Navratri Day 6 - Devi Katyayani

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Devi Katyayani

Devi Katyayani is the 6th form of Goddess Durga celebrated during the Navratri festival. She is the main goddess worshipped on the 6th day. Devi Katyayani is seated on a lion and has four arms. The upper left-hand holds a sword while the lower left hand holds a lotus flower. The upper right hand is in Abhaya Mudra while the lower right hand is in Varmudra. Worshipping Devi Katyayani is believed to bestow the devotee with prosperity, both in the physical and spiritual realms.

Devi Katyayani is believed to rule the Ajna Chakra. The Ajna Chakra is situated between the eyebrows at the centre of the head and is also called the third-eye chakra. It deals with perception, conscience and intuition. Awakening this chakra helps the person transcend the material world and attain higher levels of consciousness. Devi Katyayani also destroys the sins accumulated from previous lives and helps in the timely marriage of the person.

Devi Katyayani took form to kill the demon Mahishasura from wreaking havoc in the Universe after requests from devas as well as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. She was born as the daughter of Sage Katyayan, who had been doing penance to please Goddess Durga and have her born as his daughter. Devi Katyayani is usually portrayed as wearing yellow-coloured attire, though devotees worship the colour orange on this day.

Devi Katyayani Mantras

A mantra is a reproduction of vibrations in the form of sounds which when chanted over and over again can unlock powers that can uplift the body, mind and soul of a person. Chanting a mantra for a specific number of times, during specific periods can invoke in the person blessings from the divine beings to whom the mantra is addressed. This can also reduce the impact of negative energies which can result in a morale boost. The mantra has to be chanted correctly and with devotion. The person has to be seated in an appropriate area in an appropriate position for the mantra chanting to take effect. He or she has to stay focused with a clear mind. When done properly, chanting mantras can change lives for the better.

Devi Katyayani can wash away the karmic sins of a person. She can also help in timely marriage and ensure success in endeavours. The different mantras for Devi Katyayani are:

Om Devi Katyayanyai Namah॥

Katyayani Mahamaye Mahayoginyadheeshwari, Nandgopsutam Devipatim Me Kurute Namah!

Om Hring Katyaynyai Swaha, Hring Shring Katyaynyai Swaha!

Hey Gauri shankaradhangi yatha tvam shankarpriyaa, tatha mam kuru kalyaani, kaantkatam sudurlabhaam

Om devendrani namasthubhyam devendrapriya bhaminiz vivaaham bhagyamaarogyam, sheeghralabham cha dehi me

Om Katyayani mahamaye, mahayoginyadhisvari, nandgopasut devi patim me kuru te namah

Devi Katyayani Worship Rituals

On the sixth day of Navratri, wake up early in the morning and take a bath. Then clean the place where the puja is to be carried out. Place an idol or a picture of Devi Katyayani and perform the Aatma Pujan. Apply a tilak on your forehead. Take some water in the palm and drink it. Chant the mantra:

Om keshavaya namah, om narayanaya namah, om madhavaya namah, om govindaya namah

Then again take water in your hand and make a wish. Offer prayers to Devi Katyayani. Then offer some fresh flowers to the Devi. Wash the idol in water. If it is a picture, wipe it clean. Then light a lamp in front of it. Take a flower in your hand, bow to Devi Katyayani and meditate for some time. After this, worship the Devi with incense sticks and a lamp. It is auspicious to offer honey to Devi Katyayani during Navratri and have some honey as prasad.

Devi Katyayani Story

The story of Devi Katyayani is of her defeating and killing the demon Mahishasura. For doing this, she is often called Mahishasura Mardini. Like all other devis, Devi Katyayani is also a form of Goddess Shakti.

There lived a sage named Katyayan. He was a huge devotee of Goddess Shakti. It was Sage Katyayan’s greatest desire to have Goddess Shakti born to him as his daughter.

Meanwhile, in another place, King Rambha, the lord of asuras had become infatuated with princess Mahishi, who was cursed to be a buffalo. As a result of their union, the demon Mahishasura was born. Due to the special circumstances surrounding his birth, Mahishasura was able to exist in the form of buffalo and asura.

Mahishasura did tough penance to please Lord Brahma. From Brahma, he obtained the boon that no man or animal could kill him. After receiving the boon, Mahishasura went on a rampage of death and destruction on all worlds.

A desperate Devas sought recluse at Lords Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The trimurtis concentrated their powers on Goddess Shakti and thus Devi Katyayani took form. She was born to sage Katyayan who had been doing penance to obtain Goddess Shakti as daughter. Being the daughter of Katyayan, she was named Katyayani.

Devi Katyayani grew up to become a beautiful woman. One day, the guards of Mahishasura happened to see Devi Katyayani. They thought she would make a good match for Mahishasura. They told Mahishasura that much. Mahishasura, keen to acquire the beautiful Katyayani, sent a proposal through his guards.

Devi Katyayani laughed at the proposal and said that if Mahishasura could defeat her in battle, he can have her. The sadist in Mahishasura was only happy to oblige. A fierce battle ensued. It ended in Devi Katyayani slaying the demon. From then on, she was known as Mahishasura Mardini.

Devi Katyayani Significance

Devi Katyayini destroys the negativities in the self and helps the person enjoy purity and bliss. Worshipping her helps in overcoming the feeling of guilt and shame and lets one be easier on himself or herself. A person can reconnect with the inner child within him or her through the worship of Devi Katyayani. This lets the person find happiness in life, be jovial and smile more often

Devotees of Devi Katyayani get their material wishes granted while having their karmic sins washed off from their souls. They are blessed with child-like innocence and pure devotion. In Bhagavata Purana, it is mentioned that the gopis of Gokula observed vrat during the month of Margashirsha and worshipped Devi Katyayani to get Lord Krishna as their husband. This is observed by girls even now to find a suitable spouse.

It is believed that the virgin goddess Kanyakumari is an incarnation of Devi Katyayani. As the ruler of the Ajna Chakra, worshipping Devi Katyayani will enable the devotee to open his or her inner third eye and see things that are incomprehensible to the human eyes outside. This can transform the abilities of the person from worldly to divine.

Read about Navratri Day 7- Durga Saptami, Worship of Devi Kaalratri