Navaratri 2023 Day 3: Worshipping Maa Chandraghanta, a symbol of peace and protection

Team Udayavani, Oct 17, 2023, 8:19 AM IST

On the third day of Navaratri, devotees across the globe worship the benevolent avatar of Goddess Durga – Maa Chandraghanta. This revered manifestation is synonymous with peace, calm, and purity, offering solace to those in search of spiritual tranquility.

The name ‘Chandraghanta’ is a fusion of two words, ‘Chandra,’ signifying the moon, and ‘Ghanta,’ meaning bell. Consequently, Chandraghanta embodies the graceful silhouette of a bell-shaped half-moon. This distinctive imagery mirrors the divine essence that Maa Chandraghanta encapsulates.

Maa Chandraghanta is revered as the wedded form of Maa Parvati. According to Drik Panchang, after her union with Lord Shiva, Maa Mahagowri adorned her forehead with a crescent moon, thus assuming the name Goddess Chandraghanta.

Her portrayal is striking; seated atop a majestic tigress, she is depicted with ten hands, each graced with a lotus flower, arrow, Dhanush, and Japa Mala. Her fourth right hand extends in the Abhaya Mudra, while the fifth right hand and the fifth left hand extend in Varada Mudra.

In artistic representations, Goddess Chandraghanta commands a regal presence, perched upon a formidable tiger or lion. Her ten hands cradle precious symbols, each laden with symbolic significance. The enduring presence of her blessings gesture, known as abhayamudra, exudes an aura of protection and benevolence.

Maa Chandraghanta is celebrated as the embodiment of serenity within Maa Parvati. Legend has it that the resonance emanating from the moon and bell adorning her forehead possesses the power to ward off malevolent spirits from her devout followers.

In the annals of mythology, it is recounted that during her epic battle with demons, the reverberations of her bell dispatched legions of nefarious entities to the realm of the God of Death.

Devotees fervently believe that Goddess Chandraghanta possesses the unique ability to dispel afflictions, absolve sins, and alleviate both emotional and physical suffering. Her avatar embodies a profound sense of dignity, humility, and grace.

Goddess Chandraghanta is venerated as the very essence of Lord Shiva’s Shakti, a testament to which is the consecration of the third day in honor of the Chandraghanta avatar.