Today is the third day of Navratri and devotees worship Goddess Chandraghanta. She is also known as Chandrakhanda, Chandika or Ramchandi. Goddess name resembles crescent moon which is worn by her on the head. It is said that GoddessC handraghanta is totally different from that of Goddess Durga, who shows her angry side when provoked. Devotees believe that this Goddess blesses them with a lot of courage and bravery.
On the third day, devotees worship goddess Chandraghanta, who symbolises peace, serenity, beauty and bravery in one’s life. The Goddess is dressed in Red attire. White is the color of the day and even Sindhoor Tritiya Sowbhagya Teej is also observed on this day. Goddess has three eyes and ten hands holding ten types of swords, weapons and arrows. She rides a lion and posses strength to fight against demon.
Devi Chandraghanta blesses her devotees to achieve spirituality by worshiping her. The rituals while worshiping Goddess must start from Lord Ganesha, Kartikeya and Goddess Saraswati, Laxmi, Vijaya, Jaya and must conclude by worshiping Devi Chandraghanta followed by praying to Lord Shiva and Lord Bhramaji.
Here we have some powerful mantras which you can chant to seek divine blessings from Goddess on this auspicious day:
Mata Chandraghanta should be worshiped by chanting the following Mantra’s:
1. या देवी सर्वभूते षुमाँ चंद्रघंटारूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नम:।।
भावार्थ: हे माँ! सर्वत्र विराजमान और चंद्रघंटा के रूप में प्रसिद्ध अम्बे, आपको मेरा बार-बार प्रणाम है| हे माँ, मुझे सब पापों से मुक्ति प्रदान करें।1
The above mantra means: I join hands in front of the supreme Goddess and adore the goddess with a bell shaped mark
Devotees must offer milk, sweets and kheer. Hope Maa fulfils all the wishes of her dear bhakts and provide them with strength to fight against all odds.
2. वन्दे वाच्छित लाभाय चन्द्रर्घकृत शेखराम्।
सिंहारूढा दशभुजां चन्द्रघण्टा यशंस्वनीम्॥
कंचनाभां मणिपुर स्थितां तृतीयं दुर्गा त्रिनेत्राम्।
खड्ग, गदा, त्रिशूल, चापशंर पद्म कमण्डलु माला वराभीतकराम्॥
पटाम्बर परिधानां मृदुहास्यां नानालंकार भूषिताम्।
मंजीर हार, केयूर, किंकिणि, रत्नकुण्डल मण्डिताम्॥
प्रफुल्ल वंदना बिबाधारा कांत कपोलां तुग कुचाम्।
कमनीयां लावाण्यां क्षीणकटिं नितम्बनीम्॥
3. रहस्यं श्रणु वक्ष्यामि शैवेशी कमलानने।
श्री चन्द्रघण्टास्य कवचं सर्वसिद्धि दायकम्॥
बिना न्यासं बिना विनियोगं बिना शापोद्धारं बिना होमं।
स्नान शौचादिकं नास्ति श्रद्धामात्रेण सिद्धिकम॥
कुशिष्याम कुटिलाय वंचकाय निन्दकाय च।
न दातव्यं न दातव्यं न दातव्यं कदाचितम्॥
Color of the Day:
Devotees on the third day of Navratri worship Goddess Chandraghanta. Goddess wear Red color saree and the color of the day is white. Goddess Chandraghanta,symbolizes peace, serenity, beauty and bravery in one’s life.
On this day, even Sindhoor Tritiya Sowbhagya Teej is observed.
Goddess Chandraghanta
Maa Chandraghanta is the third manifestation of Devi Durga and is worshipped on the 3rd of Navratri. She is believed to reward people with her grace, bravery and courage. By her grace all the sins, distresses, physical sufferings, mental tribulations and ghostly hurdles of the devotees are eradicated.
She has ten hands holding a trident, mace, arrow, bow, sword, lotus, goad, bell and waterpot, while one of her hands remains in blessing posture. She rides a tiger or lion as her vehicle, which represents bravery and courage, she wears a half moon on her forehead and has a third eye in the middle of her forehead. Her complexion is golden. Shiva sees Chandraghanta’s form as a great example of beauty, charm and grace. She rides a tiger or lion as her vehicle, representing bravery. This is a terrible aspect and is roaring in anger. This form of Durga is not completely different from earlier forms. It shows that when provoked she can be malevolent. Her malevolent form is said to be Chandi or Chamunda Devi. She is otherwise the very embodiment of serenity.
Her appearance may be of a source of power which is always busy killing and suppressing the bad and wicked. However, for her devotees, Maa is serene, gentle and peaceful. By worshipping Maa Chrandraghanta, you will open the doors to great respect, fame and glory. Maa also helps you attain spiritual enlightenment. Her idol, which symbolises both beauty and bravery, gives you the strength the keep the negative energy away and repels all the troubles from your life.
The third day of Navratri is very important in Navaratri. This day the mind of the sadhak enters Manipura Cakra. At this stage by the grace of Maa Chandraghanta he becomes capable of seeing unearthly and divine things. He smells the divine fragrance and many types of divine sound become audible to him. On this day and in this stage of discipline the sadhak is required to be most careful.
Chant this mantra to worship Maa Chandraghanta
पिण्डज प्रवरारुढ़ा चण्डकोपास्त्र कैर्युता |
प्रसादं तनुते मह्यं चंद्र घंष्टेति विश्रुता ||
Piṇḍaja pravarāruṛhā caṇḍakōpāstra kairyutā |
prasādaṁ tanutē mahyaṁ candra ghanṣṭēti viśrutā ||
Stuti
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ चन्द्रघण्टा रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Maa Chandraghanta Rupena Samsthita।
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah॥
Stotra
आपदुध्दारिणी त्वंहि आद्या शक्तिः शुभपराम्।
अणिमादि सिद्धिदात्री चन्द्रघण्टे प्रणमाम्यहम्॥
चन्द्रमुखी इष्ट दात्री इष्टम् मन्त्र स्वरूपिणीम्।
धनदात्री, आनन्ददात्री चन्द्रघण्टे प्रणमाम्यहम्॥
नानारूपधारिणी इच्छामयी ऐश्वर्यदायिनीम्।
सौभाग्यारोग्यदायिनी चन्द्रघण्टे प्रणमाम्यहम्॥
Apaduddharini Tvamhi Adya Shaktih Shubhparam।
Animadi Siddhidatri Chandraghante Pranamamyaham॥
Chandramukhi Ishta Datri Ishtam Mantra Swarupinim।
Dhanadatri, Anandadatri Chandraghante Pranamamyaham॥
Nanarupadharini Ichchhamayi Aishwaryadayinim।
Saubhagyarogyadayini Chandraghante Pranamamyaham॥
The Legend behind naming Goddess Durga as Chandraghanta
After Lord Shiva gave Parvati his word that he would not marry any woman, her sufferings overwhelmed him so much that he gave up, followed by a tearful reunion, and then agrees to marry her. Soon, the joyous moment of Parvati’s life comes. Shiva brings a procession of gods, mortals, ghosts, ghouls, goblins, sages, ascetics, Aghoris and Shivaganas to the gates of King Himavan’s palace to take away his bride Parvati, on the occasion of his remarriage. Shiva arrives at King Himavan’s palace in a terrorizing form and Parvati’s mother faints in terror. Parvati appears to Shiva and sees his fearsome form, so to save her parents and other family members she transforms herself into Goddess Chandraghanta.
Chandraghanta persuaded Shiva to re-appear in a charming form, on listening to the Goddess, Shiva appears as a prince decorated with countless jewels. Parvati revived her mother, father and friends then Shiva and Parvati get married and made promises to one another.
Navratri is a special occasion. A time for new beginnings and offering your dedication and reverence to the Goddess Shakti. This Navratri, bring home and institute a Meru Prusth Shree Yantra – a beautiful, divine symbol of the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi herself.
Jai Devi Chandraghanta!
Embrace the goodness of Devi Chandraghanta.
