Sixth Night of Navaratri : Maa Katyayani

-: मंत्र :-

!! ॐ  भद्रं  कर्नेबिह  श्र्नुयामा  देवाः !!
!! भद्रं  पश्येम  अक्ष्भिर  यजत्राः !!  
!! स्थिरैर अन्गैह स्थुश्तुवांग  सस्तानूभिर  !!
!! व्यशेम  देवहितं  यदायुः  !!
!! ॐ  शान्तिः शान्तिः  शान्तिः  !! 

"May we always hear what is good for all ;  May we always be able to see what is auspicious,
May we work together with sturdy body and mind; May we undertake only such acts which please the divinities.
Let there be peace, peace and eternal peace!!"

On the sixth night another divine form of goddess Durga - Katyayani is worshipped. Rishi Katyayan performed an austere penance to get the Mother Goddess as his daughter.  The Goddess acceded to his request and as a result she took birth as a daughter of Katyayan. Therefore her name is "Katyayani" .She has three eyes and four arms. In the left hand she holds a weapon and in the other a lotus. The other two hands respectively display defending and granting gestures. Her skin appears golden in colour. 

When army of the powerful demon Mahishasura, who could only be killed by a warrior Goddess,  reached heaven to overthrow the Gods from their abode, Maa Katyayani was worshipped by Lord Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma and all other Gods for three days – 7th, 8th and 9th day of Shukla paksha of Ashwin month – to demolish demon Mahishasura. Katyayani pleased with the puja of Gods demolished Mahishasura on Vijaya Dashami - the tenth day.

Her worship done with devotion and faith leads to four objects – Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.