Navratri 2017 Day 6 - Maa Katyayani

Like every year, Navratri 2017 is one of the essential and a foremost festivals celebrated in India , which is dedicated to Hindu deity Durga. This year the Sixth Day of Navratri is on 2nd of April. Though there are five Navratras that fall in a year out of which Sharad Navratri festival and Chaitra Navratri festival are the most popular ones amongst the household people.

The Navratri festival holds utmost importance and significance in Hinduism, as this nine day festival is like the nine colours of Navratri depicting all the nine manifestations of Goddess Durga. During this period, the thrust is on the Navratri Puja so that it can be commemorated with great zeal and enthusiasm, thus experiencing the nine colours of the glory of Goddess Durga.

The 6th day of Navratri exemplifies Maa Katyayani and the Hindu Mythology envisages that, Devi Katyayani bestows her grace and blessings on married women who worship and express their deep reverence towards the Goddess. The act of piety and devotion towards Goddess Katyayani embodies an element of an ancient tradition that embarked from Gokul in Braja. It is surmised that during this venerable period, with the onset of the winters, Gopis in Gokul used to observe fast in the first month of winters to effectuate their yearn of getting married to Lord Krishna. And this is the primal reason that the sixth day of Navratri festival has been contemplated to be consequentials and pronounced for those women or girls who have treaded into the age of marriage and thus it is a devout to the worship of Katyayani Mata.

Appearance of Goddess Katyayani

The Sixth day of Navratri marks the worship of sixth manifestation of Goddess Durga i.e. Goddess Katyayani. She is limned to be bestriding on a magnificent and a ferocious Lion. The Goddess possesses four hands where she totes a Sword and a Lotus flower in the left hands and with “Varada” and “Abhaya” Mudras in her right hands.

Legend

In accordance with the legends and myths, Goddess Durga, the Goddess of power and strength has been an idol of dulia for sundry of priests and sagas, and the most illustrious among them was Rishi Katyayan. It has been deduced that Rishi Katyayan was a vibrant stalwart of Goddess Durga and had worshipped her with extreme sanctity and fidelity for many years. So, pondering over the penance of Rishi Katyayan, Goddess Durga was contented with his years of cogitation and meditation. As a result of which, a phoenix rose from Goddess Durga as an incarnation on earth, by being the daughter of Rishi Katyayan and came to be known as Katyayani. Goddess Durga in her Katyayani manifestation, abated the torments and adversities wreaked by Danav Mahishasur and kindled serenity to the mankind.

Goddess Katyayani is traditionally reverenced and worshipped by adolescent, young and marriageable girls who covet to get married with whom they wish to. The tradition commenced in Gokul where the Gopis who desired to marry Lord Krishna, use to observe a fast in the month of Margashirsha i.e. the first month of winters. But slowly and gradually with the passage of time, this lore started to prove significant to the girls of marriageable age who want to get married to their soul mates.

Mantras for Goddess Katyayani

“Om Katyayani Mahabhage Mahayoginy Adhishvarim
Nand Gop Sutam Devi Patiam Me Kurute Namah”

This Katyayani mantra should be recited for at least 21 days and that to five times a day. It is reckoned that repeatedly chanting this mantra is an efficacious way of eliminating all the hindrances and obstacles that are probable in the delay of marriage of a girl, like Manglik Dosha.

Astrological Aspect

Goddess Katyayani administers the planet Jupiter, so it is evident that worshipping Goddess Katyayani can get you rid from the malevolent effects of the Planet Jupiter.

During the times of Gokul, Gopis use to observe fast for the entire month, but in the current scenario the tradition or the ritual falls somewhere between 21 to 41 days. Goddess Katyayani is worshipped by the young girls who long for a lovable life partner and also for the apt marriage. In order to perform the rituals and the observances, three small boys and nine minor girls are worshiped, so that the Goddess Katyayani is cock-a-hoop with the offerings of her devotees.

We, at MyKundali wish you all a very happy and prosperous Navratri.