Maa Katyayani
Sixth Day of Chaitra Navratri (14.04.2024)
dedicated to Maa Katyayani
-Rohit Kumar Parmar [1]
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ कात्यायनी रूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
The sixth day of Chaitra Navratri is dedicated to माँ कात्यायनी (Maa Katyayani), a form [2] of Parvati, Maha-Lakshmi, Maha-Saraswati. Maa Katyayani an अवतार (avatar, incarnation) of Durga, exhibits courage and is considered one of the most violent forms of Durga. Maa Katyayani is the daughter of कात्यायन (Katyayana), a Sanskrit grammarian, mathematician and vedic priest.
Maa Katyayani’s complexion is bright and phosphorous, like gold. In this avataar, Maa Katyayani rides a lion and has four hands with a कमल का फूल (kamal ka phool, Lotus flower) and a तलवार (Talvaar, Sword) in her left hands and a स्वस्तिक (Swastika) and अभय मुद्रा (Abhaya Mudra, Blessing posture) in her right hands. Swastika, is a symbol of `good fortune’ or `well-being’. It is a cross with equal-arms intersecting at right angles, and each arm further bending at a 90 degree angle, to the right. Swastika is different from the emblem used in Germany in the 1930s.
By worshiping Maa Katyayani, devotees attain Artha, Dharma, Kama and Moksha and also get freedom from disease and all sufferings. According to Devi Bhagwat Purana, by worshiping Maa Katyayani, the body becomes radiant and makes domestic life peaceful and happy. For the believer of impact of astrology on an individual’s life, worshiping Maa Katyayani removes problems related to Rahu and Kaal Sarp Dosh.
The gopis of Vraj, in order to get Lord Krishna, [3] worshiped Maa Katyayani on the banks of river Kalindi (Yamuna) and she is revered as the presiding deity of Braj Mandal.
मां कात्यायनी की आरती/Maa Katyayani Ki Aarti
जय जय अम्बे जय कात्यायनी।
जय जग माता जग की महारानी॥
बैजनाथ स्थान तुम्हारा।
वहावर दाती नाम पुकारा॥
कई नाम है कई धाम है।
यह स्थान भी तो सुखधाम है॥
हर मन्दिर में ज्योत तुम्हारी।
कही योगेश्वरी महिमा न्यारी॥
हर जगह उत्सव होते रहते।
हर मन्दिर में भगत है कहते॥
कत्यानी रक्षक काया की।
ग्रंथि काटे मोह माया की॥
झूठे मोह से छुडाने वाली।
अपना नाम जपाने वाली॥
बृहस्पतिवार को पूजा करिए।
ध्यान कात्यानी का धरिये॥
हर संकट को दूर करेगी।
भंडारे भरपूर करेगी॥
जो भी माँ को भक्त पुकारे।
कात्यायनी सब कष्ट निवारे॥
प्रार्थना Prarthana
चन्द्रहासोज्ज्वलकरा शार्दूलवरवाहना।
कात्यायनी शुभं दद्याद् देवी दानवघातिनी॥
[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] There is use of the word form or avataar, which depict the same Goddess, could be in a subsequent birth or a regional adaptation.
[3] Brijbhoomi, a region on both sides of the Yamuna river with its centre at Mathura-Vrindavan, encompassing the area including Agra, Aligarh, Etah, Farrukhabad, Hathras and Mainpuri in Uttar Pradesh; Palwal and Ballabhgarh in Haryana; Bharatpur in Rajasthan; and Morena in Madhya Pradesh, is associated with Radha and Krishna who were born in Barsana and Mathura respectively.
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