‘Shaila’ means “mountains,” and ‘Putri’ means “daughter.” She is the daughter of Himavan (Himalaya) & his wife Mena and is also called Parvati (from the mountain – Parvat). In her previous birth, she was Sati, the daughter of Daksha Prajapati. Sati married Shiva but immolated herself at her father’s yagna when Daksha humiliated Shiva. She is reincarnated as Shakti and needs to draw Shiva out from ascetic isolation for the sake of the universe.
Riding a bullock, the Devi has a lance in her right hand and a lotus flower in her left. On the path of Yoga, She represents the highest peak or the highest level of consciousness. When you reach the peak of any experience or feeling, you experience the emergence of the Divine consciousness. Her hymn states, “Vande vaanchitha labhaya…” i.e. “I Worship the one who can attain or fulfills one’s wishes.”

Picture Credit: Kerala Mural by Swetha Sridharan

‘Brahma’ implies ‘tapasya’ or penance, and ‘Charini’ means “female follower.” Devi Parvati went for severe tapasya to attain Shiva as her husband on the advice of Narada. She suffered many hazards from nature and, towards the end, refused to eat even a leaf. This probably explains the name Aparna. Parna means “leaf.” Watching her pitiable condition, her mother Mena was very pained. In Kalidasa’s Kumarsambhavam, Parvati’s mother tells her not to do penance anymore, or “U Ma.” Ma means “No.” U is for stressing the “No.” She is thus known as Uma.
She holds a rosary (aksharmala) and a water pot (kamandalam). Maa Brahmacharini brings good fortune and is an inspiration to move forward in life. She is energy that is not stagnant or inert but moving infinitely. Her hymn states, “Devi praseedatu mayi brahmacharinyanuttama” i.e. “O devi, Shower your bliss on me, Goddess Brahmacharini, the uncomparable or the highest one.”

Picture Credit: Kerala Mural by Swetha Sridharan

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Chandra’ means “moon,” and ‘ghanta’ here means “bell-shaped.” She is also Chandika because of her ferocious form riding a tiger. After Parvati’s severe penance, Shiva agreed to marry her and went to her house with his fierce army of demi-gods. When Parvati’s parents saw his warlike form, with a serpent around his neck and a tiger skin as clothes, they fainted. To match up to his description, Parvati then took the form of Chandraghanta. But she requested Shiva to take a charming form so that her parents could accept him. In yogic terms, Chandra also means “mind,” and one needs to focus all the mind’s disparate thoughts and emotions into one naad (sound) to control the mind.
Her hymn states, “Pindaja pravararudha chanda-kopastra kairyuta” i.e. “The one riding on a Tiger, who is displaying severe anger on the wicked, accompanied by the weapons.” There is also a different story about the appearance of Devi Chandraghanta.

Picture Credit: Kerala Mural by Swetha Sridharan

Ku means “a little,” Ushma means “warmth” or “energy,” and Anda means “cosmic egg.” When the universe was non-existent and darkness prevailed everywhere, Maa Kushmanda produced the Cosmic egg with her smile, bringing light to the universe. Her luminosity gives the Sun its brightness. Kushmanda also means “pumpkin” in Sanskrit. From the small seed, it becomes a huge fruit, and from the huge fruit, it comes back into a seed. She represents the divine energy (prana) that pervades all creation, big and small.
Her hymn brings out the contrasts in the world, “Suraa sampurna kalasam rudhiraplutameva cha, Dadhana hastapadmabhyam Kushmandaa subhadastu mae” i.e. “With a pitcher filled with the divine nectar, and another pitcher filled with blood. Holding them with her lotus-like hands, O Goddess Kushmanda, please do good to me.” She is represented with eight arms, riding a lion.

Picture Credit: Pattachitra by Rabi Behera

Skanda’ is the name given to Kartikeya (also known as Kumara & Muruga). Devi Parvati is the mother of Skanda and is thus revered with the name ‘Skandamata.’ Once upon a time, the demon Tarakasur performed extreme penance and got a boon from Brahma that he could be killed only by Shiva’s son. He thought that Shiva was a confirmed ascetic and would never marry. He felt secure and went on a rampage. Narada beseeched Parvati to do penance and convince Shiva to marry her. From their union was born Skanda, the Senapati of the gods. In yogic terms, action (Skanda) should be guided by knowledge (Skandamata).
Her hymn says, “Simhasana-gata nityam padmasritha kara-dvaya, Subhadaastu sada devi skandamata yashasvini” i.e. “The one who is seated on a Lion and riding, the eternal one, whose pair of hands are holding the lotuses, Please bring me good fortune always, Goddess Skandamata, the illustrious one.”

Picture Credit: Pattachitra by Rabi Behera

When Ravana lifted Mount Kailasha and terrified Parvati, Shiva pressed him down savagely. He sang Shiva’s praises and was released. Shiva also gave him the Chandrahasa, ‘moon’s smile’ – an indestructible sword. This sword was gifted by Kala (Time) to Devi when all the gods were bestowing weapons on her to defeat Mahisasura. Sage Katyayana performed severe penance for several years, and Devi took birth in his family and is thus called Katyayani. She was worshipped by the gods to destroy the demon Mahishasura, who was creating misery. Maa Katyayani is the fierce form of Durga who vanquished Mahishasura on the Vijaya Dashmi day. She represents how anger can be channeled for a good cause. She is worshipped on the sixth day of Navaratri and dispels all fear.
Her hymn says, “Katyayani subham dadyadevi danava ghaathini” i.e “O Goddess Katyayani, Devi, please bring auspiciousness, the slayer of Danavas.”

Picture Credit: Pattachitra by Rabi Behera

Kalaratri is the one who destroys ignorance and removes darkness. This form primarily depicts that life needs periodic cleansing – Mother Nature creates havoc and removes all dirt. The Mother is both fierce (Kalika, Kali, Raudri, Bhairavi) and auspicious (Shubhankari). She comes on a donkey, dark, with disheveled hair, and three eyes flashing like lightning. Her upper right hand is raised, giving boons to all, her lower right hand allays fears, and her left hands hold terrible weapons.
Her hymn says, “Vardhana murdhvaja Krushna Kalarathrir-bhayamkari” i.e. “The one who increases prosperity, the one in dark blue color, the Goddess Kalarathri, the terrible one to the wicked.”

Picture Credit: Watercolour by Manohar Saini

Gauri means “shining,” “brilliant,” or “fair.” When Parvati performed severe penance to please Shiva, she became dark and emaciated. Shiva poured Ganga Jal over her and restored her effulgence. Nature has two extremes – Kalaratri, which is fierce and terrifying, and Mahagauri, which is pure and beautiful. She blesses the devotee to become content from within and move forward in life.
Her hymn says, “Swethe vrushe samarudha swethambhara-dhara suchihi, Mahagauri subham dadyan Mahadeva pramodada” i.e. “The one with white complexion, riding on a bull, wearing white-colored garments, the pure one Goddess Mahagauri, please bestow me auspiciousness with your blessings, the one who delights Mahadeva.”

Picture Credit: Watercolour by Manohar Saini

Siddhidhatri is the bestower (Dhatri) of extraordinary capabilities (Siddhis). Siddhis bring fulfillment and totality in every sphere of life. As per Devi Purana, there are eight siddhis. Shiva got these siddhis by worshipping Maha Shakti, who then appeared as Siddhidhatri from the left side of Shiva. The combined form of Shiva & Siddhidhatri (Shakti) is Ardhanarishwara, signifying the fusion of Purusha (consciousness) & Prakriti (creation).
Her hymn says, “Siddha gandarva yakhaadyaira (a)surair amarair api, Sevyamaanaa sada bhuyat siddhidha Siddhidaayini” i.e. “From the Siddhas, Gandarvas, Yakshas, Adhyas, Asuras, and Amaras (Devas), who is served by all of these always, Please bestow me those Siddhis with your mercy, the giver of Siddhis.”

Picture Credit: Watercolour by Manohar Saini

A specific color has been assigned to each day of Navratri, White, Red, Royal Blue, Yellow, Green, Grey, Orange, Peacock Green and Pink. Incorporating that particular color into your life during Navratri is considered auspicious. During Navratri, wearing a dress with the same color as the Navratri color of the day is in vogue among women, especially in Gujarat and Maharashtra. Whether it is going to work or going for Dandiya and Garba, women look forward to wearing a specific color dress each day of Navratri. Daily newspapers publish a separate article on the colors of Navratri just before the Navratri season.
The first color of Navratri is decided based on the weekday when Navratri begins, and the remaining days follow a fixed cycle of colors.
Source: https://www.drikpanchang.com/navratri/colors/navratri-nine-colors.html

Picture Credit: Madhubani by Jaya Tiwari

Tantra suggests that every jivatma has its kundalini (shakti) sleeping at the muladhara (root) chakra at the bottom of the spine. Its aim is to awaken this energy to travel upward to merge with the sahasrara chakra at the crown of the head. In between, the kundalini has to travel through five other chakras – svadhisthana (sacral), manipura (solar plexus), anahata (heart), vishuddha (throat) & ajna (third eye). Sri Vidya practices of tantra believe that Navadurga puja can help awaken kundalini through the chakras. The first seven Navadurgas have a one-on-one association with the seven chakras. Of the last two forms, Mahagauri purifies the sadhaka (worshipper) & Siddhidhatri bestows the siddhis. The sadhaka then feels one with Shiva-Shakti and experiences the Ardhanarishwar (half man half woman) form of God.
Source: https://drapraoastrology.com/articles/blog/navadurgas-and-shatchakras

Picture Credit: Kalamkari by Swati Palekar

During Navratri, the first three days celebrate the Devi (Divine Mother) in the form of Durga, the second set of three days honors the Devi as Lakshmi, and the final three days are dedicated to Saraswati. When there is positive energy or the Durga shakti, negative forces cannot overpower us. Lakshmi implies the complete spiritual and material well-being of a person. This represents stability in dynamism, culminating in progress. Saraswati symbolizes the power of discrimination, using which we must take the positive in life and leave out the negative. Durga destroys negativity, Lakshmi bestows prosperity, and Saraswati gives wisdom.
https://www.artofliving.org/honoring-durga-lakshmi-saraswati