share this article
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 article is Part 9 in the Navadurgā series, describing the ninth of the Navadurgās, Devī Siddhidātrī, who is worshiped on the navamī tithi. The previous installments of the series can be accessed below:
- Part 1 on Śailaputrī Devī
- Part 2 on Brahmacāriṇī Devī
- Part 3 on Candraghaṇṭā Devī
- Part 4 on Kūṣmāṇḍā Devī
- Part 5 on Skandamātā Devī
- Part 6 on Kātyāyanī Devī
- Part 7 on Kālarātrī Devī
- Part 8 on Mahāgaurī Devī
|| Navamaṃ Siddhidātrī Ca ||
सिद्धगन्धर्वयक्षाद्यैरसुरैरमरैरपि ।
श्री नवदुर्गा स्तोत्रम्
सेव्यमाना सदा भूयात्सिद्धिदा सिद्धिदायिनी ॥
siddha-gandharva-yakṣādyair-asurair-amarair-api |
Śrī Navadurgā Stotram
sevyamānā sadā bhūyāt-siddhidā siddhidāyinī ||
From the Siddhas, Gandharvas, Yakṣas, etc, even the Asuras, and Amaras (Suras) -
She who is served by them always, please bestow me siddhis, O Goddess Siddhidātrī.
Devī is worshiped as the Navadurgā Siddhidātrī on the navamī tithi. She is the mūla rūpa (original form) of Mā Pārvatī and blesses devotees with the aṣṭa (eight) siddhis. She also grants theaṣṭa siddhis (and nava niddhis) caturvidha puruṣārthas - dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa - and represents spiritual knowledge and inner wisdom. It is Siddidhātrī Mā who grants Lord Śiva with the form of Ardhanārīśvarī, half Śiva and half Pārvatī - representing both Puruṣa and Prakṛti residing in the same body.
It is said in our śāstra that Siddhidātrī Devī gave Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva an identity each - creator, caretaker and destroyer. Lord Śiva then meditated on her in order to gain the aṣṭa siddhis, or eight subtle, higher capabilities, which are: aṇimā (smallness or subtlety), mahimā (greatness), laghimā (lightness), garimā (heaviness), prāpti (ability to attain), prākāmya (agility), iṣitva (lordship), and vaśitva (ability to influence). She finally appeared before Lord Śiva, fulfilling the fruit of his meditation by not only bestowing these aṣṭa siddhis; but also merging with him to express the divine rūpa known as Ardhanārīśvarī. Lord Śiva was at peace and became supremely happy.
वज्रेश्वरी वामदेवी वयोऽवस्था-विवर्जिता ।
श्री ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्रम्
सिद्धेश्वरी सिद्धविद्या सिद्धमाता यशस्विनी ॥ ९७ ॥
vajreśvarī vāmadevī vayo’vasthā-vivarjitā |
Śri Lalitā Sahasranāma Stotram
siddheśvarī siddhavidyā siddhamātā yaśasvinī || 97 ||
A connection can be made here with the Rāmāyaṇa as well: in the above case, it was Mātā Siddhidātrī who blessed Lord Śiva himself with the aṣṭa siddhis. In a consequent avatāra, or reincarnation, at a different place and point in time, it was Sītā Devī - Jānakī mātā - who bestowed the aṣṭa siddhis (and nava niddhis) on Śrī Hanumān.
Siddhidātrī Mā is a caturbhuja Navadurgā, with four hands each holding the śankha, cakra, gadā, and padma - just as Lord Viṣṇu, her brother. She dons a bright red saree, is adorned with jewelry, wears a mukuṭa or crown, and sits atop a fully-bloomed pink lotus (her vāhanā).
In many popular depictions, Mātā Siddhidātrī is also shown holding the śankha, cakra, triśula, and gadā. It is interesting to note, as both her husband Śiva and her brother Nārāyaṇa are represented with these celestial objects which she holds. Though there numerous misinterpretations - and intentionally created faultlines - between Śaivism and Vaiṣṇavism, this form of Devī illustrates that the two traditions are not exclusive or opposing to each other. They integrate seamlessly within the fold of Sanātana Dharma across Bhāratavarṣa.
Besides bestowing the aṣṭa siddhis, Devī Siddidhātrī is also capable of conferring various śaktis and capabilities to those who pray to her. In one reference source, she is described as the possessor of twenty-six different types of wishes which she can grant to her worshippers. According to the Brahmavaivarta Purāṇa, there are actually eighteen different siddhis which she blesses bhaktas with - the well-known aṣṭa siddhi, plus ten additional and specific siddhis.
महाभोगा महैश्वर्या महावीर्या महाबला ।
श्री ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्रम्
महाबुद्धि र्महासिद्धिर्महायोगेश्वरेश्वरी ॥ ५५ ॥
mahābhogā mahaiśvaryā mahāvīryā mahābalā |
Śri Lalitā Sahasranāma Stotram
mahābuddhi mahāsiddhirmahāyogeśvareśvarī || 55 ||
Devī Siddidātrī does not discriminate in her bequeathing of grace and blessings. All sorts of celestial beings and other classes of jīvātmas worship her to attain siddhis - including devas, dānavas, gandharvas, kinnaras, yakṣas, mānavas, and even asuras. For this reason, she is often depicted as surrounded by celestial beings, men, and lower beings as well. Apart from siddhis, she grants them all with the knowledge needed to evolve and realize the Ultimate Truth, removing their ignorance first. The sādhaka who worships her in the prescribed manner and lives with complete śraddhā in her acquires all siddhis, and nothing in the universe remains unattainable for him.
The Navadurgās, from Śailaputrī to Siddhidātrī, represent distinct aspects of the divine feminine energy, each closely associated with the activation of specific chakras. This symbolic connection between Navadurga and chakra awakening aligns our spiritual and physical selves, bringing harmony to our lives, and aligning and activating the energy centers within us. Siddhidatri Ma’s abode is the ājñā or third-eye cakra. Activating this chakra enhances one’s intuitive abilities and insight into profound spiritual truths.This cakra is also closely linked with spiritual knowledge and wisdom, which she grants; and being the ninth and final Navadurgā form - she helps her bhaktas attain mokṣa, or the ultimate liberation, as well.
As we worship the Navadurgās this Navarātri, we are reminded to explore and nurture the inner energies which are harnessed in each cakra, ultimately leading to personal growth, spiritual enlightenment, and a harmonious connection between our physical and spiritual selves. Navadurgā, thus, not only represents an external celebration but also serves as a profound guide for inner transformation and cakra awakening, where the divine and the spiritual become intertwined.
Mā Siddhidātrī’s favorite flower is the campā, or champa, and her color is peacock green. Her planet is Ketu, which completes the alignment of the Navadurgās with the Navagrahas, as we have seen these nine days. She is also known as Ardhanārīśvarī, as we have seen above. This navamī, may we evolve internally and spiritually with the grace of Mā Siddhidātrī.
चाम्पेयगौरार्धशरीरकायै कर्पूरगौरार्धशरीरकाय ।
श्री अर्धनारीश्वर स्तोत्रम्
धम्मिल्लकायै च जटाधराय नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय ॥ १ ॥
cāmpeyagaurārdhaśarīrakāyai karpūragaurārdhaśarīrakāya |
Śrī Ardhanārīśvara Stotram
dhammillakāyai ca jaṭādharāya namaḥ śivāyai ca namaḥ śivāya || 1 ||
|| Navadurgāḥ Prakīrtitāḥ ||
Navadurgā symbolizes nine forms of Ādi Parā Śakti. At Navarātrī time, Devī Śakti is welcomed into our homes in these nine forms and more. Navarātrī includes a visarjana on navamī, the ninth day but concludes with the tenth day of celebration known as Vijaya Daśamī or Daśaharā. For it is on the Daśaharā tithi that not only did Śrī Rāma annihilate Rāvaṇa; but also Śrī Durgā Devī, in various avatāras, triumphed over different asurās. These episodes of various forms of Śakti triumphing over hordes of asuras on the battlefield, and finally destroying each formidable one, are beautifully described in the Devī Mahātmya of the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa, in the revered text known as Śrī Durgā Saptaśatī. We have seen a bit about each Navadurgā with this article series - yet, may our knowledge and reverence for Devī only grow more and more each day. May all our thoughts, words, and actions be devoted towards her in an act of service and as a sacred offering.
References
- Śrī Durgā Saptaśatī, Devī Mahātmyam, 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