The 9-day Navratri has started from October 15 and today Goddess Katyayani will be worshiped on Shashthi. From Anshul Pandey, experts in religious texts know and understand the importance of the story and worship of Maa Katyayani.
Sixth day: – Maa Katyayani
The presiding deity of the sixth day of Navratri is ‘Maa Katyayani’. According to Navadurga Granth (a reputed publication), there are many stories behind the origin of their name. Maharishi ‘Katya’ was the son of Kat Rishi. Maharishi ‘Katyayan’ was his descendant. Since the credit for first worshiping Mother Parvati/Katyayani after severe penance goes to Maharishi Katyayan.
Therefore this mother was named Goddess Katyayani. Katyayan Maharishi insisted that the goddess should be born in his house as a daughter. From his birth on Ashwin Krishna Chaturdashi till Shukla Saptami, Ashtami Navami, he accepted the worship done by Katyayan for three days and killed Mahishasura on Dashami. The gods had filled them with infallible powers.
On the sixth day, the mind of the seeker is situated in the Ajna Chakra. Infinite powers are transmitted in it. He can now see the divine form of the mother. The devotee gets all the happiness. Sorrows, poverty and sins are destroyed.
She is of divine and grand form. They are of auspicious color and are adorned with golden aura. Out of his four arms, the upper hand on the right side is situated in Abhaya Mudra and the lower hand is situated in Vara Mudra. There is a sword in the upper hand in the left hand and a lotus in the lower hand. His vehicle is also Leo.
Their mantra is :-
She carried the bridegroom of a tiger with a bright smile like the moon
May goddess Katyayani destroyer of demons bestow auspicious blessings
This mother was the presiding deity of entire Braj. At the time of Chir Haran, Mother Radha and other Gopis had gone to worship this Mother. Katyayani Mata is also described in Bhagwat Purana 10.22.1, the verse is: –
In the first month of winter, the princesses of Nanda and Traja are born. They continued to eat ghee and worship the goddess Kātyāyanī.
That is: – Sri Shukadevaji says: Parikshit. Now winter came. In the very first month, Margashirsa, the maidens of Nanda Baba’s Vraja began to worship and observe the fast of Goddess Katyayani. They ate only Havishyaanna.
According to Devi Purana, a feast should be organized for 6 girls on this day. Women wear gray colored sarees on this day.
