Dear editor,

SHARADA Navratri is a nine-day/night period, dedicated to the worshipping of the Universal Mother, Mata Durga. She is the embodiment and consolidated form of Mother Parvati, Lakshmi and Sarswati and as such, she is the invincible fortress that represents Shakti (power) and whose blessings are sought for the protection against negativity and evil. Each night is dedicated to one form of her manifestations as listed below.
1.Shailputri: Goddess Shailputri (Goddess of Nature) is depicted with a beautiful face, having a crescent moon on her forehead. She has two hands, in the left she carries a lotus and in the right, a trident. She rides the Nandi bull. Shailputri means the daughter of the mountain. When the Goddess took birth as the daughter of the Himalaya, in the house of the king of mountains, she came to be known as Shailputri. She destroyed the demoness Tarika and is worshipped for the realisation of the self within, on the first day of Navratri.
Mantra:
Om Devi Shailaputryai Namah
2. Brahmacharini: Goddess Brahmacharini is depicted bare feet and carrying Jaapmala in the right hand and a Kamandalu in the left. When the Goddess Durga took birth at the home of Daksh Prajapati, to marry Shiva, she was named Sati. Sati was also known as Brahmacharini before marriage. Goddess Brahmacharini is worshipped for ascetic qualities on the second day of  Navratri.
Mantra:
Himaachala sutaa naatha sanstute parameshwari
Roopam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dwisho jahi
Namo Devyai Mahaa-Devyai Shivaayai Satatam Namah
Namah Prakrtyai Bhadraayai Niyataah Pranataah Sma Taam
3. Chandraghanta: When Goddess Sati got married to Lord Shiva, she started wearing a half-moon-shaped tilak on her forehead. This tilak represented a bell, therefore, the Goddess was known with the name Chandraghanta. Goddess Chandraghanta is depicted with 10 hands. In four of her right hands, she carries a lotus, a Dhanush, an arrow and ‘Jaapmala’. The fifth hand is in Abhay Mudra. Similarly, in four of her left hands, she carries a Trident, a Gada, a sword and a Kamandalu and the fifth one is in Varada Mudra. She rides on a tigress and is worshipped for peace and serenity on the third day of Navratri.
Mantra:
Om Hreem Shri Chandraghanta Durgaaye Namaha

4. Kushmanda: Goddess Kushmanda rides on a lioness, carrying a Kamandalu, a Dhanush, a Bada and a lotus in her right hands, and a pot filled with nectar, a ‘Sudarshan Chakra’, a ‘Gada’ and a ‘Jaapmala in the left hands. When she started living inside the Sun, she came to be known as the Goddess Kushmanda. She shines as the Sun, and is specifically known for her prowess. Goddess Kushmanda is worshipped for health, wealth and strength on the fourth day of  Navratri.
Mantra:
Om Devi Kushmandayai Namah
Surasampurna Kalasham Rudhiraplutameva Cha
Dadhana Hastapadmabhyam Kushmanda Shubhadastu Me
Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Maa Kushmanda Rupena Samsthita
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah

5. Skandmata: Kartikeya, is the lord of war, also known as Skanda. He is the son of this Goddess of Fire, and because of this fact she came to be known as Skandmata. Goddess Skandamata is depicted sitting on a lotus, because of which she is also known as Padmasana. She is shown with four hands, in two of which she carries lotus flowers, in the second left hand, she carries baby Skanda and the second right hand is in Abhaymudra. She rides on a lion and is worshipped for wisdom and purity of the heart on the fifth day of Navaratri.
Mantra:
Om hreem saha skandmatriya namah

6. Katyayani: Goddess Katyayani is depicted sitting on a lion and while her right hands are in Abhay Mudra and Varada Mudra, the left hands carry a lotus and a sword. She was born to attack Mahishasura, and came to be known as Katyayani. She is worshipped for the desire of a righteous partner for marriage on the sixth day.
Mantra:
Katyayani Mahamaye Mahayoginyadheeshwari
Nandgopsutam Devipatim Me Kuru te Namah

7. Kalratri: When the Goddess of Fierceness manifested to destroy the demons, Shumbh and Nihumbh, she was known with the name Kalratri. As the name suggests, she is depicted in a very ferocious form. Seated on a donkey, she carries a sword and an iron hook in her left hands, whereas the right hands are in Abhay Mudra and Varada Mudra. This form of the Goddess is worshipped for the removal of ignorance and darkness on the seventh day.
Mantra:
Om Bhurbhuva svah kalaraatri iha gaccha ihatisha
kalaratryai namah kalaratrimavahayami sthapayami
namah padhyadibhih pujanaambidhaaya
Meaning: I see the awesome form of Mother Kaalratri combining in her the gross, subtle and causal bodies. I invoke the presence of the divine mother who is called by the name of the dark night. Please be propitiated with my offerings and bless me with your bounteous grace.
Om chandaviram chandamaayam
raktabija prabanjaniim
tam namaami cha devesim gayatrim pujayaamyaham
Meaning: Om, You are the greatest conqueror of anger and illusion. You remove my anger from the roots and limit my ego. I bow down to you, the destroyer of the demon Raktabija and worship you as Gayatri the goddess of the three forms of wisdom so that you award your divine protection to me.
8. Mahagouri: Goddess Mahagouri is depicted sitting on a bull. One of her right hands carries the trident and the other is in Abhay Mudra, similarly one of her left hands carries a damru and the other is in Varada Mudra. When Goddess Shailputri was very beautiful and fair at the age of 16, she was known as Mahagouri. This form of the Goddess is worshipped for the removal of suffering and the enlightenment of spiritual seeker on the eighth day of Navratri.
Mantra:
Om Devi Mahagauryai Namah.
Prarthana:
Shwete Vrishesamarudha Shwetambaradhara Shuchih,
Mahagauri Shubham Dadyanmahadeva Pramodada.
Stuti:
Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Maa Mahagauri Rupena Samsthita,
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah.

9. Siddidhatri : Goddess Siddhidhatri is the moola roopa of goddess Parvati. When at the beginning of the universe, Lord Shiva worshipped the unmanifested form of Shakti, she had no form. Therefore, she was depicted as the left half of Shiva. She sits on a lotus, riding a lion. In one of her right hands, she has a Gada and in the other is a Chakra. In her left hands, she holds a lotus flower and a Shankh. The devotee seeks her blessings for the realisation of the Divine or Brahman as she completes the mundane world on the ninth day of Navratri.
Mantra:
Siddh Gandharv Yagyahair Surair Marairapi
Sevyamana Sada Bhootyaat Siddhida Siddhi Dayanee

As the warrior-form of Goddess Parvati, she was transformed into Durga by combining the power and divine energies of all the Gods. These divine powers and energies of all the Gods are represented by the different weapons held by Goddess Durga. Not only the weapons, but each and everything related to Goddess Durga symbolises some or the other divine things as noted below.

1. Lion: The lion of Goddess Durga symbolises courage and the uncontrolled materialistic desires and tendencies such as greed, jealousy, selfishness, arrogance, etc. Goddess Durga sitting on a lion symbolises that we need to control our materialistic desires, needs and emotions and face our problems with courage.

2. Red Saree: Goddess Durga is usually seen wearing a red saree with gold ornaments. The red saree symbolises passion. It also represents her way of protecting mankind against evil and bad.

3. Conch: The conch was given to her by Varuna. She is often seen holding a conch shell in one of her upper hands. The conch shell in her upper hand represents happiness and dedication for fulfilling our responsibilities happily. It gives us a lesson that one must perform his/her duties with contentment and not with resentment.

4. Sword: The sword in her hand was given to her by Kala and signifies the importance of distinguishing and eradicating our negative and evil qualities. It shows that one must be ready to quit his/her bad habits and embrace good habits. Also, one should raise one’s voice for unjust and mean actions.

5. Chakra: The chakra in one of the hands of Goddess Durga was given to her by Vishnu and symbolises duty and righteousness. It shows the importance of acknowledging our duties and responsibilities and fulfilling them to achieve our goals in life.

6. Lotus Flower: The lotus flower in the hands of Goddess Durga was given to her by Brahma and  symbolises austerity, purity, and detachment from the materialistic world. It gives us a lesson that despite staying in the mud water, the lotus water remains pure, lively and full of colours. Similarly, we humans too should try to reflect the good in bad, we are humble souls even during the toughest of times, never being impudent.

7. Trident: The trident or trishul in the left hand of Goddess Durga was given to her by Shiva and symbolises courage and bravery. It tells us that no matter how grave the situation, we should never lose our hope. Instead of running away from the problems in our lives, we should stand strong and face our problems with full courage, hope and determination.

8. Forgiveness: The right hand of Goddess Durga always stays in the forgiving and blessing position. The forgiving mudra (positions) symbolise the need of forgiving others. There’s no good in holding on to grudges. We should always forgive others and seek forgiveness from those whom we have hurt. In addition to this, we must not say rude things to others or hurt others for our pleasure and selfish needs.

9. Club: Goddess Durga usually holds a club in her right lower hand. The club in her hand was given to her by Kuvera and symbolises devotion and bravery. We must accept whatever the Almighty sends to us. Whether it is happiness or sorrow, we must accept whatever comes in our way and face it with bravery.

10. Bow And Arrow:  The bow, given by Vayu, and arrow, given by Surya  in the hands of Goddess Durga, symbolises perseverance. No matter what problems come in our lives, we need to persevere and always stick to the truth. We must not lose our characters or make wrong decisions.
11. Snake: The snake in the hands of Goddess Durga represents the beauty and truth of destructive times. Those who are living on this earth, will have to die and their soul will take a new form in the next life. It also symbolises goodness in the darkest times.

As Guyanese revere the auspiciousness of this significant period, let us pray that COVID-19 can dissipate and a healing process can materialise from the eradication of evil, suffering and unhappiness. Let us pray that all leaders will overcome any ignorance and allow wisdom to prevail, so that light will replace darkness. As we pray for the protection from any form of negativity, let us envelop the love for our fellow mankind in our bosom and sanctify our hearts with purity and peace. A new dawn awaits a united Guyana if only we can bid farewell to greed, anger, lust, jealousy and animosity with the passing of dusk. Shubh Navratri.

Respectfully,
Jai Lall.