The goddess who is worshipped on the seventh day of the Hindu festival Navaratri is Devi Kalaratri. She is known to be the ferocious form or incarnation of goddess Durga. She goes on to slay the demons who create havoc in the universe and spread evil. She governs the planet Saturn.
Oh, the beautiful goddess with her darker complexion is a truly fearful sight for the ones that have evil and negativity in their heart and minds. Her angry-looking eyes are enough for any demon or man to bow down to her and accept their defeat or fate. Even though she is known to instil a strong sense of fear in the minds of her spectators, it is important to note that her hands are in the Abhaya mudra and Varada mudra. If you are reading this article without reading about the other manifestations of goddess Durga, here is a small explanation for you on what these mudras are and what they signify.
Abhaya hasta mudra (hand gesture) is said to be symbolised fearlessness, safety and reassurance. Varada hasta mudra is the symbolization of granting blessings and boons to devotees by gods and goddesses in the Hindu culture. Hence, it is important to know that even though she is known for being a very aggressive and violent goddess, she is always looking out for her devotees and granting them blessings, boons, protection and safety from the evils of the world. The goddess due to this is known as Shubhankari (someone who is auspicious and who is the giver of prosperity).
Stories have told that when goddess Parvati or goddess Durga removed the outer golden skill to kill demons namely Shumbha & Nishumbha and protect the world from them, she became goddess Kalaratri. Her favourite flower is the night-blooming jasmine (Raat Ki Rani).
According to the Saudhikagama text, goddess Kalaratri is known to rule the portion of the night in the day and night cycle. She abodes in the Sahasrara Chakra (Crown Chakra) giving the devotees all the siddhis and nidhis that we also spoke of in our article regarding Kushmanda Devi.
Goddess Kaalratri is famously called Raudri and Dhumorna. Her name Kaalratri is spelt in the following manner: Goddess Kalaratri, Devi Kalratri and Goddess Kaalratri. She rides on a donkey, lion and tiger. Her weapons are a hooked vajra and a curved sword which she uses to flee off all the ghosts, demons, evil spirits from the world.
The mention of this manifestation of goddess Durga is seen in many ancient texts like Mahabharata, Markandeya Purana, Skanda Purana, Devi-Bhagavata Purana, Varaha Purana and Vishnudharmottara Purana. Her manifestations have been eye-opening for the people who have witnessed it in the above-given stories. There is a temple of Devi Kalaratri in Bihar where her devotees pray to her with a clean heart.
There are plenty of stories to tell of this goddess and all of them are more interesting than the last one. They all indicate her strength, power, bravery and valour and how important it is to pray to her if you want to be blessed by it.
Her mantra is “Om Devi Kalaratryai Namah”.
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