In Hinduism, nine nights are devoted to Goddess Durga’s different forms, offering prayers to her nine forms one by one, each day. Her every form furls a story of her victory over bad and evil, which is remembered by her devotees with nine days long fast and dandiya (Garba) performances.
The celebration takes place at a grand level in huge pandals and the goddess is pleased with joyful worships and enactments.
This Sneh Post discloses knowledge about Navratri day 7 and the goddess of the seventh day of Navratri, “Kalaratri”.
About Navratri Day 7
Kalaratri Puja on Saptami (Navratri Durga Puja on Day 7)
The Kalaratri Devi devotees offer worship to seek blessings of Devi Durga as Kalaratri Devi is her form. Many call this day Durga Puja Day 7 too.
Kalaratri Puja Vidhi
Worship Rituals
Significance of Kalaratri Puja
Goddess Kalaratri is believed to be the most furious avatar of Goddess Durga. The followers of Kalaratri believe that she had donned black, dark-colored skin and had destroyed the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha (Also spelled as Sumbha and Nisumbha).
It is believed that the Goddess Parvati appears with rage this day and her fiery skin turns black when she takes the furious form of Kalaratri for killing the demons.
The Kalaratri goddess worshippers believe that their Devi governs the planet Shani.
About Goddess Kalaratri
Devnagari Name: Kalaratri
Origin
Once there were two Asura (demons) that were called Shumbha and Nishumbha. They terrified all the Devas (angelic saints) and righteous people with their unrighteous deeds.
No Deva could face and fight them and there came the need of restoring the Dharma. Then Goddess Parvati left her golden skin and donned the Avatar Goddess Kalaratri. She killed both Shumbha and Nishumbha demons, wearing her fiercest form of Devi Durga.
Even now, whenever her ferocious form is depicted, portrayed, or enacted, it brings a fearful breeze among the believers also.
Nomenclature
The word Kalaratri is made of two Sanskrit words ‘Kala’ and ‘Ratri’. Here Kala means ‘the Kaal’ or ‘death’ and Ratri means ‘night’.
Goddess Kalaratri is also known as Goddess Shubhankari because she incorporates the power of Shubha (auspicious) within her warrior form.
Depiction of Kalaratri
Goddess Kalaratri is portrayed in a very dark complexion. The mount or Vahana she rides is “Donkey” on which she travels.
She possesses four hands. Her two left hands hold a Talwar (sword) and the iron hook which seem deadly. The other two right hands are posed in Abhaya Mudra and Varada Mudra.
Here Abhaya Mudra makes her worshippers feel fearless because their Goddess Kalaratri is there to save them from every kind of ferocious evil. The Varada Mudra is a form of hand that depicts the posture of bestowing blessings.
Kalaratri goddess is also depicted with white-colored attires wrapped on her black-colored skin.
Favorite Flower
Her favorite flower is “Raat Ki Raani” (Night Blooming Jasmine).
