Kaalratri Devi : The Goddess Worshiped On Seventh Day Of Navratri
The seventh form of Goddess Parvati is Kaalratri Devi, she also known as Goddess Shubhankari. She is the most ferocious and destructive form of Navdurga, She is is worshipped on the seventh day of Navratri i.e. Saptami.
The nine forms of Goddess Parvati are worshipped in the nine days long Navratri puja. Navratri the sacred Hindu festival has two associated legends. The first one is related to the killing of Mahishasur by Durga, and the second is the killing of Ravana by Lord Ram. It is celebrated in the month of Ashwina.
The seventh form of Goddess Parvati is Kaalratri Devi, she also known as Goddess Shubhankari. She is the most ferocious and destructive form of Navdurga, She is is worshipped on the seventh day of Navratri i.e. Saptami.
The Origin Of Maa Kallratri
The narrative behind this her emergence goes this way. There were two demons Rakshas Shumbha-Nishumbha and Raktabeej. They created havoc in heaven and earth. All the lord fought with them but seeing their power, all the demigods went to lord shiva for help. Lord Shiva himself blessed the demons so he could kill them. He asked Devi Parvati to finish them and protect her devotees.
On the orders of Lord Shiva, Maa Parvati manifested the form of Maa Durga and killed Shumbha-Nishumbha. Then she moved to kill raktabeej. Raktbeej has the blessing that wherever his blood will fall new raktabeej will. The same thing happened on the battleground. Millions of raktabeej emerged. Maa Durga then took the form of goddess Kalratri. Every time Maa Durga killed the raktabeej, Maa Kalaratri used to fill his blood in her face and butchered the blood base slitting his throat.
Other Names Of Maa Kalratri
Maa Kalratri is also known by the name Kali, Rudrani, Mahakali, Chamunda, Chandi Bhadrakali, Mrityu, Durga and Bhairavi.
How To Worship Maa Kalratri
Maa Kalratri is known for eliminating darkness if the universe, destroying demon entities, evil spirits, ghosts and negative energies. Thus, chanting the Kaalratri mantra “Oṃ Devī Kālarātryai Namaḥ” can remove all the fear from the heart and make her devotees confident and valiant.
The idolized form of Kalratri Devi is, she is seen seated on a dark black donkey and has four hands.
The hands’ positions in abhaya and varada mudra. Her left hands have an iron hook and sword. Her complexion is dark black in complexion. Those who worship Goddess Kaalratri, h/she gets a protective shield around.
According to beliefs, she contains the whole universe in her third eye present on her forehead.
The favourite Prasad of Maa Kalratri is jaggery. Devotees who offer jaggery in Prasad get relieved from all the pain and obstacles.