Maa Katyayani is the sixth for of Maa Durga and is worshiped on the sixth day of Navratri. She is known to kill the sinners, demons and evils. Katyayani is the second name given to Maa Parvati in Amarakosha. According to the legends, Maa Parvati took birth in a sage’s home as her daughter, who performed very penance and showed immense devotion towards Maa Parvati due to which Maa Parvati took birth in his house. As, Maa Parvati was born in a sage’s home that is why this form of Maa Parvati is also known as Katyayani. Devotees worship the daughter form of Maa Parvati on the sixth day of Navratri.
She is a very affectionate and loyal daughter who loved her father very much. It is not only her father, she is very kind, lovable and an essence of love but gets furious and angry when she see devil practices.
Maa Katyayani rides on a lion which reflects power, braveness and loyalty. Maa Katyayani has four hands and on upper left hand she holds a lotus and on her lower left hand she holds a sword to kill demons and all kind of evils. She is not holding in her right hands, one is on a protecting posture and other one is for blessing her devotees.
When Maa Katyayani was born in the house of Sage Katyayan as her daughter. At that time a Rakshas named Mahishasura was terrifying all the three loks – Swarg, Nark and Earth. He was practising all kind of evils and were killing people for his pleasure and anyone who refuses to follow him he would rather kill them or torture them till death.
Legend of Maa Katyayani
According to Hindu mythology, Demon King Mahishasura performed very hard penance to please Lord Shiva and Lord Shiva who is very kind and soft from his heart never differentiate between any of his devotees either he is a human, Devta or demon. He always treat everyone equal. On arrival of Lord Shiva Mahishasura asked for a boon of immortality but that was not possible. So, Lord Shiva gave him blessings that no man, Devta, animal demon can kill. The only thing which he didn’t mentioned was a woman.
Mahishasura when saw Katyayani or Durga he was mesmerized with her divine beauty and immediately proposed her to marry her. But Durga had a condition to her that he should first beat him in a battle. This battle lasted for 9 days and one night where Durga killed Mahishasur and freed all Devtas. Katyayana who was the father of Katyayani worshipped Maa Durga for three days- Saptami, Ashtami and Navami and on the tenth day which is also known as Vijayadashami she killed Mahishasura.
As Katyayan was the father of that form of Maa Durga he got the first privilege to worship her. Maa Katyayani is worshiped by chanting these words:
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ कात्यायनी रूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः।।
Devotees of Maa Katyayani lives a trouble free and suffering free life. A person who worship Maa Katyayani with full faith and devotion attain Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha in his/her life.
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