#NavShakti: Chandraghanta

Different avatars of Maa Durga and the legend signifies the meaning and importance of each day of the festival. The third day of Navratri is committed to Maa Chandraghanta, who is assumed to be the Shakti of Shiva. Maa Chandraghanta is also denoted as the married form of Maa Parvati. 

The legend tells us that after years of severe penance and sacrifices made by Parvati, Shiva was finally impressed by her and agreed to the marriage. Their marriage preparations were at full blast. Everyone was genuinely happy about their marriage. Lord Shiva came with a huge marriage procession with ghosts, aghoris, ascetics, sprites, and goblins. Shiva himself was covered in ashes and snakes all around his neck and even hair, it was a terrifying scene for Parvati’s relatives. Almost everyone blacked out of fright. Maa Parvati too was frightened, but she did not want to give up, after all, she suffered for love. She transformed herself into a reverence avatar- Chandraghanta. She was mounted on a tiger, her complexion was gold-colored, her forehead graced with crescent moon, her 10 hands held different weapons such as trishula, gada, bow-arrow, kamandal, kamala, and one hand in a blessing posture. She prayed to Lord Shiva to turn into a charming man and turn his marriage procession impressive. Lord Shiva reappeared as a handsome man wearing jewels and they got married. The day of their marriage came to be known as MAHA SHIVRATRI. 

Maa Chandraghanta is the goddess of bravery and courage. She is known to destroy all the evils and wicked beings but at the same time, she is a compassionate mother to her devotees. She takes all the physical and mental sufferings and blesses people with bravery, love, serenity, and success.