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प्रथमं शैलपुत्रीति द्वितीयं ब्रह्मचारिणी ।
देव्याः कवचम्
तृतीयं चन्द्रघण्टेति कूष्माण्डेति चतुर्थकम् ॥
पञ्चमं स्कन्दमातेति षष्ठं कात्यायनी तथा ।
सप्तमं कालरात्रिश्च महागौरीति चाष्टमम् ॥
नवमं सिद्धिदात्री च नवदुर्गाः प्रकीर्तिताः ।
उक्तान्येतानि नामानि ब्रह्मणैव महात्मना ॥
prathamaṃ śailaputrīti dvitīyaṃ brahmacāriṇī |
Devyāḥ Kavacam
tṛtīyaṃ candraghaṇṭeti kūṣmāṇḍeti caturthakam ||
pañcamaṃ skandamāteti ṣaṣṭhaṃ kātyāyanī tathā |
saptamaṃ kālarātriśca mahāgaurīti cāṣṭamam ||
navamaṃ siddhidātrī ca navadurgāḥ prakīrtitāḥ |
uktānyetāni nāmāni brahmaṇaiva mahātmanā ||
First is Śailaputrī, second is Brahmacāriṇī,
third is Candraghaṇṭā, Kūṣmāṇḍā is fourth;
fifth is Skandamatā, sixth is Kātyāyanī,
and seventh is Kālaratri, and Mahāgaurī is eighth;
and ninth is Siddhidātrī, these are well-known as the Navadurgās,
these names were indeed uttered by the great Lord Brahma himself.
This is the third article in the Navadurgā series, describing the third of the Navadurgā Devīs, who is worshiped on the tṛtīya tithi, Devī Candraghaṇṭā. Part 1 on Śailaputrī Devī can be accessed here and Part 2 on Brahmacāriṇī Devī here.
|| Tṛtīyaṃ Candraghaṇṭā Iti ||
पिण्डजप्रवरारूढा
श्री नवदुर्गा स्तोत्रम्
चन्दकोपास्त्रकैर्युता ।
प्रसादं तनुते मह्यम्
चन्द्रघण्टेति विश्रुता ॥ ३ ॥
piṇḍajapravarārūḍhā
Śrī Navadurgā Stotram
candakopāstrakairyutā |
prasādaṃ tanute mahyam
candraghaṇṭeti viśrutā || 3 ||
She who rides on a tiger,
who is displays severe anger on the wicked, who is accompanied by weapons,
please bestow your grace on me,
O Goddess Candraghaṇṭā, the omnipresent.
Devī Candraghaṇṭā has a half-moon (candra) in the shape of a bell (ghaṇṭa) at her forehead - representing supreme bliss and knowledge, showering peace and serenity, like a cool breeze in a moonlit night. By her blessings all the hindrances coming in the way of a person are removed. Her pleasant looks clear all sorrows and any sadness of her devotees. She grants eternal strength and happiness throughout one’s life. The color of her body is golden and she has three eyes; and her vāhana the tiger represents dharma, valor, and fearlessness.
Candraghaṇṭā Devī is a daśabhuja Navadurgā, having ten hands, the majority of them holding weapons. In her five left hands, she holds the triśūla (trident), gadā (mace), khaḍga (sword), kamaṇḍalū, and finally the fifth in varada mudrā - granting wishes of her bhaktas. In her right hands, she holds padma (lotus), bāṇa (arrow), cāpa (bow), mālā, and the fifth in abhaya hasta or mudra - granting fearlessness to her bhaktas. Candraghaṇṭā is ready to destroy the wicked, but to her devotees she is the kind and compassionate Mother Goddess who showers peace and prosperity upon them.
Goddess Durgā in her previous birth was known as Satī, the daughter of Dakṣa Prajāpati. She was next born into the house of Parvata Rāja Himavān, and known as Śailaputrī - the first Navadurgā form. Then, guided by the instructions of Devarṣi Nārada, she practiced extremely difficult penances in the forest in order to obtain Lord Śiva as her divine consort. Due to her unearthly penances there for thousands of years, she gained the name and form of Brahmacāriṇī - the second Navadurgā form. Devī Brahmacāriṇī finally did attain Lord Śiva as her husband. After marriage, he adorned the Goddess`s forehead with a candra (moon) made from candana (sandalwood). Thus, Candraghaṇṭā.
अष्टमीचन्द्र-विभ्राज-दलिकस्थल-शोभिता ।
ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्रम्
मुखचन्द्र-कलङ्काभ-मृगनाभि-विशेषका ॥ ५ ॥
aṣṭamīcandra-vibhrāja-dalikasthala-śobhitā |
Lalitā Sahasranāma Stotram
mukhacandra-kalaṅkābha-mṛganābhi-viśeṣakā || 5 ||
Mā Candraghaṇṭā is one who establishes justice. Her roaring voice makes demonic forces tremble. She is also known as Caṇḍikā or Raṇacaṇḍī, a fierce incarnation of Śrī Pārvatī; and it is she who killed the asuras Mahiṣa (Mahiṣāsura), Dhūmralocana, Caṇḍa and Muṇḍa, Raktabīja, Niśumbha, and Śumbha, along with their demonic hordes. She did this with the help of Goddess Kālī, Kauśikī and other devīs. These battle-ground triumphs are described in Śrī Durgāsaptaśatī, the Caṇḍī pāṭha; within the third, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth adhyāyas or chapters respectively.
Caṇḍikā is always ready for wars and battles, and fights against all sorts of demonic entities including monsters, beasts, ghosts, evil spirits, ogres, demonesses, negative energies, elusive powers, and mystical forces. These entities also flee the battlefield like cowards when they see her violent, ghastly, intense, fierce, fearsome, ferocious, frightening, horrifying, terrible, and most dangerous shadow - simply on knowing upon her arrival! And during battles between her and the demons, the terrifying sound produced by her bell sent thousands of them to the abode of Yama Rāja. She is ever in a warring posture, which shows her eagerness to destroy the foes of her devotees - so that they may live in peace and prosperity.
Candraghaṇṭā is the Goddess of spiritual and internal power. It is said that people with unnecessary enemies and severe obstacles in life should worship the Goddess to set themselves free. And it is seen that those who adore and worship Candraghaṇṭā develop an aura of divine splendor. They emit subtle power-waves which exercise a great impact on those who come into contact with them. They easily achieve success in life.
In Durgā Pūjā, the third day of Navarātrī where Candraghaṇṭā is worshiped is crucial. This day, the mind of the sādhaka enters the maṇipūra cakra. Located in the upper abdomen, this solar plexus cakra influences personal power, self-esteem, and courage. Awakening the solar plexus chakra empowers individuals to face adversity with confidence and strength.
मणिपूराब्ज-निलया वदनत्रय-संयुता ।
ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्रम्
वज्रादिकायुधोपेता डामर्यादिभिरावृता ॥ १०२ ॥
maṇipūrābja-nilayā vadanatraya-saṃyutā |
Lalitā Sahasranāma Stotram
vajrādikāyudhopetā ḍāmaryādibhirāvṛtā || 102 ||
In this stage of discipline, the sādhaka is required to be most careful. Yet, the sound of her bell always protects her devotees from evil spirits. As soon as the sādhaka invokes her on tṛtīya, her bell immediately becomes active and starts ringing to protect the devotee under her shelter. Divine vision is acquired by her grace. If a devotee happens to enjoy some divine fragrance and hears diverse sounds, he is said to be blessed by the Mother. And by her grace, all the pāpa of the sādhaka are burnt up, and all obstacles removed. Her worship is instantly fruitful.
Mā Candraghaṇṭā symbolizes bravery and fearlessness. Her celestial body is Venus, and her favorite flower is the lotus. Her favorite color is red, and she is adorned in a red saree as well.
This tṛtīya, may we attain fearlessness and sheer strength, power, through the upāsanā of Devī Candraghaṇṭā.
Next - Kūṣmāṇḍā | Navadurgā - Part 4
References
- Śrī Durgā Saptaśatī, Devī Māhātmyam, Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa
- Navadurgā Stotram
- Śrī Lalitā Sahasranāma Stotram, Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa
- Durga Puja or Navaratri
- Navadurga Symbolism of Chakra Awakening
- Significance of Navadurga
- 9 Divine Forms of Goddess Durga