Story of NavDurga

(Day – 9)

Story of Maa Siddhidatri

9. Story of Maa Siddhidatri

On the ninth day of the nine-day-long Hindu festival of Navratri, we worship the ninth form of Devi Durga. The ninth form of Devi Durga is Maa Siddhidatri. It is said that at the beginning of time when there was nothing in the universe, there was only darkness then Maa Kushmanda created the universe using her radiant smile. Maa Kushmanda also created the holy trinity. She created Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma, and Lord Vishnu, and each one of these gods was given a job to do. Brahma is the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer.

Once Shiva went and prayed to Maa Kushmanda and asked her for more perfection. He asked Maa Kushmanda to bestow him with lots and lots of blessings, to bestow him with more perfection. Then Maa Kushmanda created another goddess, her name is Maa Siddhidatri. Maa Siddhidatri blessed Shiva not just with eight or 'Ashta-siddhis' but with 18 Siddhis or 18 perfections. These 18 comprised not just the 'Ashta-siddhis' or the eight perfections, but also ten more Siddhis which are the secondary perfections as defined by Lord Krishna.

Then something amazing happened, half of Lord Shiva's body became one with Maa Siddhidatri. She became half of Shiva and that form is called "Ardhanarishwar". Maa Siddhidatri also blessed Brahma and Vishnu with eight perfections or the 'Ashta-siddhis' and these eight perfections are:

1. Anima: The ability to become as small as an atom.

2. Mahima: The ability to become infinitely large.

3. Garima: The ability to become infinitely heavy.

4. Laghima: The ability to become infinitely light.

5. Prapti: The ability to become omnipresent.

6. Prakhambya: The ability to make all that you desire come true.

7. Ishitva: Lordship.

8. Vashitva: The power to conquer all.

Maa Siddhidatri sits on a lotus and her ride is a lion. She has four hands. On one hand, she carries a Gada (Weapon of Hanuman), in one a Chakra, in one a lotus, and one a Shunk. Maa Siddhidatri is not just worshipped by humans she is worshipped by Devatas (Gods), by the Gandharvas, by the Asuras or Demons, by the Yakshas, and by the Siddhas.

Conclusion:

As we come to the end of this nine-day-long festival of Navratri and after we've read all the nine stories of the various forms of Devi Durga or Shakti. As I mentioned Shakti is synonymous with power, empowerment, and energy. Navratri is celebrated to pray to that female energy that brings about a balance in the universe. Here is wishing all of you Very Happy Navratri, wishing all of you that energy, that aura that lies within yourself.