By Ranjan Kumar Amritnidhi
Freelance Journalist, Delhi

“Om Girjayye vidmahe Shivpriyayye dhimahi tanno Durga prachodyat.”

“Yaa Devi Sarva Bhuteshi Shakti Roopena Samasthita
Namastasyai- Namastasyai -Namastasya -Namo Namah.”

“Yaa Devi Sarva Bhuteshi Vidya Roopena Samasthita
Namastasyai- Namastasyai -Namastasya -Namo Namah.”

“Yaa Devi Sarva Bhuteshi Laxmi Roopena Samasthita
Namastasyai- Namastasyai -Namastasya -Namo Namah.”

“Yaa Devi Sarva Bhuteshi Chhaya Roopena Samasthita
Namastasyai- Namastasyai -Namastasya -Namo Namah.”

“Yaa Devi Sarva Bhuteshi Chinta Roopena Samasthita
Namastasyai- Namastasyai -Namastasya -Namo Namah.”

” Sarba mangal mangleya Shive sarbath sadhike ,
Sharanyamtrambake Gauri Narayani nomo stute.”

Today is ninth day of Sharadiya Durga Puja and Navratri.It is also known as Mahanavmi.

Goddess Mother Durga is the Universal Feminine Mother Goddess.She is the symbol of Universal Feminine Power,Unity,Love,Brotherhood
and Feritility.She is known as the Goddess of Power and Unity Mahisasurmardini Goddess Mother Durga.She killed the Demon king Mahisasura,Chanda & Munda,Madhu & Kaitabha, Raktabeej and their demon armies with her spiritual power.

Her family members are Lord Shiva the God of Destruction,Lord Ganesha-the God of Wisdom & Success,Lord Kartikeya–the God of Courage & Victory, Goddess of Knowledge & Art-Goddess Mother Mahalaxmi and the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity - Mother Mahalaxmi.

The ninth form of the Goddess Mother Durga is known as Siddhidatri,who is worshipped on the ninth day of Navaratri.

The ninth Durga is Siddhidatri.There are eight Siddhis,they are
- Anima,Mahima,Garima,Laghima,Prapti,Prakamya,Iishitva & Vashitva.
Maha Shakti gives all these Siddhies.It is said in “Devipuran” that the Supreme God Shiva got all these Siddhies by worshipping Maha Shakti.With her gratitude the half body of Lord Shiva has became of Goddess and there fore his name “Ardhanarishvar” has became famous.The Goddess drives on Lion. She has four hands and looks pleased.This form of Durga is worshiped by all Gods,Rishis-Munis,Siddhas,Yogis,Sadhakas and devotees for attaining the best religious asset.

Today Nine Kumari Kanyas (girls of age group 2 to 10 years)
are worshiped as living form of Goddess Durga.After the nine days
Worships and vedic rituals yagya /havans are also performed by the devotees.After that community feasts are also organized for the Mahaprasad/Mahabhog distribution.

In Bengali culture married women pray Gooddess Mother Durga with Red Sindur and plays ‘Sindur Khela’ by applying Sindur on the forehead and cheeks of the married women before the immersion of the Goddess idols in the rivers or ponds.

Durga Puja is a festival which gives the message of Universal Respect to Feminine Power and Environmental Conservation.

Let’s pray Mahishasurmardini Goddess Mother Durga,her family members Lord Shiva,Goddess Mahalaxmi, Goddess Saraswti,Lord
Ganesh,Lord Kartikeya and Goddess, Siddhidatri for Fervor,
Courage,Good Luck, Good Health, Wisdom, Knowledge, Success,
Prosperity and Happiness .