Maa Kalaratri
Seventh Day of Chaitra Navratri (15.04.2024)
dedicated to Maa Kalaratri
-Rohit Kumar Parmar [1]
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ कालरात्रि रूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
The seventh day of Chaitra Navratri is dedicated to माँ कालरात्रि (Maa Kalaratri). Kalaratri is synthesised from - Kala meaning death, and Ratri meaning night, symbolizing darkness.
Maa Kalaratri rides a donkey, [2] and has four hands, her right hands are in अभय मुद्रा (Abhaya Mudra, Blessing posture) and वरदमुद्रा (Varadamudra, yoga/prayer posture). She carries a तलवार (Talvaar, Sword) and a घातक लोहे का हुक (the deadly iron hook) in her left hands.
Maa Kalaratri has a dark complexion, unkempt hair and three eyes. She appears in a red coloured attire or tiger skin with a lot of rage in her fiery eyes, her skin turns black. The red colour reassures devotees that Maa will protect them from all harm.
Maa Kalratri is regarded as one of the destructive forms of Maa Shakti. The others destructive forms are Bhadrakali, Bhairavi, Chamunda, Chandi, Durga, Kali, Mahakali, Mrityu, and Rudrani.
Because of her Shubh or auspicious power within her ferocious form, Maa Kalaratri is also known as Maa Shubhankari (शुभंकरी).
Maa Kalratri bestows the believer with सिद्धि और निद्धि (siddhi and niddhi, accomplishment and wealth).
On Saptami, devotees wake up early, take a bath and wear new clothes. Devotees perform Navgraha [3] Puja with rice, bhog, flowers, incense sticks, ganga jal and dry fruits. Prasad made of jaggery can be offered to Maa Kaalratri as bhog. Some devotees offer रात की रानी (jasmine) to Maa Kaalratri, which is her favourite flowers
Maa Kalaratri governs the planet Shani (Saturn), eliminates the harmful effects of the planet from her devotees’ life and brings them happiness.
मां कालरात्रि की आरती/Maa Kalaratri Ki Aarti
कालरात्रि जय जय महाकाली।
काल के मुंह से बचाने वाली॥
दुष्ट संघारक नाम तुम्हारा।
महाचंडी तेरा अवतारा॥
पृथ्वी और आकाश पे सारा।
महाकाली है तेरा पसारा॥
खड्ग खप्पर रखने वाली।
दुष्टों का लहू चखने वाली॥
कलकत्ता स्थान तुम्हारा।
सब जगह देखूं तेरा नजारा॥
सभी देवता सब नर-नारी।
गावें स्तुति सभी तुम्हारी॥
रक्तदन्ता और अन्नपूर्णा।
कृपा करे तो कोई भी दुःख ना॥
ना कोई चिंता रहे ना बीमारी।
ना कोई गम ना संकट भारी॥
उस पर कभी कष्ट ना आवे।
महाकाली माँ जिसे बचावे॥
तू भी भक्त प्रेम से कह।
कालरात्रि माँ तेरी जय॥
प्रार्थना Prarthana
एकवेणी जपाकर्णपूरा नग्ना खरास्थिता।
लम्बोष्ठी कर्णिकाकर्णी तैलाभ्यक्त शरीरिणी॥
वामपादोल्लसल्लोह लताकण्टकभूषणा।
वर्धन मूर्धध्वजा कृष्णा कालरात्रिर्भयङ्करी॥
[1] Author, Freelance, Indian Economic Service (Retired), former Senior Economic Adviser, Government of India, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and former Adviser (P 4) UNDP, Yemen has in posts
on his website (https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site),
YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@rohitkparmar),
X (formerly twitter) (https://twitter.com/rohitkparmar?s=09),
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/rohit.parmar.5268750/),
been writing/sharing varied topics and
can be reached at rohitkparmar@yahoo.com.
[2] In different legends, she is mounted on a donkey, lion or tiger.
[3] The nine navagraha are the Sun, the Moon, five planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, and the two nodes of the Moon, Rahu and Ketu.
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