Chaitra Navratri is a nine-day Hindu festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil. It is also a time to worship the nine forms of the goddess Durga. The third day of Chaitra Navratri is dedicated to the goddess Chandraghanta.
Chandraghanta
Chandraghanta is the third form of the goddess Durga. Her name means “she who wears the crescent moon on her head.” Chandraghanta is depicted as a beautiful goddess with ten arms. She wears a red sari and has a crescent moon on her forehead. She carries a trident, a sword, a shield, and a bell in her hands.
Significance of Chandraghanta
Chandraghanta is a symbol of strength, power, and courage. She is also known as the “destroyer of fear.” Worshipping Chandraghanta is believed to remove obstacles and bring success in life.
Rituals on the Third Day of Chaitra Navratri
On the third day of Chaitra Navratri, devotees wake up early in the morning and take a bath. They then wear clean clothes and offer prayers to the goddess Chandraghanta. They also offer her flowers, fruits, and sweets.
Fasting
Many devotees fast on the third day of Chaitra Navratri. They abstain from eating food and drinking water from dawn to dusk.
Here are some additional details about Chandraghanta:
- She is often depicted with a lion as her vahana (vehicle).
- Her color is yellow.
- Her mantra is “Om Jai Chandraghantayai Namah.”
- She is said to reside in the Manipura chakra, which is located in the solar plexus.
Here are some tips for worshipping Chandraghanta:
- Wake up early in the morning and take a bath.
- Wear clean clothes and offer prayers to the goddess.
- Offer her flowers, fruits, and sweets.
- Chant her mantra 108 times.
- Meditate on her image.
Here are some benefits of worshipping Chandraghanta:
- She is said to remove obstacles and bring success in life.
- She is also said to protect her devotees from harm.
- Worshipping her can help to increase one’s spiritual power.
Conclusion:
Chaitra Navratri is a time to celebrate the divine feminine. Worshipping the goddess Chandraghanta is believed to bring strength, power, and courage into one’s life.