Navaratri Day 6 - Maa Katyayani

Navaratri Day 6 - Maa Katyayani

The nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped during the days of Navaratri Puja. Devi Katyayani is the sixth manifestation of Goddess Durga and the most prominent deities among all other nine forms of Goddess Durga. According to Hindu mythology Maa Katyayani took birth in the house of sage Katya. Since she was the daughter of sage Katya and so she is well known as Devi Katyayani. On the sixth day of puja she is worshipped by the devotees in the form of daughter. As per Shaktism she is associated with the fierce form of Durga including Bhadrakali and Chandika.

In Hindu mythology it is revealed that sage Katya wanted to get Goddess Durga as his daughter and so he performed very hard penance of Devi Bhagvati. Goddess Bhagvati became pleased with his penance and went before him and blessed him by fulfilling his wish and took birth in his house as his daughter. The planet Brihaspati is believed to be governed by Maa Katyayani. This violent form of Goddess Durga is also known as Warrior Goddess. It is described in Skanda Purana that she has been created from the spontaneous anger of Gods. Eventually she led to slaying the death of Mahishasura – the demon.

Goddess KatyayaniMaa Katyayani has been depicted with four hands. She is found to hold a lotus flower in her upper left hand whereas in her lower left hand she carries a sword. Her upper right hand and lower right hand remain in the postures of defending and blessing. The appearance of Goddess Katyayani is imagined with pink saree and her neck is ornamented with white rosary. She has an immense power to demolish tyranny and torments of giants and demons. The colour of her skin is as bright as gold. She is seen to mount on a lion. Maa Katyayani is highly generous to her devotees and she has a very grand and divine look. When the whole world was in threat of the demon Mahishasura all the Gods including Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva requested Maa Durga to destroy the demon and to save the world form his threats. On their request the sixth manifestation of Goddess Durga took horn on her shoulder and killed all the devils and saved the earth from their harmful destruction.


The legend of Maa Katyayani Vrata is described in the Bhagavata Purana where young ladies of the cowherd men of Gokul in Braja took a vow to get Lord Krishna as their husband. During the month of Margashirsha the unmarried daughters ate only unspiced khichri and bath in the Yamuna river and then worship Goddess Katyayani with aromatic substances like sandal, incense, flowers, fruits, betel nuts, newly grown leaves and fragrant garland. Worshipping goddess Katyayani makes the devotees feel the presence of Agya Chakra in their soul and mind. The devotees who worship her with absolute self sacrifice win the heart of Devi Katyayani and she accomplishes true desires of her devotees. There are many temples of Maa Katyayani in India.

Article II:

 The 6th day of Navaratri festival is dedicated to Maa Katyayani, the 6th Avtar of Goddess Durga. Once there was a great sage named Katya and it was his wish that Maa Durga be born his daughter. He practiced austere penance for several years to please the Gods. The trinity of Gods – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva – got enraged and they designed Goddess Durga, who was an end result of the abilities of all deities. Since she was born to Katya, she was called Katyayani.

Maa Katyayani has 3 eyes and 4 hands. She holds a sword in Her one left-hand and a lotus in another. The other 2 hands respectively show protecting and allowing actions. If you make vow of fasting and worshipping her, she would bless you with the husband you have wished and prayed for. If a lady’s marriage is getting delayed due to one or the other reason, she may worship Maa Katyayani to remove obstacles that may be causing delays in her marriage.

Maa also blesses you with better health and wealth. By worshipping Maa Katyayani, you may develop great strength to fight all disease, sorrows and fears. In order to destruct the sins accumulated over your several lives, you should religiously worship Maa Katyayani.

Chant this mantra to worship Goddess Katyayani…

कात्यायनि महामाये महायोगिन्यधीश्वरि ।
नन्द गोपसुतं देविपतिं मे कुरु ते नमः ॥

Kātyāyani mahāmāyē mahāyōgin’yadhīśvari |
Nanda gōpasutaṁ dēvipatiṁ mē kuru tē namaḥ ||