Day 7 of Shardiya Navratri 2024: Worshipping Goddess Maa Kalaratri

The vibrant festival of Navratri continues to captivate devotees with its rich traditions and spiritual significance. As we enter the seventh day of this auspicious occasion, devotees from across the globe come together to honor Maa Kalaratri, the fiercest and most protective form of Goddess Parvati. This day holds immense importance for those seeking strength, protection, and courage.

Who is Maa Kalaratri?

Maa Kalaratri is revered as the seventh form of Goddess Durga in the nine-day celebration of Shardiya Navratri. Known for her ferocious appearance and powerful abilities, Maa Kalaratri is often considered the destroyer of all evil. Her dark complexion and terrifying form are symbolic of her power to remove fear and grant protection to her devotees.

According to mythology, Goddess Parvati assumed this form to eliminate demons who had created havoc on Earth. In this powerful form, she is described as having a dark complexion, with disheveled hair, a garland of skulls, and four hands that hold a sword, a noose, and gestures of protection and blessings.

She is also known for her dual nature—despite her fierce appearance, she is a benevolent protector, offering blessings and comfort to her devotees through her Abhaya and Varada Mudras (gestures of protection and blessings).

Her devotees invoke her during times of fear, seeking courage and strength to overcome obstacles. Maa Kalaratri symbolizes the power of creation and destruction, a force that governs both life and death.

The Significance of Day 7

Each day of Navratri is dedicated to one form of Goddess Durga, and Day 7 honors Maa Kalaratri. The seventh day is particularly meaningful for those who are dealing with fears, challenges, and difficulties in life. Maa Kalaratri’s power is invoked to destroy negative energies, demons, and obstacles, both internal and external.

On this day, devotees also wear the color Royal Blue, which represents luxury, spirituality, and wisdom. The color also mirrors the dark complexion of Maa Kalaratri and symbolizes her deep connection with the earth, and the cycle of life and death.

Puja Timings for Navratri Day 7

According to Drik Panchang, the auspicious timings for the puja on Day 7 of Navratri 2024 are as follows:

• Brahma Muhurat: 4:40 AM to 5:29 AM
• Vijaya Muhurat: 2:05 PM to 2:51 PM
• Saptami Tithi Muhurat: From October 9 (Wednesday) 12:14 PM to October 10 (Thursday) 12:31 PM.

Devotees are encouraged to perform the rituals within these auspicious timings for maximum spiritual benefit.

Maa Kalaratri’s Iconography and Attributes

Maa Kalaratri is depicted in a fearsome form—she rides a donkey, symbolizing her connection to the earth, and her four hands express her protective and destructive qualities. Her right hands are in the Abhaya Mudra (offering protection) and the Varada Mudra (offering blessings), while her left hands hold a sword (representing the destruction of evil) and an iron hook (symbolizing the removal of obstacles).

Her garland of skulls signifies the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, emphasizing the transient nature of the physical world and the eternal truth beyond it.

Despite her terrifying appearance, Maa Kalaratri is also known as Shubhankari, the auspicious one, who brings blessings and peace to her devotees.

Rituals and Mantras for Day 7

Devotees honor Maa Kalaratri by chanting specific mantras and performing rituals that reflect her fierce and protective nature. The primary mantra dedicated to her is:

• Om Devi Kalaratryai Namah
  This powerful invocation is chanted to invoke her blessings and guidance for protection and strength.

Another prayer (prarthana) recited during the puja is:

एकवेणी जपाकर्णपूरा नग्ना खरास्थिता।
लम्बोष्ठी कर्णिकाकर्णी तैलाभ्यक्त शरीरिणी॥
वामपादोल्लसल्लोह लताकण्टकभूषणा।
वर्धन मूर्धध्वजा कृष्णा कालरात्रिर्भयङ्करी॥

This prayer calls upon the divine energy of Maa Kalaratri, asking for her protection and blessings.

Stuti (Hymn) of Maa Kalaratri

Devotees also recite the following stuti (hymn) as a form of devotion, seeking the divine blessings of the goddess:

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ कालरात्रि रूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥

This hymn praises the Goddess and acknowledges her presence in all beings, asking for her divine protection and blessings.

Conclusion

On this seventh day of Shardiya Navratri 2024, as we honor Maa Kalaratri, let us immerse ourselves in her powerful energy. May her blessings empower us to face our fears, overcome obstacles, and emerge victorious in all challenges. Her form is a reminder that strength and compassion go hand in hand, and with devotion, we can find courage and security even in the most difficult times.

Celebrate this day with Royal Blue attire, chant her mantras, perform the rituals with devotion, and seek her divine protection and strength.