The nine Durga

Goddes Durga is worshipped in nine different form. According to legend, Durga manifested in the female form of Mahasaraswati, Mahalaksmi and Mahakali, who then united with her male manifestasions as Brahma, Wisnu and Mahes, respectively. Each coupling gave rise to three more goddes forms and these nine together are called the Navdurga or Nine Durgas. One Navdurga is worshiped on each of the nine nigths of Navratri.

The nine Durgas are :

1. Shailputri

    Shail means mountains, Putri means daughter. Parvati daugther of the King of the mountain Himavan, is called Shilputri. Her two hands display

    a trident and a lotus. Her mount is a bull.

 

2. Brahmacharini

     One hand hold a Kumbha or water pot, and the oters hold a rosary. She personifies love and loyalty. Brahmacharini is the store house of

     knowledge and wisdom. Rudhaksha beads are her most adored ornaments.

 

3. Chandraghana

    Wordshipped on the third night, this Durga sakti rides a tiger. Her skin is of a golden hue, and she prossesses ten hands and three eyes.

    Eight of her hands display weapons while the remaining two are in the mudras (gertures) of boon giving and stopping harm, respectively.

    The terms Chandra and Ghanta indicate supreme bliss and knowledge, showering peace and serenity, like a cook breeze on a moonlitnight.

 

4. Kushmanda

    With the fourt night begins the worship of Kushmanda, prossesed of eight arms, holding a weapons and her mala (rosary), her mount is

    a tigerand she emanates a solar aura.  Kumbh Bhand means to see the cosmic dance in the form of pindi; the knowledge on cosmic

    intricacies in the human race. The above of Kushmanda is  Bhimaparvat.

 

5. Skandmata

    Rising a lion as her chosen vehicle  , she holds her son skanda on her lap. She displays three eyes and four hands, two hand holds lotuses,

    while the other two hands display defending and granting mudras, respectively. It's said, by the merch of Skandmata, even the fool

    becomes an  ocean of knowledge. The legendary sanskrit scholar kalidas created his two masterpieces, "Raghuvansh Maha Kavy" and

    "Meghdoot" by Skandmata's grace.

 

6. Katyayani

    This form of Durga once stayed in the Asram of Sage Katyayan for penance, hence she is called Kaatyayani. She too sits  astride a lion,

     with three eyes and four arms.  On the left she holds a weapon and a lotus; on the right, the mudras of defending and granting. Her

     complexion is golden.

 

7. Kaalratri

   She is black ( or blue ) skin and bountiful hair, and four hands, two clutching a cleaver and a torch, and two in the mudras of "giving" and

   "protecting". Her vahana is the faithful donkey. The destroyer of darkness and ignorance, Kaalratri is the seventh Nav Durga, the enemy of

    ignorance.

 

8. Mahagauri

    With four arms and the fairest complexion of all the Durgas Shaktis, Mahagauri radiates peace and compassion. She is often dressed in a white

    or green sari. She holds a drum and a trident and is often depicted riding a bull. Mahagauri can be seen in the temple of Kankhal, near the

    pilgrimage center of Haridwar, India !

 

9.  Siddhidatri

     Usually shown ensconced a lotus with four arms, She is the grantor of 26 different wishes to Her Bhaktas. Siddhiratri's famous pilgrimage

     center is located in Nanda Parvat in the Himalayas !

Source : http://www.sridurgatemple.com