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Shailaputri means "daughter of the mountain." In a previous birth she was Sati, daughter of Daksha. After Sati immolated herself at Daksha's yagna because of the insults to Lord Shiva, Shiva destroyed the yagna. Sati was reborn as Parvati, daughter of Himavat (the mountain king), and came to be known as Shailaputri. From a young age she performed rigorous penance and devotion to Shiva, and eventually became his consort.

Worship of Shailaputri on the first day of Navratri is associated with awakening the Muladhara (root) chakra, gaining strength and stability, and beginning the spiritual journey. She is depicted riding a bull, Nandi, holding a trident and a lotus, symbolizing control over the physical, mental, and spiritual realms and purity of intent.

Brahmacharini is Parvati in her austere, ascetic form. After the self-immolation of Sati, Parvati performed severe penance for thousands of years to win Shiva's heart. Initially she survived on fruits and flowers, progressed to leaves, and finally renounced food and water. Her unwavering tapasya moved Shiva, who accepted her as his consort. She holds a japa mala (rosary) and a kamandalu (water pot).

Devotees invoke Brahmacharini for determination, self-discipline, concentration, and marital blessings. Her worship cultivates inner willpower, control over desires, and spiritual progress.

Chandraghanta took form on the day of Parvati and Shiva's wedding, when Parvati transformed to calm her frightened family by appearing magnificent and armed. She bears a crescent moon on her forehead that resembles a bell (ghanta). In this form she is serene yet battle-ready, with ten arms carrying weapons and two hands in boon-giving and fear-dispelling gestures.

Worshipping Chandraghanta brings courage, peace, removal of sins and obstacles, and helps purify the solar plexus (Manipura). She represents calm strength and the ability to face fears with serenity.

Kushmanda's name breaks into "Ku" (a little), "Ushma" (warmth/energy) and "Anda" (cosmic egg). She is the creator who produced the universe from the cosmic egg with a divine smile, and is associated with the sun's energy. From her emanations arose various divine aspects, and she enabled the Trimurti to carry out creation, preservation, and destruction.

Devotees worship Kushmanda for health, vitality, wealth, intelligence, and to dispel ailments. She is depicted with eight arms holding various items such as a kamandalu, bow, arrow, lotus, jar of nectar, discus and mace.

Skandamata is the mother of Kartikeya (Skanda), the war god. When the gods needed a warrior to defeat the demon Tarakasura, the divine child (Skanda) was born in miraculous circumstances and raised by the Krittikas. Parvati as Skandamata nurtured and raised him. She is often shown holding the infant Skanda on her lap, embodying maternal protection and strength.

Worshipping Skandamata blesses devotees with children, protection for offspring, wisdom and knowledge. Her worship is believed to purify and help seekers advance toward salvation.

Katyayani emerged when the gods pooled their energies to create a warrior goddess to slay Mahishasura. She was worshipped by Sage Katyayana and thus named Katyayani. Endowed with weapons from the gods, she rode into battle and killed demons who threatened the cosmos.

Devotees pray to Katyayani for removal of obstacles, marital harmony, courage, and strength. Unmarried girls traditionally worship her seeking a worthy husband, inspired by stories of devoted maidens who attained their desires by penance to Katyayani.

Kalaratri is the terrifying form who emerged during the battle with the demon Raktabija. Raktabija's boon caused him to clone himself from each drop of spilled blood. Kalaratri consumed the demon's blood and his clones, preventing further replication and ending his terror. Though fearsome in appearance, she is compassionate—her fierce form protects the world.

Worship of Kalaratri removes fear, negative energies, suffering, and obstacles, and is associated with opening the crown (Sahasrara) chakra and overcoming deep ignorance. She is considered auspicious despite her terrifying form.

Mahagauri is the radiant form that appears after Parvati's long penance. After exhausting herself with austerities and becoming darkened by ascetic hardship, Shiva bathed her in the river Ganga and restored her radiant, fair form—Mahagauri. She symbolizes purity, penance, and the transformative power of devotion.

Devotees worship Mahagauri for purification of sins, fulfillment of desires, harmony, and spiritual upliftment. She is associated astrologically with Rahu and is invoked to mitigate its malefic effects.

Siddhidhatri is the ultimate form who bestows all supernatural perfections (Ashta Siddhis). At the beginning of creation, she manifested and granted the gods their powers. She is depicted seated on a lotus, with four arms holding the discus, conch, mace and lotus, symbolizing perfection and divine authority.

Worship of Siddhidhatri on the final day of Navratri celebrates the culmination of the spiritual journey, the granting of siddhis and knowledge, removal of ignorance, and fulfillment of worldly and spiritual aspirations. She governs the planet Ketu in Vedic astrology.

Vijayadashami (Dussehra) marks the victory of righteousness—celebrating Rama's defeat of Ravana, Durga's slaying of Mahishasura, and the Pandavas' reclaiming of their power. Observed on the tenth day, it symbolizes the final triumph of dharma over adharma and is a day for new beginnings, Vidyarambham (initiation into learning), and thanksgiving for harvests and blessings.

Regional observances vary: effigy burning of Ravana (North India), Durga visarjan (East India), royal processions (Mysore), and Ayudha Puja/Vidyarambham in the South. The day is auspicious for starting ventures and celebrating the inner victory over ego, lust, anger and other vices.