Katayayani

Introducing Mahadevi Katayayani

Katyayani Mahadevi is the sixth form of Navadurgas. She is the slayer of the tyrannical demon Mahishasura. She is depicted in many forms with different hands such as with four, ten or eighteen hands. This is another name given to Goddess Adi Parashakti in “Amarkosh”, the Sanskrit dictionary, like Parvati, Uma, Katyayani, Gauri, Kali, Haimvati.

Katyayani and Mother Durga

In Shaktism, Katyayani is associated with the fierce forms of Shakti Durga which is the most powerful, and warrior goddess. She is traditionally associated with the color red, as with Parvati, the primordial form of Shakti, a fact also mentioned in Patanjali's “Mahabhashya” on Panini, written in the 2nd century BCE. Her exploits are described in the “Devi-Bhagavata Purana” and “Devi Mahatmyam”, which are part of the “Markandeya Purana” of the sage Maharishi Markandeya, who wrote it in Sanskrit. 400-500 BC Over the period, his presence appeared in Buddhist and Jain texts and several Tantric texts, notably the Kalika Purana of the 10th century, which also mentions about Katyayani and Lord Jagannatha of Odisha.

The Form of Goddess Katyayani

Goddess Katyayani has three eyes and four hands. He has a sword in one left hand and a lotus in the other. His right hands can be seen in Varada Mudra and Abhaya Mudra. Adorned with a crescent moon on her forehead, Goddess Katyayani has a Vahan that is rides a lion. Navratri Puja Vidhi.

Katyayani as Mahishamardini

According to “Vamana Purana” she was created from the combined energy of the Gods when their anger on the demon Mahishasura was manifested in the form of energy rays. The rays crystallized in the ashram of sage “Katyayana”, who gave it its proper form, hence she is also called Katyayani or "Katyayana's daughter". Elsewhere in texts like Kalika Purana, it is mentioned that sage Katyayana was the first to worship her, hence she came to be known as Katyayani. In any case, she is a manifestation or form of Durga and is worshiped on the sixth day of the Navratri festival.

According to the “Vamana Purana”, when the gods sought Vishnu in his distress, he and on his orders Shiva, Brahma and other gods emitted such flames from their eyes and faces that a mountain of brightness was formed. From which Katyayini appeared, as bright as a thousand suns, with three eyes, black hair and Eighteen arms, Shiva gave him his trident, Vishnu a Sudarshan Chakra or Chakra, Varuna a conch shell, Agni an arrow, Vayu a bow, Surya a quiver full of arrows, Indra a thunderbolt, Kuvera a mace, Brahma a garland and water-vessel, Kala a shield and sword, Vishwakarma a battle-axe and other weapons thus, armed and honored by the gods.

Katyayani proceeded towards the Mysore hills. There, the demons saw her and, fascinated by her beauty, they described her to their king Mahishasura so much that he became eager to possess her. When he asked for her hand, she told him that he would have to win in battle. He took the form of Mahisha, the bull, and fought, at last Durga descended from her lion and mounted the back of Mahisha, who was in the form of a bull, and with her soft feet struck his head with such terrible force that he fell unconscious on the ground.

Then he cut off his head with his sword and killed the demon “Mahishasura” after that she was known as “Mahishasurmardini”, means the slayer of Mahishasura. This legend is also mentioned in the Varaha Purana and the classical text of Shaktism, Durga Spatasati, Devi-Bhagavata Purana.

Katyayani and Ajna Chakra

Mother Katyayani is related to Ajna Chakra. Katyayani is the sixth Navadurga and Ajna Chakra is also the sixth chakra. Moreover, it is also called the third eye chakra and focusing on this point brings blessings. Ajna Chakra is in the center of the forehead between the eyebrows. It is also called the third eye or eyebrow center. It is considered part of the “Pranic System” and is not a part of the physical body.

चन्द्रहासोज्जवलकराशार्दुलवरवाहना।
कात्यायनी शुभं दद्याद्देवी दानवघातिनी॥