Maha Navami is the day when Goddess Durga took the form of Siddhidhatri and killed the evil buffalo headed demon Mahishasura. This day is celebrated as the victory of good over evil. This manifestation of Goddess Durga is known as ‘Mahishasura Mardini’, the ferocious form.

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On this day, a few people also perform Kanjak Puja and invite young girls below the age of 10 – who are regarded as representative of the Goddess - and offer them food, gifts and seek their blessings.

Who is Goddess Siddhidhatri?

Siddhidhatri is the form of Goddess Parvati. She has four hands holding a discus, conch shell, mace, and lotus. She is sitting on a fully bloomed lotus or a lion. She poses eight siddhis (spiritual powers) and many other supernatural powers that she gave to the Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) to help them fulfil their responsibilities. She is always surrounded by devas (deities), gandharvas (celestial beings who are divine performers), yakshas (a kind of supernatural being), and asuras (demons) who worship her.

The siddhi which she provides is the realization that only she exists; and she is the Goddess of all achievements and perfections.

Goddess Siddhidhatri & the creation of Universe

Siddhi means ‘supernatural power’ and dhatri means ‘giver’ or ‘awarder’. She has the power to give you all kinds of mystical powers and divine aspirations. It is believed that one half of Lord Shiva is Goddess Siddhidhatri. Therefore, this form is also known as Ardhanarishvara. Lord Shiva attained siddhis with the help of Siddhidhatri.

When the universe was under the influence of complete darkness, the ray of divine light which is ever existing and illuminating, suddenly took the form of Divine Light as Goddess Mahashakti. This form of the Goddess is also known as Siddhidhatri. The Supreme Goddess came forward and created the Trimurti - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. She advised the three lords to contemplate so as to understand their roles for performing their duties towards the world. The Trimurti sat on the river bank and started their penance.

Pleased, the Goddess appeared in front of them in the form of Siddhidhatri and bestowed Lakshmi, Saraswati and Parvati as their consorts. She distributed the respective roles to the Trimurti - Creator, Preserver and Destroyer; and provided divine miraculous powers to help them perform their duties.

The eight mystical powers are Anima – reducing size of the body, Mahima – expanding the size of the body, Garima – becoming heavy, Laghima – becoming weightless, Prapti – having omnipresence, Prakambya – achieving whatever one desired, Ishitva – possessing absolute lordship, and Vashitva – having the power to subjugate all. Apart from these treasures, she granted them nine more treasures and ten other supernatural powers.

Then, the Trimurti created man, woman, devas and devis, daityas and asuras, yakshas, apsaras, and so on. The 14 worlds were thus created and constructed by the power of Sidhdhidhatri in the ninth form of Goddess Durga.

Maha Navami Puja

The Goddess is decorated with pink coloured clothes and pink flowers. This form of Durga is considered the supreme form of Mahashakti. Few people also perform Chandi Yagna or Navami Yagna at the end of Maha Navami.

Children, especially girls, below the age of 10 are invited to the puja pandals or people’s houses. Their feet are washed with great care and a special puja is held. This is known as ‘kanya puja’ and symbolises the nine forms of Goddess Durga. Mother nature is evoked in all creative forces on this day.

This year, the date for Maha Navami is 11 Oct 2024.

Auspicious Time for Puja: 12:08:52 on 11 October till 11:00:45 on 12 October

Kanya Puja / Kanjak Puja

• It is performed on the 8th or in 9th day of Navaratri. The nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped. Nine ‘kanya’ (girls below the age of 10) are worshipped as representative of the nine forms (Navadurgas).
• This puja is popularly observed across India, especially in the regions of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar.
• The devotees observe fast and the Prasad is prepared early morning - it includes puri (a kind of bread), channe (gram), halwa (a sweet dish), and coconut.
• The ‘kanyas’ are invited by washing their feet and offering seat on a pedestal with respect.
• Kalawa, the holy thread, is tied on the wrist with a dot of Kumkum (mixture of turmeric and lime) on the forehead.
• Food is distributed.
• Gifts are offered to the young girls and their blessings sought.

Maha Navami Puja Details

Pratishthapan: Invoke the Goddess with the following Mantra (Sacred verse).

Asyai Pranah Pratishthantu Asyai Pranaksharantu Chaà
Asyai Devatvamarchayai Mamaheti Cha Kashchanaà
Om Siddhidhatri Namahà
Supratishtho Varado Bhavaà

Asana Samarpan: After the invocation of Goddess Durga, take five flowers in ‘Anjali’ (by joining palm of both hands) and leave them in front of the idol of the Goddess to offer a seat (Asana) to her manifestation - Goddess Siddhidhatri.

Padya Samarpan: After offering Asana to Goddess Durga, offer water to wash her feet.

Arghya Samarpan: After offering Padya Samarpan, offer scented water to the Goddess.

Achamana: After Arghya Samarpan, offer water to Goddess Durga for Achamana (purification ritual).

Snana: Goddess Durga is then to be offered water for her bath.

Panchamrita Snana: This is again offering a bath to the Goddess with Panchamrita (the mixture of milk, curd, honey, ghee, and sugar).

Payah/Dugdha Snana: After Panchamrita Snana, now give a bath with Paya (milk) to Goddess Durga.

Dadhi Snana: After Dugdha Snana, now give a bath with curd to Goddess Durga.

Ghrita Snana: After Dadhi Snana, give a bath with ghee to the Goddess.

Madhu Snana: After Ghrita Snana, give a bath with honey to Goddess Durga.

Sharkara Snana: After Madhu Snana, give a bath with sugar to the Goddess.

Suvasita Snana: After Sharkara Snana, give a bath with scented oil to Goddess Durga.

Shuddhodaka Snana: After Suvasita Snana, give a bath with pure water (Gangajal) to Goddess Durga.

Vastra Samarpan and Uttariya Samarpan: Offer Moli as new clothes to the Goddess, in preferably pink colour. Then offer clothes for the upper body parts of the Goddess.

Yajnopavita Samarpan: After offering clothes, offer Yajnopavita (a sacred thread) to the Goddess.

Gandha: Then offer scent to Goddess Durga.

Akshata: After Gandha offering, extend ‘Akshata’ (unbroken rice) to Goddess Durga.

Pushpa Mala, Durvankura, Sindoor: Now offer a garland made of flowers, durva, sindoor, and vermilion to the Goddess.

Dhoop: Next, offer the Goddess ‘dhoop’ (incense) to Goddess Durga.

Deep Samarpan: Now offer ‘deep’ (light) to the Goddess.

Naivedya and Karodvartan: Offer Naivedya, i.e., fruits, sweet porridge, laddoo, etc. to the Goddess.

Chandan Karodvartan: After Naivedya, offer Chandan (sandalwood) mixed with water to the Goddess.

Tambula, Narikela and Dakshina Samarpan: Now offer Tambula (betel nuts with areca leaves) to Goddess Durga along with Narikela (coconut) and Dakshina (gift).

Neerajan and Visarjan: Finally, after Tambula Arpan and Dakshina Samarpan, perform the Aarti for Goddess Durga while chanting the following Mantra.

Kadali Garbha Sambhutam Karpuram Tu Pradipitamà
Arartikamaham Kurve Pashya Me Varado Bhavaà
Om Siddhidhatri namaha
Karpura Neerajanam Samarpayamià

Pushpanjali Arpan: Now offer Pushpanjali, i.e., flowers to the Goddess. You can also perform Chandi Yagna for the removal of obstacles and to bless you with prosperity and abundance.

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