MAA KATYAYANI | CHAITRA NAVRATRI 2022

The festival “Nine Nights” has arrived, and final preparations are in full swing. Navratri is, without a doubt, one of India’s most popular festivals, and it holds a special place in the hearts of millions of devotees.

Every year, Navratri is celebrated with great zeal throughout the country. Many states celebrate Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana, while other north-eastern states worship Goddess Durga in her nine forms or avatars.

Navratri begins with Maa Shailaputri worship and is followed by worship of other avatars such as Maa Bramhacharini, Maa Chandraghanta, and Maa Skandmata. Each of these avatars represents a different aspect of Goddess Durga, such as affection, love, compassion, or wisdom.

Maa Katyayani is one of the Navadurgas, the Goddess Durga’s nine forms. Katyayani is a powerful expression of Shakti, the divine feminine power.

Durga means “the invincible,” and Katyayani, the warrior Goddess, is one of them. On the sixth day of the Navratri festival, she is worshipped as the sixth of Durga’s nine forms.

She is regarded as a warrior goddess who was able to bring peace to the world and is regarded as the destroyer of all evil. Maa Katyayani is one of Goddess Durga’s most ferocious manifestations. She is also known as Mahishasurmardini (Mahisasura’s Killer) because she defeated and killed the evil demon Mahishasura.

History & Origin

It is said that long ago, there was a sage named Katyayana. He was a huge Shakti devotee who spent days and nights in prayer. Sage Katyayana had always wished for the birth of Goddess Shakti as his daughter.

During this time, an evil demon named Mahishasura was wreaking havoc on the Gods. He grew in power over time, and the Gods became increasingly concerned about him. They prayed to Goddess Shakti, pleading with her to save them from Mahishasura’s wrath.

Goddess Shakti decided to take birth on Earth and put an end to Mahishasura’s reign. She granted Sage Katyayana’s wish and was born on Earth as his daughter. Goddess Shakti decided to take birth on Earth and put an end to Mahishasura’s reign.

She granted Sage Katyayana’s wish and was born on Earth as his daughter. She grew up to be a strong, beautiful fighter and was known as Katyayani, Katyayana’s daughter. Mahishasura’s messengers, Chandha and Mundha, we’re mesmerized by Katyayani’s beauty one day.

They returned to their master and told him everything about Katyayani. When Mahishasura heard this, he was overjoyed and immediately dispatched another of his messengers, Dundubhi, to speak with Katyayani. Dundubhi met Katyayani and told her everything she knew about Mahishasura.

He boasted about his greatness and how Mahishasura was now the ruler of all three worlds. He advised Katyayani to marry Mahishasura because they would make an excellent couple. Katyayani smiled and told Dundubhi that Mahishasura must first defeat her in battle, according to family tradition. They will be able to marry only after that.

Dundubhi returned to Mahishaura and informed him of the challenge. Mahishasura agreed, and the preparations began immediately. Katyayani and Mahishasura engaged in a fierce battle. She defeated his demon soldiers and even killed the majority of them.

When Katyayani and Mahishasura finally met, he transformed into a buffalo. Katyayani struggled to fight him, which proved to be a real challenge. Katyayani, on the other hand, duped Mahishasura and climbed onto his back. He was taken aback by this move and tried everything he could to shake her off, but he couldn’t.

Katyayani then pressed her foot against Mahishasura’s neck, pierced him with her Trishul (trident), and severed his head. Maa Katyayani killed the evil and powerful demon Mahishasura in this manner. She thus saved the Gods from his threat and restored peace to the world.

Katyayani Mantra

चंद्रहासोज्ज्वलकरा,शार्दूलवरवाहना। कात्यायनी शुभं दद्यात्,देवी दानवघातनी।।

Significance

Maa Katyayani is also known as Mahishasuramardini because she defeated and killed Mahishasura. Unmarried girls in many parts of India often fast and pray to Maa Katyayani in order to find a loving and caring husband.

She is an incarnation of the Goddess Durga, and she is depicted with four hands. She has a lotus in two hands, a sword in one, and a fourth hand that she uses to bless her devotees. It is believed that she protects her devotees from all forms of evil and bestows happiness and joy upon them.

TEMPLE

The most important temple for Maa Katyayani is in Bakor village in Gujarat’s Mahisagar district. This is a magnificent temple complex made primarily of marbles, and people of all castes and religious beliefs come here to worship the mother Goddess.

Shri Katyayani Devi Mandir is an enthralling Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Katyayani. The temple is located in Bakor, Ta-Khanpur, adjacent to Mahisagar district, and is only 3 kilometers from Kaleshwari.

There is also special worship or Maa Katyayani Pooja for the Goddess, which is mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana. This is unique worship performed by the maidens of Braj Bhoomi, Krishna’s land in Uttar Pradesh, during the Hindu winter month of Margashirsha (Margazhi in Tamil, equivalent to Mid-December to Mid-January), in order to obtain Krishna himself as their husband. It is known as Katyayani Vrata.

They used to worship while observing strict austerities such as full or partial fasting on a daily basis throughout the month. The virgin Goddess Kanyakumari, who is enshrined at our country’s southernmost tip, is revered as an incarnation of Katyayani.

In modern times, young girls observe penances and offer worship to this Goddess during the Margazhi month, praying for good rains, prosperity, and welfare, and culminating on the day of the Makar Sankranti-Pongal festival.

There are many other renowned temples and one of them is One of the most popular Katyayani temples is the Shri Katyayani Baneshwar Temple in Aversa. Other temples include the Chhatarpur Temple in Delhi, the Katyayani Temple in Alappuzha, the Sri Katyayani Peeth Temple in Vrindavan, and the Katyayani Temple in Kolhapur.

Frequently Asked Question

What colour is associated with Maa katyayani ?

Green is the colour which is associated with Maa Katyayini.

What to offer as a ‘Bhog’ on the sixth day?

Worship Maa Katyayani and offer a bhog of honey, jaggery, and roasted Bengal gramme.

What does the idol of Maa Katyayini look like?

Goddess Katyayani rules over the planet Brihaspati in Hindu mythology. Her depiction in art depicts her with four hands and riding a magnificent lion. She is seen holding a lotus and a sword in her left hand, while her right hands are in Varada and Abhaya Mudras (sacred hand gesture).

Where does Maa katyayani abode?

Maa Katyayini took birth in the abode of Rishi Katya.

Which is Maa katyayani's favourite flower?

Red hibiscus is her favourite flower.

With the Blessings of Maa Katyayani, we’ve delivered this article in the best form and hope that it helped you! If there are any discrepancies you can mention them in the comment section. May Maa Katyayani shower all the blessings and strength on you!