The first avatar is Shailapuri (daughter of the mountain, born to king Himavan of the Himalayas) is a form of a young goddess which portrays purity and potential to reach the heights. She is young Paravati (Sati incarnated Shiva’s first wife, daughter of Daksha Prajapati and granddaughter of Brahma). Mahavidya Bhuvaneshwari who is associated with Chandra (Moon) and the 1st Tithi.

|| OM SHAAM SHEEM SHOOM SHAILAPUTRYAI NAMAH ||

Second Avatar is Brahmacharini, this avatar of Durga teaches penance(tapasya), devotion, restraint, and solitude. 

When Parvati grew up, Sage Narada told her that the only way for her to attain Shiva was to perform severe penance that would exceed Shiva’s tapaysa.  She began her Tapasya, giving up on food, water, and air. Mahavidya Bagalmukhi, 2nd Tithi and Mangal(Mars) – the power of tapasya and dharna. 

|| OM BRAAM BREEM BROOM BHAMHACHARINYAI NAMAH ||

Third Avatar is Chandraghanta, the destroyer of all unwanted energies. 

After seeing Parvati’s devotion and her great tapasya, Shiva gives in and accepts to marry Parvati. On the day of the wedding, Shiva comes in his original form, his body was smeared in ash, with snakes all over his body and in the matted locks. He bought with him his baraat consisting of ghosts, Agoris, Sages, Ascetics, and every being unimaginable. To avoid any embarrassment to her family or Shiva, Parvati transformed herself into a terrifying form. Chandraghanta in this form she marries him. Mahavidya Kamala, 3rd Tithi and Shukra (Venus)

|| OM HREEM KLEEM SHREEM CHANDRAGHANTAYAI NAMAH ||

Forth avatar was Kushmanda, it is believed that Kushmanda is the ultimate source of life when the universe was non-existent, and darkness was everywhere. She created the universe with her smile. In Ayurveda Kushmanda (which is a tonic) increases prana (life force) of the Sun who is responsible for many healing qualities. Healing weakness and fatigue. It is also known to purify the mind to treat mental disorders.

Mahavidya Matangi, Surya (Sun) and the 4th Tithi.

|| OM HREEM KUSHMANDAYAI JAGATPRASOOTYAI NAMAH ||

Fifth avatar was Skandamata, show her pure and divine nature, the one who has overcome all her 6 vices.  She is the mother of Kartikeya. The general of the divine army and bramachari. Kartikeya kills Targkasura in the Battle. Mahavidya Tripura Sundari / Shodashi and Budh (Mercury)) and the 5th Tithi.

|| OM HREEM SAHA SKANDAMATRYAI NAMAH ||

Sixth avatar is Katyayani, the one who defeats Mahishasura and thus also known as Mahishasuramardini. This form is also most common and preferred as the form of Durga. Being one of the most worshipped forms of Durga Ma. Katyayani is worshiped on the sixth day of Navratri. 

She took birth as the daughter of the sage, Katyayan, and hence came to be known as Katyayani. The trinity Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, along with other gods, combined their powers and weapons and summoned Katyayani. Thus, the armed Katyayani proceeded towards the Vindhya mountains where Mahishasura lived and killed him.

Mahavidya Tara, Brahaspati (Jupiter) and the 6th Tithi.

|| OM HREEM SHREEM KATYAYANYI NAMAH ||

Seventh Avatar is Kaalarati, Kaal refers to death and Ratri means night. Hence, Kaalratri is the one who brings an end or death to evil or darkness. Commonly referred to as Kali and the most terrorizing form of Durga.

Raktabeej was a demon or asura who had been given a boon by Lord Brahma that every time a drop of his blood fell on the ground, a new version of his own would be created. Kali went on to slay each demon with a sword in her hand and collected their blood in her bowel and drank it immediately until the real Raktabeej was left. Mahavidya Kali, Shani (Saturn) and 7th Tithi.

|| OM AIM HREEM SHREEM KAALRATRYAI NAMAH ||

The Eighth avatar is MahaGauri, she cleanses our illusions and any addictions, and gives us humility.

As a result of Parvati’s severe penance for thousands of years which led to Shiva marrying her, her body was covered with dirt, mud, and insects and she was down to being a skeleton with no flesh. Pleased by her devotion, Shiva bathes her in the holiest Ganga that flew from the locks of his matted hair that nourished her body, and she emerged as Mahagauri, as white as the Jasmine flower.  The 8th Tithi which is sacred to Krishana and Ma Durga and associated to Planet Rahu (North Node)|| OM DEVI MAHAGAURYAI NAMAH ||

Nineth Avatar is Siddihidatri, the one who possess all the Siddhis and supernatural powers.

Siddhidatri worshiped on the last day, is the Adi Shakti avatar of Durga. She existed as pure energy and had no physical form, lord Rudra and the avatar of Shiva worshiped her for creating the universe and she appeared from the left half of Shiva. That is why she and Shiva represent the duality of the universe in the form of masculine and feminine energies. They unite to form Ardhanarishwara. Mahavidya Dhumavati, 9th Tithi and Ketu (South Node)

|| OM HREEM SAHA SIDDHIDATRYAI NAMAH ||

The stories of each avatar can show our internal struggle with the above vices and how we can overcome them to find salvation.  

Shub Navrati and Shub Durga Puja!