Goddess Chandraghantha is honoured and worshipped on the third day of the Navaratri. The Goddess Chandraghantha is yet another avatar of Goddess Durga. In this incarnation, Goddess Chandraghantha is fearless, and her sheer looks can send shivers down the spine of the evil demons and Asuras. Devotees praying to Maa Chandraghantha are bestowed with courage and bravery to fight their inner devils.

Origin and meaning of the name

The name Chandraghantha comes from two words, Chandra meaning a crescent-shaped moon and Ghantha meaning a bell.

Depiction of the Goddess

The Devi adorns a crescent moon-shaped ornament or a bell on her forehead. The complexion of the Goddess is bright and golden, and she rides a lion. Her third eye remains open (on her forehead), and she is depicted with ten hands, each carrying a unique weapon.

STORY BEHIND THE AVATAR

When Devi Sati immolates herself, she is reborn in this world. According to the Puranas, King Himavan was childless and worshipped Adi Shakthi for a child. Devi Shakthi is pleased with his devotion and was born as his daughter - Parvathi.

Meanwhile, after losing Sati, Lord Shiva went into deep penance, removing himself from worldly affairs. When Goddess Parvathi undertook her Tapas, Lord Shiva relented his resolve and agreed to marry Devi Parvathi.

Seeing the resolve of Parvathi, her parents, Himavan and Hema agreed to the marriage. The day of the marriage came. Lord Shiva arrived at King Himavan’s palace. He looked terrifying, with ash smeared all over his body and long locks of unruly and unkempt matted hair flying in all directions. Lord Shiva wore snakes around his neck and was clothed in a dress made from the skin of a Tiger. He was accompanied to the palace by a strange procession, including gods, sages, Shivaghanas, mortals, Ahoris, ghosts, and ghouls. Seeing this strange procession, the parents and the relatives of Parvathi fainted.

In order to avoid confusion and embarrassment, Maa Parvathi assumed the form of Goddess Chandraghantha. In this form, she turned golden with weapons in her ten hands. Then, she prayed to Lord Shiva and persuaded him to take a more charming form. Hence, Lord Shiva transformed himself into a handsome and pleasing person.

The friends and relatives of Parvathi woke up from their trance to see a Young and handsome Shiva. The marriage between Goddess Parvathi and Lord Shiva took place.

Maa Chandraghantha is the epitome of kindness, compassion and love for her devotees, but can be terrifying for the Demons.

Vaishnavi Gurusankar is a passionate educator, a wife and a mother. She has over a decade of experience as an educator and has been closely working with teachers and children of all ages. She is also an active parenting blogger and founder of Magical Unicorn, an exclusive parenting blog founded on Indian ethos, values and stories at its core. She has also authored the book "Bharatyam : Science behind Hindu Practices & Way of Life"