Navratri- Nine goddesses & Chakras

Every year we celebrate Navratri in India which is followed after observing Shradh ( Pitr Paksh/ Prayers for Ancestors). Though throughout the year there are 5 Navratris which are observed in India- Hindus but this Shradh Navratri which falls in the months of Sept- Oct( Ashwini ) has a bigger significance.

Sherawali Mata

During this time - Shakti in various forms is worshipped for 9 days and 10th day Vijaydashmi/Dusshera is celebrated. The first three days - Shakti in durga/MahaKali form is worshipped, next 3 days MahaLakshmi is worshipped, and last three days Maha saraswati is worshipped.  The three goddesses are related to be better halves for Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. In India different states celebrate navratri in different ways each having a significane of their own but popular ones are in Bengal, Karnataka, Himachal Pradhesh and Gujarat.

This year Dusshera is on 24-10-2012 ( as per lunar calendar) as Navratri starts on 16-10-2012 after the Pitr Paksh Amvasya on 15-10-2012. This varies every year.

Forms of  Nau/Nine forms of Mata :-

Here the Message column means what the Mata/Goddess teaches us, the nature of vehicle is extension of character and also what needs to be improved or tamed, color represnts the specific quality and related chakra areas.

Goddess Name	Meaning	Teaches us/Message	Nature of vehicle	Color	Chakra
Maa Shailputri	She is Parvati/Hema vati, re-birth of Sati	Toughened by life, confident to deal with situations	Sturdy & experienced	Green- Nature	Heart
Maa Brahmacharini	Higher and peaceful form in meditation, related to severe penance taken by Sati and all fasts	Meditative person, spiritual and chaste	Spiritual	Indigo- devotion	Third eye ( Vedic astro-places Hara Chakra)
Maa ChandraGhanta	Terrible form of Mata when provoked can be malevolent	If  disharmony deal with it	Aggressive	Pink- beauty	Heart ( vedic astro places Manipura)
Maa Kushmanda	Happy form of mata ( ashtbhuja), when she smiles the darkness ends and creation starts	normal happiness and leads a normal life	Comfortable	Violet- New Beginnings	Crown and 8th Chakra
Maa Skanda	Mother of skanda, has all motherly love	Loving and motherly	Placid	Yellow- Hard work	Manipura( vedic astro places Throat Chakra )
Maa Katyani	She is epitome of love and happiness but when angered can be ferocious	Balance	Contemplative	Orange- Courage	Hara Chakra ( Vedic astro place third eye)
Maa Kalratri	Destroys ignorance and darkness, very ferocious and violent form of mata, supposed to have drank blood from Rakht Beej	Fierce when time comes, a different side to us	Free-Spirited, does what it wants	Blue- Illusion	Crown , Third eye & Root Chakra
Maa Mahagauri	Purity, form of durga which did penance to get Shiva as her husband	Noble and generous	Proud	Red- Purity	Root and Crown Chakra
Maa Siddharatri	Mother of Knowledge , she removes ignorance, she makes us realize everything is supreme in its form	Teacher and giver	Teacher	Grey & White	Crown Chakra

One can meditate on the specific Mata/Goddess or recite mantras and balance the chakras and inculcate qualities of the goddess within .

" Sherawali Mata Teri Sada Jai"