Indian Festivals

Chandraghanta Devi

Chandraghanta :-

The third Navrat is dedicated to the worship of Chandraghanta, the third manifestation of the energy of the goddess Durga. The ten armed goddess is seated upon a tiger and holds in her hand a set of incongruous objects, ranging from a lotus and kamandal to the weapons of warfare such as sword, mace and bow and arrow. Yet her demeanour and visage is one of extreme clam. And two of her hands are empty, folded in a mudra of meditation. But she derives her name from her most prominent ornaments, a half moon shaped like a bell that adorns her forehead.

It is the clamorous sound of this instrument being rung like a bell that smites all evil being such as demons and instills fear in their hearts. Nonetheless as a goddess she exemplifies clam and material well being. Her adornments are rich and signify material comfort. In a sense she is the goddness who rids our life of obstructions and evil energy.

The holder of the potent energy that is yet to be unleashed, she is also the bestower of courage upon her devotees. As a potent force and facet of the female energy, Chandraghanta claims as her own the Manipur Chakra. Symbolised by a lotus with ten petals, this chakra is also known as the "nabhi" or navel chakra. The Manipur Chakra embodies the change or conversion from simplicity to complexity.

                                                   MARKANDEYA Said:-

Om. Grandsire! Tell me the most concealed armour in this world which protects men in all respects and has not been revealed to any one as yet.

                                                     THE BRAHMA Said:-

O' Inspired One! There is one such sacred and most concealed armour of the Goddess which is helpful to all becomings. Please listen to and learn this.