Navadurgas — 9 forms across Navaratri

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॥