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Shailputri (First Avatar )

1st night devoted to the puja of Ma Shailputri. Shail means mountains; Parvati, the daughter of king of

Mountains Himavan, is known as "Shailputri". Her 2 hands, display a trident and a lotus. She is mounted

upon a bull.

Bhramcharni (Second Avatar )

One hand holds a "Kumbha" or water port and the other rosary. She personifies love and loyalty.

Bhramcharni is store-house of knowledge and wisdom. Rudraksha is HER most adorned

ornament.

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Chandraghanta (Third Avatar )

Worshipped on the 3rd night this Ma Durga Shakti is astride a tiger, displays a golden hue to herskin, possesses ten hands and 3 eyes. Eight of her hands display weapons while the remaining

two are respectively in the mudras of gestures of boon giving and stopping harm. Chandra +

Ghanta, meaning supreme bliss and knowledge, showering peace and serenity, like cool breeze

in a moonlit night. Ma is worshipped in this form in Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu) India.

Kushmanda (Fourth Avatar )

The 4th night begins the worship of Kushmanda, possessed of eight arms, holding weapons and a mala

or rosary. Her mount is a tiger and she emanates a solar like aura. "Kumbh Bhand" means to see cosmic

vivacity in Pindi shape or knowledge of cosmic intri cacies in human race.

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Skandamata ( Fifth Avatar )

Using a lion as a vehicle she holds her son, SKAND in her lap while displaying 3eyes and 4 hands; two hands hold lotuses while the other 2 hands respectively

display defending and granting gestures. Its said, by the mercy of Skandmata, even

the idiot becomes an ocean of knowledge

Kaatyayani ( Sixth Avatar )

As mother, Kaatyayani stayed in the Ashram of sage Katyayan for penance, hence

she named as Kaatyayani. This 6th Shakti is also astride a lion with 3 eyes and 4

arms. One left hand holds a weapon and the other a lotus. The other 2 hands

respectively display defending and granting gestures. Her complexion is golden

coloured.

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Kaalratri ( Seventh Avatar )

Black skin with bountiful hair and 4 hands, 2 clutching a cleaver and a torch, while

the remaining 2 are in the mudras of "giving" and "protecting". Her vahana is a

faithful donkey. The destroyer of darkness and ignorance, Kaalratri is the seventh

form of Nav-Durga meaning scourer of darkness; enemy of darkness. Kaalratri's

famous shrine is in Calcutta, India.

Mahagauri ( Eight Avatar )

Four arms with the fairest complexion of all the Durga Shaktis. Peace andcompassion radiate from her being and she is often dressed in a white or green

sari. She holds a drum and a trident and is often depicted riding a bull.

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Siddhiratri ( Nineth Avatar )

Ensconced upon a lotus, most commonly, with 4 arms, and is the possessor of 26different wishes to grant her bhakts. Siddhiratri's famous pilgrim centre, is locatedin Nanda Parvat in the Himalayas.