Form 3 of 9 · Night 3 of Navratri
Chandraghanta
The third form of Durga, worshipped on the third night: Chandraghanta, with a half moon shaped like a bell on her forehead, ten-armed and ready for battle.
- Her name means
- She with the bell-shaped moon
- Rides a lion or a tiger
- Her night
- Night 3
- of Navratri
The story
When Shiva came to marry Parvati he arrived with a wild procession of ghosts and spirits, ash-smeared and wearing serpents. Parvati’s mother fainted at the sight.
To protect her family and calm the fear, Parvati took the form of Chandraghanta, radiant and armed; then she asked Shiva to come in a gentle form, and he came as the handsome Chandrashekhara.
The sound of her bell is said to drive away demons and evil spirits; to her devotees she is calm and gracious.
What she gives
Courage, and peace of mind: she is fierce to what harms, gentle to her devotees.
How she is shown
Ten-armed, golden, riding a lion or a tiger, with a trident, mace, sword, bow and arrow, lotus, rosary and water pot, and a bell-shaped half moon on her forehead.
Her verse
पिण्डजप्रवरारूढा चण्डकोपास्त्रकैर्युता।
प्रसादं तनुते मह्यं चन्द्रघण्टेति विश्रुता॥
Pindaja pravararudha chandakopastrakairyuta,
Prasadam tanute mahyam Chandraghanteti vishruta.
Riding the noblest of beasts, armed with fierce weapons, she who is famed as Chandraghanta spreads her grace upon me.
श्रेष्ठ वाहन पर सवार, भयंकर अस्त्रों से सजी, चन्द्रघण्टा नाम से प्रसिद्ध देवी मुझ पर अपनी कृपा फैलाती हैं।
Her mantra ॐ देवी चन्द्रघण्टायै नमःOm Devi Chandraghantayai Namah
Her night
The third night of Navratri
Chandraghanta is worshipped on the third night of Navratri, the tithi of Tritiya, in spring (Chaitra) and in autumn (Sharad).
Find this year’s NavratriWhere she is worshipped
In every Durga temple and festival pandal on her night of Navratri. In Varanasi each of the nine forms has a temple of her own, and pilgrims visit one each night.
Questions
Why is she called Chandraghanta?
Chandra is the moon and ghanta a bell: she wears a half moon shaped like a bell on her forehead.
Is Chandraghanta fierce or gentle?
Both: armed and ready for battle against evil, and peaceful and kind to those who come to her.