There are different stories behind her fair complexion. One says that to get Lord Shiva as her husband, Goddess Parvati performed severe penance on the recommendation of lord Narad. She performed penance in the forest leaving all the comforts of the palace behind. She penanced for many years because of which her body gets covered with dust and soil and skin became blackish in color. Lord Shiva appeared before her and gave his solemn word that he would marry her. He bathed her by the holy waters of the Ganga. The holy and sacred waters of Ganga washed off all the dirt clinging to Parvati’s body and she became white-complexioned and glorious. Thus by virtue of having acquired a white complexion, Parvati came to be known as Mahagauri.

Devotees who worship Mahagauri get relieved from all the fears. She punished those who do evil deeds. She has a calming effect on the lives of her devotees and she also helps them improve their knowledge. She leads to the path of inner peace.

Maa Mahagauri Aarti :- 

jay mahaagauree jagat kee maaya .

jaya uma bhavaanee jay mahaamaaya ..

haridvaar kanakhal ke paasa .

mahaagauree tera vahaan nivaasa ..

chandrakalee or mamata ambe .

jay shakti jay jay maan jagadambe ..

bheema devee vimala maata .

kaushikee devee jag vikhyaata ..

himaachal ke ghar gauree roop tera .

mahaakaalee durga hai svaroop tera ..

satee ‘sat’ havan kund mein tha jalaaya .

usee dhuen ne roop kaalee banaaya ..

bana dharm sinh jo savaaree mein aaya .

to shankar ne trishool apana dikhaaya ..  

tabhee maan ne mahaagauree naam paaya .

 sharan aanevaale ka sankat mitaaya .. 

shanivaar ko teree pooja jo karata . 

maan bigada hua kaam usaka sudharata .. 

bhakt bolo to soch tum kya rahe ho . 

mahaagauree maan teree haradam hee jay ho .

The complexion of Kalaratri is that of the darkest of nights with bountiful hair and a heavenly shaped form. She has four hands – the left two hands hold a scimitar and a thunderbolt and the right two are in the varada (blessing) and Abhaya (protecting) mudras. She wears a necklace that shines like the moon. Kaalratri has three eyes which emanate rays like lightning.

The story behind her creation is believed to be that there were two demons Shumbh and Nishumbh who were disturbing the Devtas. The ruler of Dev, Indra went to Lord Shiva for help. The goddess Parvati heard their prayer and created a Devi called ‘Chandi’. ‘Chand’ and ‘Mund’ were the two demons sent by the Shumbh and Nishumbh to kill the Devtas but Devi ‘ Chandi’ created a new form ‘Kali’ which was more fierce and killed those demons and hence get name Chamunda.

Another demon ‘Raktbeeja’ who was blessed that if any drop of blood falls on the ground, his clones appear. In a war with Kal Ratri, his blood spilled on the ground and created clones of him. To defeat him, Devi formed her furious form and drank all his blood to stop it from falling down and killed Raktbeeja.

 Goddess Kaalratri can be seen as bearing doom for evil-doers. But she always bears good fruits for her devotees and should avoid fear when faced with her, for she removes the darkness of worry from the life of such devotees.

Maa Kalratri Aarti

Kaalaraatri jay-jay mahaakaalee .

kaal ke munh se bachaanevaalee ..

dusht sanghaarak naam tumhaara .

mahaachandee tera avataara ..

prthvee aur aakaash pe saara .

mahaakaalee hai tera pasaara ..

khadg khappar rakhanevaalee .

dushton ka lahoo chakhanevaalee ..

kalakatta sthaan tumhaara .

sab jagah dekhoon tera najaara ..

She is considered to be the Goddess of Brajmandal and it is believed that gopis worship her to get Krishna. Girls who fast for this form of Maa Durga for a month believed to have early marriage , success in love marriage and a suitable match. Maa Katyayani removes all the obstacles in the path of love marriage and blessed to have a happy marital life. She also symbolizes strength to female devotees. She inspires them to face challenges, to fight for their rights.

Aarti of Maa Katyayani :- 

jay jay ambe jay kaatyaanee

jay jagamaata jag kee mahaaraanee

baijanaath sthaan tumhaara

vaha varadaatee naam pukaara

kaee naam hai kaee dhaam hai

yah sthaan bhee to sukhadhaam hai

har mandir mein jyot tumhaaree

kahee yogeshvaree mahima nyaaree

har jagah utsav hote rahate

har mandir mein bhagat hai kahate

katyaanee rakshak kaaya kee

granthi kaate moh maaya kee

jhoothe moh se chhudaane vaalee

apana naam japaane vaalee

brehspativaar ko pooja karie

dhyaan kaatyaanee ka dhariye

har sankat ko door karegee

bhandaare bharapoor karegee

jo bhee maan ko chaman pukaare

kaatyaanee sab kasht nivaare

She has eight hands in which she holds Kamandul, bow, arrow, a jar of nectar (Amrit), discus, mace and a lotus, and in one hand she holds a rosary which blesses her devotees with the Ashtasiddhis and Navniddhis. As she rules the sun, thus worshipping Maa Kushmanda will remove all the afflictions created by the unfavorable position of the Sun in the horoscope. In addition, the individual secures relief from all ailments and attains fame and status in society. She also blessed the devotees with health and wealth.

Maa Kushmanda Aarti :- 

Chautha jab navaraatr ho, kushmaanda ko dhyaate.                                                                                              jisane racha brahmaand yah, poojan hai

aadhshakti kahate jinhen, ashtabhujee hai roop.                                                                                                    is shakti ke tej se kaheen chhaav kahee dhup.

kumhade kee bali karatee hai taantrik se sveekaar.                                                                                                  pethe se bhee reejtee saatvik kare vichaar.

krodhit jab ho jae yah ulta kare vyavahaar.                                                                                                             usako rakhatee door maan, peeda detee apaar.

soory chandr kee raushanee yah jag mein phailae.                                                                                          sharanaagat kee main aaya too hee raah dikhae.

navaraatron kee maan krpa karado maan.                                                                                              navaraatron kee maan krpa karado maan.

jay maan kushmaanda maiya.                                                                                                                                        jay maan kushmaanda maiya.

There is a proper ritual that a devotee should follow while praying for Maa Chandraghanta. First worship all the Gods, Goddesses and Planets in the Kalash and then offer prayer to Lord Ganesha and Kartikeya and Goddess Saraswati, Lakshmi, Vijaya, Jaya – the family members of Goddess Durga. The pooja should be concluded by worshipping Goddess Chandraghanta followed by a heartfelt prayer to Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma.

Maa Chandraghanta  Aarti :- 

Navaraatri ke teesare din chandraghanta ka dhyaan, mastak par hai ardh chandr, mand mand muskaan.

Das haathon mein astr shastr rakhe khadag sang baand, ghante ke shabd se haratee dusht ke praan.

sinh vaahinee durga ka chamake savarn shareer, karatee vipada shaanti hare bhakt kee peer.

madhur vaanee ko bol kar sab ko detee gyaan, jitane devee devata sabhee karen sammaan.

apane shaant savabhaav se sabaka karatee dhyaan, bhav saagar mein phasa hoon main, karo mera kalyaan. navaratron kee maan, kripa kar do maa.

Navratri Day 1 |10 Oct 2018:  Maa Shailputri

On the very first day of Navratri, Maa Durga in the form of  Goddess Shailputri is worshiped. She is known as Daughter of Himalayas. She has half moon on her forehead and lotus in her hand. She is mounted on the bullock.

The word Shailputri comprises of two words Shail means Mountains and Putri means Daughter. She is the daughter of king of Mountains” Himavan”. In her previous birth, she was called “Sati” as she sacrificed her life in honour of her husband ‘Shiva’ who was humiliated by Daksha Prajapati.

She is considered auspicious as she help in making Mooldhara strong. Those who worship her will enlighten their spirituality. As she is the first form of Durga and worshiped on first day of Navratri, devotees should get up early in the morning and become clean after finishing the household works. Shodasha Upachara Pooja and recitation of Durga Sapatshti should be performed to please the goddess.

She is the protector of all wild animals. She reduces all sorrows and diseases of all. The following is the Aarti and Mantra for her worship.

Maa Shailputri Aarti : –

Shailputri Maa Bail Asvaar,

Karein devta jai jai kaar,

Shiv Shankar ki Priya Bhavani,

Teri Mhima Kisi ne na jani,

Parvati tu uma kehlave,

Jo tujhe simre so suck pave,

Ridhi Sidhi parvan kare tu,

Dya kare dhanvan kare tu,

Somvaar ko shiv sang pyari,

Aarti teri jisne utari,

Uski sagri aas puja do,

Sagre dukh taklif mita do,

Ghee ka sundar deep jalake,

Gola gari ka bhog laga ke,

Shaddha bhav se mantra  gaye,

Prem sahit phir sheesh jukhaye,

Jai giriraj kishori amb,

Shiv much Chandra chakori ambe,

Manokamna purna kar do,

(Devotee name) sada such sampatti  bhar do.