9 days, 9 places: Temples dedicated to different Durga avatars

Navratri is one of the major Hindu festivals that is celebrated with much enthusiasm in India as well as by the Hindu community abroad. Devotees, during this time, visit famous Durga temples across the country to pray to Maa Shakti (a form of Goddess Durga).

This is also the time when people flock to different Shakti Peethas and the temples dedicated to the nine forms of Durga that are spread throughout the Indian subcontinent.

On that note, let’s have a look at nine revered temples dedicated to Goddess’s nine different forms:

The first day of Navratri begins with the worship of goddess Shailputri Devi. As per Hindu religious books, Shailputri was daughter of the Himalayan mountains, with Nandi the bull as her vahan (steed). On day one, devotees in large numbers visit Varanasi’s Shailputri Temple at Marhia Ghat.

On day two of the Navratra, Brahmacharini Devi is prayed. The second manifestation of Durga represents goddess Parvati’s desire to get married to Lord Shiva. Set on the ghats of Ganga, the Brahmeshwar Temple in Varanasi and Maa Brahmeshwar Temple at Balaji Ghat hold special importance.

The third manifestation of Durga, Chandraghanta Devi is prayed to on the third day. This form of Durga is seen with her third eye open and has a warrior spirit. The goddess of courage and bravery, her main temple is the Chandraghanta Temple is also in Varanasi.

On the fourth day of Navratri, Kushmanda Devi is prayed to. She is believed to have created the world with her smile. The Kushmanda Temple is in Kanpur’s Ghatampur town, and is one of the most prominent temples in the city.

Devotees pray to Devi Skandamata on the fifth day of the Navratri. The fifth form of Durga, Skandamata is the mother of the Hindu God of War, Kartikeya. Skandamata Temple is also situated in Varanasi’s Jaitpura region.

Day six is dedicated to Katyayani Devi, who is believed to be born out of the anger of the gods. It was her anger that destroyed the demon king Mahishasura. The Katyayani Baneshwar Temple in Aversa, Karnataka is quite famous among devotees. There are other temples as well in Vrindavan, Kolhapur, Kerala and Delhi, dedicated to Katyayani Devi.

Also in Varanasi, Kalratri Devi Temple is one of the most famous Durga shrines in the city. Kalratri, also known as Kali, is the seventh form of Durga. She is also called the Ruler of the Night.

Mahagauri Devi is the eighth form of Durga. She holds a trident, lotus and drum in her hands. Though there’s a Mahagauri Temple in Varanasi, the one in Ludhiana’s Shimlapur is also pretty popular.

The ninth and the last form of Durga, Siddhidatri Devi represents enlightenment. Her name means the giver of divine powers, which is knowledge. There are temples of Siddhidatri in Varanasi and Devpahari, Chattisgarh, but the one in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar is the most famous one.