Navratri, the festival dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga, is celebrated with immense devotion across India. On the sixth day of Navratri, devotees worship Maa Katyayani, one of the nine forms of Goddess Durga. According to Hindu mythology, Maa Katyayani is believed to bring peace and prosperity to her devotees. It is said that worshiping Maa Katyayani with complete devotion can help resolve obstacles, especially in the area of marriage. Many believe that performing this ritual can bring blessings and remove barriers related to marriage and personal life.
Maa Katyayani: The Goddess with a Lion as Her Mount
Maa Katyayani is depicted as a fierce warrior goddess riding a lion. She is shown with four arms, holding a sword and a lotus flower in two of her hands, while the other two arms are in the Varada and Abhaya mudras. These gestures symbolize her ability to grant blessings and protection to her devotees. Maa Katyayani’s crown shines brightly, symbolizing her divine power and status. According to tradition, worshiping her in a specific manner can relieve devotees from various life struggles, particularly the ones related to marriage.
Best Time for Maa Katyayani Worship
Maa Katyayani’s worship is done on the sixth day of Navratri. Specific times, also known as auspicious muhurats, are ideal for performing the rituals. According to the Hindu calendar, some important muhurats for worship on this day are as follows:
Brahma Muhurat: 04:36 AM to 05:24 AM
Abhijit Muhurat: 11:48 AM to 12:35 PM
Vijay Muhurat: 02:11 PM to 02:59 PM
Godhuli Muhurat: 06:10 PM to 06:35 PM
Amrit Kaal: 06:05 PM to 07:53 PM
Sarvartha Siddhi Yoga: 03:55 AM, September 29 to 06:13 AM, September 29
Devotees believe that performing Maa Katyayani’s puja during these muhurats ensures that they receive her divine blessings, helping to overcome obstacles in their lives.
Offerings to Maa Katyayani
Maa Katyayani is known to have a liking for honey, and it is considered highly auspicious to offer honey as a bhog (offering) during the puja. This act is believed to purify the devotee’s personality and bring positive changes. Apart from honey, the offerings should include flowers, fruits, and sweets as a gesture of respect and devotion. The flowers that are most commonly associated with Maa Katyayani are red-colored hibiscus or roses. These flowers symbolize love, respect, and purity, making them ideal for the puja.
Maa Katyayani Mantra
The following mantra is traditionally recited during Maa Katyayani’s worship:
ॐ देवी कात्यायन्यै नम:॥
This mantra invokes the blessings of the Goddess and is recited by devotees to seek her protection and divine grace.
Maa Katyayani Stuti Mantra
Another important chant that is often recited is the Stuti Mantra of Maa Katyayani:
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु मां कात्यायनी रूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नम:॥
This mantra is a prayer that seeks the divine blessings of Maa Katyayani in all aspects of life. It is believed that by chanting this mantra, devotees can invite Maa Katyayani’s grace and power into their lives.
Kavach Mantra of Maa Katyayani
The Kavach mantra is used for protection, and reciting it is believed to shield the devotee from any harm or negativity. The Kavach mantra for Maa Katyayani is:
कात्यायनौमुख पातु कां स्वाहास्वरूपिणी।
ललाटे विजया पातु मालिनी नित्य सुन्दरी॥
कल्याणी हृदयम् पातु जया भगमालिनी॥
Reciting this mantra is said to ensure safety and victory for the devotee, providing both spiritual and material gains.
Procedure for Maa Katyayani Puja
The worship of Maa Katyayani on the sixth day of Navratri requires devotion and the correct procedure. Here is the step-by-step process for performing the puja:
Start with a Bath: Clean yourself and your home to ensure purity for the ritual.
Prepare the Temple or Pooja Space: Clean the altar or temple space where the puja will take place.
Perform an Abhishek: Bathe an idol or picture of Maa Katyayani with holy water like Gangajal.
Offer Akshat (unbroken rice): Place a mixture of rice, red sandalwood, vermillion, and yellow and red flowers as offerings.
Water the Deities: Offer water to other deities and apply tilak (a mark of reverence).
Offer Fruits and Sweets: Fruits and sweets are offered to Maa Katyayani as prasad.
Light Incense and Lamps: Light incense sticks and a ghee lamp in front of the goddess.
Recite the Holy Texts: Chant Durga Saptashati and Durga Chalisa.
Final Offerings: Place betel leaves with camphor and cloves, then perform the aarti.
Apologize and Seek Forgiveness: Conclude the puja by asking for forgiveness for any mistakes during the ritual.
Story of Maa Katyayani
The legend behind Maa Katyayani’s form is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology. It is believed that the great sage Katyayan was an ardent devotee of Goddess Durga. Impressed by his unwavering devotion, Maa Durga blessed him by incarnating as his daughter. Thus, she became known as Maa Katyayani. The goddess took birth to restore balance and destroy the demon Mahishasura, symbolizing her fierce and protective nature.
Maa Katyayani is often referred to as Mahishasura Mardini, the one who defeated the demon Mahishasura. This victory is symbolic of her power to overcome the negative forces of the world. Maa Katyayani is also known to help individuals control their desires and senses, enabling them to lead a righteous and disciplined life.
Maa Katyayani Aarti
The aarti dedicated to Maa Katyayani is a popular devotional song that praises her divine power. The lyrics are as follows:
जय-जय अम्बे जय कात्यायनी
जय जगमाता जग की महारानी
बैजनाथ स्थान तुम्हारा
वहा वरदाती नाम पुकारा
The aarti is often sung during the puja to invoke the goddess’s blessings. It celebrates her as the protector and remover of obstacles in the lives of her devotees. The aarti describes the numerous names and places of worship dedicated to the goddess and calls upon her divine energy to grant blessings and protection.
The sixth day of Navratri is dedicated to the worship of Maa Katyayani, a powerful form of Goddess Durga. By following the proper rituals and performing the puja with devotion, devotees can seek her blessings to overcome obstacles in life, especially those related to marriage and relationships. The prayers, offerings, and mantras recited during the puja are believed to invoke her divine presence, ensuring that her devotees are blessed with peace, prosperity, and success in all their endeavors. Whether through the chanting of mantras, the offering of honey, or the performance of the aarti, the worship of Maa Katyayani is a profound way to seek spiritual and material growth during the auspicious days of Navratri.
