Celebrating Ma Katyayani: The Slayer of Sins

On the sixth day of Navratri we celebrate and worship Ma Katyayani. But why do we do so? What is her story? How did she become the symbol of courage and bravery? Let us read ahead and find out answers to all the questions.

Maa Katyayani. Image Credits: News18

A precious festival of the Hindus, Navratri is the nine day celebration of the divine feminine. On the sixth day, we celebrate the goddess of courage and power, and pray to the most worshipped form of Durga, Ma Katyayani.

There is an interesting legend that surrounds the story of Katyayani Devi. It is said that a sage named Katyayana was an ardent devotee of the Goddess Shakti. He would pray day and night without fail for Goddess Shakti to be born as his daughter. And his prayers didn’t go unanswered.

In the same timeline, the mighty embodiment of evil itself, Mahishasura, was raging with increasing power and threatened all the Gods. As the situation progressively started to get bitter, Goddess Shakti decided to take things in her own hands and was born as Katyayani, the daughter of Sage Katyayana.

Devi Katyayani was armed with impeccable power from the Trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, who came together to pass on their combined energy to her, to ensure she defeats Mahishasura, her sole purpose of this life.

After her birth, she proceeded to grow up into a beautiful young woman, with ample strength and bravery. Gradually the day came when Chandha and Mundha (they were a part of Mahishasura’s kingdom according to Vamana Purana) spotted Katyayani and got mesmerized by her glow and beauty. They immediately reported the same to Mahishasura.

Delighted, Mahishasura asked his messenger, Dundubhi to go ahead with a proposal from his side. When Dundhubi finally met Katyayani, he extended the proposal but she definitely had other plans. Katyayani instead proposed that Mahishasura had to defeat her in battle, only upon which would she agree to the marriage. As confident as Mahishasura was of his skills, he simply agreed.

Very soon with all the preparations, the battle begun. As Mahishasura changed his form into a buffalo mid battle, it became difficult for Katyayani to tackle and defeat him. But with her intelligence, she soon found a way.

Katyayani climbed on Mahishasura’s back and with a foot on his neck, pierced him with her fearsome trishul and cut off his head. This marked her victory as she defeated the greatest force of evil.

Devi Katyayani thus became the symbol for bravery, courage and intelligence. She started to be worshipped for her great triumph and mighty victory. She is known to help her worshippers by washing away their sins and remove any negativity and clear their paths.

Celebrating her on the sixth day of Navratri, she is often offered fresh flowers along with honey and prasad (a devotional offering made to a god). Her Matras are always sung with a lotus in one’s hand, just like her idol self.

This year, as we celebrate Navratri, may we find the courage and bravery hidden in us and muster up the confidence and find the light to stand up for every evil that comes our way.

Ma Katyayani, Source: Wikimedia Commons