Today is Mahanavami
ll Om Devi Siddhidatryai Namah ll
ll Siddha Gandharva Yakshadyairasurairamarairapi।
Sevyamana Sada Bhuyat Siddhida Siddhidayini ll
The ninth day of Shardiya Navratri is dedicated to the worship of the ninth form of Goddess Durga, that is Goddess Siddhidatri. It is believed that Goddess Siddhidatri grants all sorts of siddhis to her devotees. According to Devi Purana, Lord Shiva attained all the Siddhis by her blessings. His half body assumed the form of the Goddess. So, he also came to be known as Ardhnarishwar.
The ninth day of Navaratri, which is dedicated to Goddess Siddhidatri, is observed as “Mahanavami.”
According to belief, by worshipping this form of Goddess Durga, devotees are freed from all sorts of sorrow and can attain salvation.
Goddess Siddhidatri’s name literally translates to “the one who grants or fulfils wishes.” ‘Siddhi’ refers to her supernatural power for enlightenment, and ‘Datri’ translates to “the one who blesses or bestows that upon you.”
In most visualisations of this goddess, she can be seen sitting atop a huge, fully-bloomed lotus and riding a lion. Goddess Siddhidatri is usually shown with four arms, holding the gada (mace) and Sudarshana Chakra in her right hands, and a lotus and shankh (conch) in her left hands. The goddess is also shown surrounded by Siddhas, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Asuras (demons) and Devatas (gods) who are worshipping her.
According to religious texts, Goddess Siddhidatri is the one who possesses all types of siddhis (Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakambya, Ishitva, and Vashitva), and thus bestows the same upon her devotees. It is believed that even Lord Shiva got all his siddhis from Goddess Siddhidatri.
Throughout the Puranic literature, we find many instances related to Goddess Sri Siddhidatri. There are some important instances given in the Durga Saptashati. Because of the power of this goddess, one gets success, wealth, and prosperity in life. One is also able to remove the rifts in the family and enhance love and affection. Hence, one must understand that she is the omnipresent power of the universe.
In one of the stories, the goddess herself reveals to the demon: “Who else exists in this world except me? All the forms of the goddess are verily me, and they enter back into me.” Forms of goddesses like Brahmani etc. then merged into the body of Goddess Ambika. Then the only one who remained was Sri Ambika. “It was only me who manifested into many forms with my grandeur and power, and they merged back into me. Now I am standing alone on the battlefield. Now you also get ready for the battle.”
Then a great battle started between the goddess and the demon Shumbha, and also between the devas and the demons. The sages said that when the great demon Shumbha was approaching near the goddess, she took her trident and pierced his chest, after which he fell down. With this mighty attack, he was killed. When he fell on the ground, he shook all the mountains, islands, oceans, and the entire earth. After the death of this demon, the whole world was happy and stable again. The sky also started to appear clearer than before. The disastrous events such as rains and meteorite showers then immediately stopped. After the death of Shumbha, the rivers also started flowing back in their natural course.
