Navratri is a nine-day festival celebrated across India by devotees of Goddess Durga. This festival symbolizes the victory of good over evil as Goddess Shakti defeated the demon Mahishasura during this time. Each day of Navratri is dedicated to one of the nine avatars of Shakti, known as Navdurgas. On the Navratri Day 7 or Saptami, devotees worship Maa Kalaratri, the most ferocious form of Maa Durga.
Who is Maa Kalaratri?
According to Hindu mythology, Maa Kalaratri is the form of Goddess Parvati when she removed her outer golden skin to kill demons. Kalaratri has a dark complexion, rides a donkey, wears a garland of skulls around her neck, and has four hands. In her right hands, she holds the Abhaya (protecting) and Varada (blessing) Mudra, while in her left hands, she holds a sword and the deadly iron hook. Her name is formed with two words – Kala means death, and Ratri stands for darkness, thus signifying the one who brings the ‘death of darkness’.
Story of Maa Kalaratri
It is believed that when Shumbha and Nishumbha defeated the Gods with the help of Chanda, Munda, and Raktabeej, Indra and other Gods prayed to Goddess Parvati. She created Goddess Chandi to kill them. While Goddess Chandi killed the other demons, she couldn’t defeat Chanda, Munda, and Raktabeej. She created Maa Kalaratri from her forehead to end them. Maa Kalaratri fought with both demons and killed Chanda and Munda. It was tricky for her to defeat Raktabeej as he had a boon from Lord Brahma that allowed every drop of his blood falling on the ground to transform into his clone. Undeterred, Maa Kalaratri began drinking the blood of Raktabeej’s clones, and she eventually killed him.
How to Worship Maa Kalaratri on Saptami
This year, day seven of Navratri or Saptami falls on Sunday, October 2. On Saptami, devotees should wake up early, take a bath, and wear new clothes. The color of the seventh day of Navratri is orange, which represents warmth and positive energy. Devotees can wear clothes of this shade to mark Saptami.
A bhog of jaggery or dishes made with jaggery and night blooming jasmine should be offered to Maa Kalaratri. Worshippers can also perform the sringar puja on Saptami night by offering sindoor, kajal, comb, hair oil, shampoo, nail paint, and lipstick. Two sets of the products should be used for this ritual – one set can be later donated to temples, and the other can be used at home as prasad.
Significance of Worshipping Maa Kalaratri
The worship of Maa Kalaratri on the seventh day of Navratri is significant for many reasons. According to Hindu mythology, Maa Kalaratri governs the planet Shani, which is known to bring malefic effects to people’s lives. By worshipping Maa Kalaratri, her devotees seek her blessings to eliminate these harmful effects from their lives and bring them happiness. She is also believed to protect her devotees from all evils and bless them with whatever they seek in life. Maa Kalaratri is often considered the destroyer of obstacles and sorrows, and her worship during Navratri can help people overcome their struggles and difficulties. Furthermore, Maa Kalaratri’s ferocious form is said to represent the destruction of darkness and the triumph of good over evil. As such, her worship during Navratri is believed to bring peace and harmony to the world.
Conclusion
The seventh day of Navratri, dedicated to Maa Kalaratri, is an important day for Hindus all over the world. By offering prayers and performing rituals, devotees seek her blessings and protection against all evil. The story of Maa Kalaratri’s victory over demons inspires us to overcome our own challenges and obstacles. Let us celebrate this day with devotion and gratitude towards the divine mother, and may her blessings bring us peace, prosperity, and happiness in our lives.
To read more such articles on Navratri 2023, click here: https://shreevedic.com/guide-to-chaitra-navratri-festival-durga/