Maa Katyayini is The Sixth Manifestation of Durga

कात्यायनि महामाये महायोगिन्यधीश्वरि । 

नन्द गोपसुतं देविपतिं मे कुरु ते नमः ॥

Katyayani Mahamaye Mahayoginyadheeshwari ।

Nandgopsutam Devipatim Me Kuru te Namah ॥

 

Maa Katyayini is the sixth manifestation of Durga and one of the prominent deities among Navdurga. She is grandly worshipped on the sixth day of Navratri pooja. Her appearance is immensely majestic and divine. According to a legend, there was a sage named Kat. His son “Katyayana” observed a hard penance and long austerities to receive the grace of the Goddess Durga. Kata was very famous and renowned in the ancestry of saints. The Goddess was pleased with the hard penance of Maharishi Katyayana and took birth on the earth as a daughter. In texts like the Kalika Purana, it is mentioned that it was Rishi Kaytyayan who first worshipped her, hence she came to known as 'Katyayani.

To destroy demon Mahishasura, Goddess Parvati took the form of Goddess Katyayani. It was the most violent form of Goddess Parvati. In this form Goddess Parvati is also known as Warrior Goddess.

Her appearance is imagined with pink Saree wearing white rosary on her neck. Goddess Katyayani also represents divine power for demolishing tyranny and torments of demons and giants. Goddess Katyayani rides on the magnificent lion and depicted with four hands carries lotus flower and sword in her right hands and keeps her left hands in Abhaya and Varada Mudras.

To get God Krishna as a husband gopis worship Maa Katyayani in Vraj. So she is established as the Queen of Vraj. There is a very famous temple in Delhi (Chhattarpur) of Maa. This shrine is dedicated to Goddess Katyayani, whose “darshan” can be availed only on “Ashtami” falling in every month. The golden image of Katyayani attracts the attention of devotees with its huge size and sheer divinity.

Delightful Devi Katyayini bestows copious fruitful results to her devotees. On the auspicious sixth day of Navratri Pooja, devotees grandly perform Pooja and offer customs, rituals to this divine Goddess. It is also believed that while worshipping Devi Katyayini on the Shashti (sixth day) of Durga Pooja, devotees feel presence of Agya Chakra in their mind and soul. Agya Chakra shows the light to devotees to completely sacrifice everything for Goddess Katyayini. Through this Chakra, devotees get influenced for Sampurna Atmadan (Absolute self-sacrifice) at asylum of devi Katyayini.

Goddess Katyayani eliminates all the troubles and sufferings from the life of her devotees. The devotee feels a strong sense of enlightenment by worshipping her. The pooja of Mata Katyayani ,observed with devotion and faith, leads  to the attainment of Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.

Bhog Offered to Mata Katyayani

On this day, Honey is offered as Bhog to Maa Katyayani. This makes the devotee more attractive.