Durga, the Mother Goddess of the Hindus and a form of Devi and Shakti, is believed to have manifested in various forms, and Navadurga Maa are believed to be the most sacred aspects of Goddess Durga. According to a Hindu tradition, it is believed that there are three major forms in which Goddess Durga manifested herself, namely,Mahasaraswati, Mahalakshmi and Mahakali who are the active energies (Shakti) of Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra respectively (without these goddesses the gods will lose all their powers and would not have the energy to lift a finger). These three forms of Durga further manifested in three more forms each, and thus emerged the nine forms of Durga, which are collectively called Navadurga or Nine Durgas. Navadurga are famously worshipped during the AutumnNavaratri or the Nine days, initiating the devotees into a period of festivities according to Hindu calendar.
All the nine names of goddess are narrated in
‘Devi Kavacha’ of the ‘Chandipatha’ scripture.
प्रथम् शैल-पुत्री च, द्वितियं ब्रह्मचारिणि
तृतियं चंद्रघंटेति च चतुर्थ कूषमाण्डा
पंचम् स्कन्दमातेती, षष्टं कात्यानी च
सप्तं कालरात्रेति, अष्टं महागौरी च नवमं सिद्धिदात्री
