of which carried a rosary and a water utensil.
She has ten hands, nine of them are armed by a trident, mace, bow, arrow, lotus, sword, bell and a waterpot, while one other hand blesses her devotees. She is seated upon a fierce tiger.
She has eight hands, six of which held a discus, mace, lotus, bow, and arrow in one hand, sword and rosary and the two other hands carried a jar of honey and waterpot. She is mounted upon the back of a lion.
She has four hands, two of which held lotuses, the third holding her son, the six-headed infant Kartikeya seated on her lap, and the fourth saves her devotees. She is seated upon the back of a lion.
She is adorned with heavy ornamentation on her limbs and is dressed in green and pink vestments. Her four hands each carried a sword, shield, lotus and trident. She's seen seated on a fearsome lion.
She has three bloodshot eyes, unkempt hairs, and wears a garland of skulls around her neck, which shone like lightning. Her four hands all held a trident, scimitar, vajra, and a cup. She is seated upon the behind of a donkey as her vehicle.
She has four hands, three of which carried a trident, mini-drum, and a pink lotus while her one hand promised her devotees protection. She is seated upon a white ox.
^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]
