KATHMANDU: Chandraghanta Devi, the third of the nine forms of Goddess Durga, is being worshipped with special rituals in Dashain Ghar and prayer rooms across Nepal today, the third day of Navaratra.
According to Hindu religious scriptures and mythology, Chandraghanta Devi bears a bell adorned with a crescent moon, which gives her the name Chandraghanta. Worshipping the goddess is believed to bestow strength and spiritual power, said Toyaraj Nepal, a retired professor at Valmiki Vidyapeeth of Nepal Sanskrit University.
The Markandeya Purana explains the name through the phrase “Chandra Ghantayan Yasya,” referring to the goddess whose bell bears the moon. Chandraghanta Devi is traditionally depicted with a crescent moon and a bell, symbolising her divine power.
The goddess is described as having a golden or yellow complexion and is revered for destroying demonic forces and protecting devotees. Her worship is also associated with meditation on the Manipura Chakra. Devotees believe that meditating on her divine form can bestow spiritual strength and various supernatural powers.
According to Chintamani Bhattarai, an associate professor at Valmiki Vidyapeeth, the grace of Chandraghanta Devi is believed to cleanse devotees of their sins. He described the goddess as peaceful, compassionate, and benevolent, adding that her association with music makes her particularly significant in religious worship. Devotees also believe that meditating on her on this day brings radiance to the forehead.
On the first day of Navaratra, Sunday, Ghatasthapana was performed according to Vedic traditions in Dashain Ghar and designated prayer rooms. Religious texts, including the Shrimad Devi Bhagavata Purana, describe Ghatasthapana as the ritual of invoking and establishing the presence of the Goddess.
Following these traditions, devotees observe Navaratra by worshipping Goddess Durga at home and at Shaktipeeths, or sacred shrines dedicated to the divine feminine.
On the day of Ghatasthapana, devotees invoked and worshipped Goddess Shailputri, the first of the nine forms of Durga. On Monday, the second day, Goddess Brahmacharini was worshipped with traditional rituals. Today, Tuesday, devotees are observing the third day by worshipping Chandraghanta Devi with devotion.
Throughout the nine days of Navaratra, devotees recite sacred texts, including the Durga Saptashati (Chandi) and the Shrimad Devi Bhagavata Purana, along with other hymns dedicated to the Goddess. It is widely believed that sincere worship during this period brings strength, prosperity, wealth, and wisdom.
Followers of Vedic Sanatan Dharma traditionally worship Goddess Durga from Ashwin Shukla Pratipada to Navami, the nine days of the lunar fortnight. The offerings and sacred prasad prepared during the nine-day observance are distributed from Bijaya Dashami through Kojagrat Purnima. This tradition forms an integral part of Nepal’s 15-day Dashain festival.
Each day of Navaratra is dedicated to a different manifestation of Goddess Durga. Shailputri is worshipped on the first day, Brahmacharini on the second, Chandraghanta on the third, Kushmanda on the fourth, Skandamata on the fifth, Katyayani on the sixth, Kalaratri on the seventh, Mahagauri on the eighth, and Siddhidatri on the ninth. Together, these nine manifestations are known as Navadurga.
During Navaratra, devotees gather in large numbers at Shaktipeeths and temples dedicated to the Goddess across Nepal to offer prayers and seek blessings. In Kathmandu and other parts of the country, devotees visit prominent shrines to perform rituals and receive darshan, or a sacred viewing of the deity.
Some devotees make a point of visiting at least nine Shaktipeeths during Navaratra, believing that the pilgrimage and associated worship bring divine blessings. Special worship also takes place at temples and monasteries throughout the festival, alongside the regular devotional observances held on other days of the week.