Navadurgas - 9 forms across Navaratri

Story - Reborn after her death as Sati at Daksha's yajna. Took birth as Parvati to Himavat + Mainavati. The first form - the rooted, grounded earth-mother. Her bull mount = the stability of mountain.

Weapon/Symbol: Trishul in right hand, lotus in left

Granted - Stability. Family roots. Lakshmi-blessed start to Navaratri.

ॐ देवी शैलपुत्र्यै नमः॥

Story - Parvati's tapas-phase. To win Shiva as husband, she performed 1000-year tapas on Himavat - first standing on one foot in summer with 5 fires around, then in winter standing in icy water, then eating only fallen leaves, then nothing. Even Brahma was astonished. Hence "Brahma-charini" = one whose tapas pleases even Brahma.

Weapon/Symbol: Japa-mala in right hand, kamandalu in left

Granted - Vairagya. Patience. Tapas-shakti. Success in long-term goals.

ॐ देवी ब्रह्मचारिण्यै नमः॥

Story - Parvati married Shiva. At the marriage procession, Shiva's rough form (matted hair, ash, snakes, ghosts) terrified Parvati's mother Mainavati. To reassure her, Shiva transformed into a beautiful prince. Parvati at this moment wore a half-moon-shaped bell on her forehead - Chandra-ghanta.

Weapon/Symbol: 10 arms with trishul + gada + sword + arrow + bow + lotus + dhanush + kamandalu + abhaya + varada

Granted - Courage. Removal of fear. Beauty + radiance. Easy marriage for unmarried.

ॐ देवी चन्द्रघण्टायै नमः॥

Story - BEFORE creation, when there was only cosmic darkness, Kushmanda smiled - and from her smile the universe came into being. She dwells in the Surya-mandala - the only being who can bear the heat of the sun. She is the cause of all stars + galaxies.

Weapon/Symbol: 8 arms with kalasha + bow + arrow + lotus + chakra + gada + japa-mala + kamandalu

Granted - Removes diseases. Grants prosperity. Activates 4th chakra (anahata).

ॐ देवी कूष्माण्डायै नमः॥

Story - Parvati as mother of Karthikeya / Skanda. After Tarakasura threatened the devas, only the son of Shiva could slay him. Parvati conceived from Shiva's tejas. Karthikeya was born + grew rapidly to slay Tarakasura. Skandamata's form celebrates the maternal-warrior aspect.

Weapon/Symbol: 4 arms - 2 lotuses + holding baby Skanda on lap + 1 abhaya

Granted - Wisdom + maternal-blessing. Children's welfare. Grants intelligence.

ॐ देवी स्कन्दमातायै नमः॥

Story - Sage Katyayana performed long tapas wishing Devi to be born as his daughter. She was - born of his tapas. As Katyayani she slew Mahishasura - the buffalo-demon-king. Her supreme victory celebrated on the 6th day of Navaratri.

Weapon/Symbol: 4 arms with sword + abhaya + varada + lotus

Granted - Removal of obstacles in marriage (unmarried girls fast on Katyayani-vrata in Margashirsha to obtain a desired husband - Andal did this).

ॐ देवी कात्यायन्यै नमः॥

Story - The fiercest form. Slew Raktabija - the demon every drop of whose blood produced another demon. Kalaratri drank every drop before it touched ground. The 7th night of Navaratri = the most-intense, victorious night.

Weapon/Symbol: 4 arms - sword + iron hook + abhaya + varada. Tongue out (like Kali). Hair flowing wild. Necklace of lightning.

Granted - Destruction of enemies. Removal of black magic. Fearlessness.

ॐ देवी कालरात्र्यै नमः॥

Story - After Parvati's 1000-year tapas, her skin had turned dark (as Kalaratri). Shiva, pleased, bathed her in Ganga. She emerged as Mahagauri - radiant white. The transformation from black-Kalaratri to white-Mahagauri = the moksha-cycle of the soul.

Weapon/Symbol: 4 arms - trishul + damaru + abhaya + varada. Wearing white. Crescent moon on forehead.

Granted - Removal of sins. Marital harmony. Forgiveness of past karma.

ॐ देवी महागौर्यै नमः॥

Story - The Devi in her supreme bestowing-form. She granted Shiva himself the 8 siddhis - Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakamya, Ishitva, Vashitva - through which Shiva became Ardhanarishvara. Hence the 9th night = supreme attainment.

Weapon/Symbol: 4 arms - chakra + shankha + gada + lotus

Granted - All siddhis + moksha. The supreme closing of Navaratri.

ॐ देवी सिद्धिदात्र्यै नमः॥