Navratri · Day 3

Chandraghanta

The goddess with the crescent moon bell

About the Goddess

The third form of Durga. A half-moon shaped like a bell adorns her forehead, hence the name Chandraghanta. She rides a tiger or lion and is a form of courage and grace; her bell is said to drive away fear and negative energy.

Bhog: Milk and milk sweets such as kheer

Puja samagri (items needed)

• Picture or idol of the Goddess
• Red cloth (chunri) and a clean asan
• Roli / kumkum, akshat (unbroken rice)
• Red flowers (hibiscus is dear to the Goddess), garland
• Incense (agarbatti / dhoop), camphor
• Diya with ghee or oil, cotton wicks
• Water in a kalash / small pot, mango leaves
• Fruits, coconut, and the day's bhog
• Bhog: Milk and milk sweets such as kheer

Puja vidhi (steps)

1. Cleanliness and preparation

   Bathe and wear clean clothes. Clean the puja space and spread a red cloth. Sit facing east or north and place the Goddess's picture or idol in front of you.

2. Sankalp (resolve)

   Hold water, a few grains of rice and a flower in your right palm, recite the sankalp, then release the water. Your gotra and name below are filled from your saved preferences.

   मम (your gotra)-गोत्रे उत्पन्नस्य (your name)-नाम्नः ममोपात्त-समस्त-दुरित-क्षयद्वारा श्रीदुर्गा-प्रीत्यर्थं नवरात्र-पूजनमहं करिष्ये॥

   mama (your gotra)-gotre utpannasya (your name)-nāmnaḥ mamopātta-samasta-durita-kṣaya-dvārā shrī-durgā-prītyarthaṃ navarātra-pūjanam ahaṃ kariṣye ||

3. Ganesh vandana

   Begin by bowing to Lord Ganesha to remove obstacles.

   वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ। निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा॥

   vakratuṇḍa mahākāya sūryakoṭi samaprabha | nirvighnaṃ kuru me deva sarvakāryeṣu sarvadā ||

   Meaning: O Lord with the curved trunk and great body, radiant as a million suns, make all my undertakings free of obstacles, always.

4. Light the diya and make offerings

   Light the diya and incense. Offer roli, akshat, flowers and the garland to the Goddess.

5. Dhyana mantra

   Close your eyes for a moment and recite the dhyana verse for Maa Chandraghanta.

   पिण्डजप्रवरारूढा चण्डकोपास्त्रकैर्युता। प्रसादं तनुते मह्यं चन्द्रघण्टेति विश्रुता॥

   piṇḍaja-pravarārūḍhā caṇḍakopāstrakair-yutā | prasādaṃ tanute mahyaṃ chandraghaṇṭeti vishrutā ||

   Meaning: Riding the finest of mounts and armed with fierce weapons, the one known as Chandraghanta bestows her grace on me.

6. Stuti (praise)

   Recite the praise of the Goddess.

   या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥

   yā devī sarvabhūteṣu shakti-rūpeṇa saṃsthitā | namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ ||

   Meaning: To the Goddess who dwells in all beings in the form of Shakti (power): salutations to her, again and again.

7. Offer the bhog

   Offer Milk and milk sweets such as kheer as bhog to Maa Chandraghanta, along with fruit and coconut.

8. Aarti

   Sing the aarti while waving the lit diya or camphor in a clockwise circle before the Goddess.

   ↑ The aarti is at the top of this page

9. Prayer for forgiveness

   Ask forgiveness for any mistake made during the puja.

   आवाहनं न जानामि न जानामि विसर्जनम्। पूजां चैव न जानामि क्षमस्व परमेश्वरि॥

   āvāhanaṃ na jānāmi na jānāmi visarjanam | pūjāṃ caiva na jānāmi kṣamasva parameshvari ||

   Meaning: I do not know how to invoke you, nor how to bid you farewell, nor how to worship you. Forgive me, O Supreme Goddess.

10. Distribute the prasad

    Share the prasad with family and neighbours, then take it yourself.