Day six of the Navaratri celebrations is dedicated to the worship of Devi Katyayani. She is also known as Mahisasuramardini ( since she killed the demon king Mahishasura). Devi Katyayani is a warrior. This Devi is prayed mainly by unmarried young girls who offer Sandalwood paste, fruits, flowers, and light lamps. According to the Bhagavata Purana ( 10th Canto, 22nd chapter), many young marriageable girls of Gokula worshipped Goddess Katyayani. They observed a vow during the entire first month of the winter season (to marry Lord Krishna). At dawn, they bathed in the waters of the Yamuna River, ate an un-spiced mixture of khichdi ( rice and lentils) and worshipped the clay model of Goddess Katyayani. Hence, nowadays, unmarried girls pray to Goddess Katyayani to get a good husband.

Origin and meaning of the name

According to the Vamana Purana, the Gods were angry at the demon Mahisasura. This anger resulted in fierce energy rays from the Gods. Rishi Katyayani crystallised these rays into a proper form, hence the name Katyayani, which means “ daughter of Katyayan”.

Depiction of the Goddess

Maa Katyayani is one of the most ferocious avatars of Goddess Durga. She is depicted with four hands, and illustrated riding a lion. She holds a sword in one of her left hands and a lotus flower in the other. Her right hands are in Abhaya Mudra and Varada Mudra.

The story behind the Avatar

The Vamana Purana describes Goddess Katyayani in great detail. In ancient times, there lived a saint called Katyayan. He had no children. He performed many Yajnas and undertook a penance. He longed for Devi Durga to be born as his child. Devi Durga was happy with the level of dedication of the saint and granted him his wish.

Meanwhile, the demon Mahishasura performed many penance and obtained boons from the Gods. He had the face of a buffalo and was extremely strong. The demon obtained a boon from Lord Brahma that no one would be strong enough to kill him and that if he were to die, it would only be in the hands of a woman.

The demon Mahishasura was creating havoc on Earth and disturbing the Devas. The various Gods were extremely troubled by his behaviour. They approached Lord Vishnu to save them. Lord Vishnu decided to end the atrocities of the demon and called upon Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma ( The holy Trinity). This Holy Trinity combined their powers/energies to create the divine energy form of Goddess Katyayani in the hermitage of Saint Katyayan, who was the first to worship the Divine Goddess. Thus, Goddess Katyayani came into existence.

Goddess Katyayani was equipped fully with powerful weapons( from various Gods) such as a trident, discus, sword, shield and conch. She marched ahead with her army to wage a war against the demon Mahishasura. The Goddess was so strikingly beautiful that the demon wanted to marry her. But, the Goddess smiled and declared war instead. She fought fiercely. Finally, Goddess Katyayani cut off the head of the demon with her sword. All the Devas and other Gods hailed her as Mahishasuramardhini.

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"