''Katyayani'' (कात्यायनी) is an aspect of

Mahadevi Mahadevi ( sa, महादेवी, ), also referred to as Adi Parashakti, Adi Shakti, and Abhaya Shakti, is the supreme goddess in the Shaktism sect of Hinduism. According to this tradition, all Hindu goddesses are considered to be manifesta ...

and the slayer of the tyrannical demon Mahishasura. She is the sixth among the Navadurgas, the nine forms of Hindu goddess

Durga Durga ( sa, दुर्गा, ) is a major Hindu goddess, worshipped as a principal aspect of the mother goddess Mahadevi. She is associated with protection, strength, motherhood, destruction, and wars. Durga's legend centres around co ...

who are worshipped during the festival of

Navaratri Navaratri is an annual Hindu festival observed in the honour of the goddess Durga. It spans over nine nights (and ten days), first in the month of Chaitra (March/April of the Gregorian calendar), and again in the month of Sharada. It is ob ...

. She is depicted with four, ten or eighteen hands. This is the second name given for

Goddess A goddess is a female deity. In many known cultures, goddesses are often linked with literal or metaphorical pregnancy or imagined feminine roles associated with how women and girls are perceived or expected to behave. This includes themes of s ...

Adi Parashakti in Amarakosha, the Sanskrit lexicon (Goddess

Parvati Parvati ( sa, पार्वती, ), Uma ( sa, उमा, ) or Gauri ( sa, गौरी, ) is the Hindu goddess of power, energy, nourishment, harmony, love, beauty, devotion, and motherhood. She is a physical representation of Mahadevi i ...

names- Uma,

Katyayani ''Katyayani'' (कात्यायनी) is an aspect of Mahadevi and the slayer of the tyrannical demon Mahishasura. She is the sixth among the Navadurgas, the nine forms of Hindu goddess Durga who are worshipped during the festival of Navar ...

, Gauri,

Kali Kali (; sa, काली, ), also referred to as Mahakali, Bhadrakali, and Kalika ( sa, कालिका), is a Hinduism, Hindu goddess who is considered to be the goddess of ultimate power, time, destruction and change in Shaktism. In t ...

, Haimavati, Ishwari). In

Shaktism Shaktism ( sa, शाक्त, , ) is one of several major Hindu denominations, wherein the metaphysical reality is considered metaphorically a woman and Shakti ( Mahadevi) is regarded as the supreme godhead. It includes many goddesses, al ...

, she is associated with the fierce forms of

Shakti In Hinduism, especially Shaktism (a theological tradition of Hinduism), Shakti (Devanagari: शक्ति, IAST: Śakti; lit. "Energy, ability, strength, effort, power, capability") is the primordial cosmic energy, female in aspect, and rep ...

, a warrior goddess, which also includes Bhadrakali and

Chandi Chandi ( sa, चण्डी, ) or Chandika () is a Hindu deity. Chandika is another form of Mahadevi, similar to Durga. Chandika is a powerful form of Mahadevi who manifested to destroy evil. She is also known as ''Kaushiki'', '' Katyayan ...

ka, and traditionally she is associated with the colour red, as with Goddess

, the primordial form of

, a fact also mentioned in

Patanjali Patanjali ( sa, पतञ्जलि, Patañjali), also called Gonardiya or Gonikaputra, was a Hindu author, mystic and philosopher. Very little is known about him, and while no one knows exactly when he lived; from analysis of his works it i ...

's Mahabhashya on

Pāṇini , era = ;;6th–5th century BCE , region = Indian philosophy , main_interests = Grammar, linguistics , notable_works = ' (Sanskrit#Classical Sanskrit, Classical Sanskrit) , influenced= , notable_ideas=Descript ...

, written in 2nd century BCE. She is first mentioned in the Taittiriya

Aranyaka The Aranyakas (; sa, आरण्यक; IAST: ' ) are the part of the ancient Indian Vedas concerned with the meaning of ritual sacrifice. They typically represent the later sections of the Vedas, and are one of many layers of the Vedic texts. ...

part of the

Yajurveda The ''Yajurveda'' ( sa, यजुर्वेद, ', from ' meaning "worship", and ''veda'' meaning "knowledge") is the Veda primarily of prose mantras for worship rituals.Michael Witzel (2003), "Vedas and Upaniṣads", in ''The Blackwell C ...

. Skanda Purana mentions her being created out of the spontaneous anger of Gods, which eventually led to slaying the demon, Mahishasura, mounted on the lion. This occasion is celebrated during the annual

Durga Puja Durga Puja ( bn, দুর্গা পূজা), also known as Durgotsava or Sharodotsava, is an annual Hindu festival originating in the Indian subcontinent which reveres and pays homage to the Hindu goddess Durga and is also celebrated ...

festival in most parts of India.CHAPTER VII. UMĀ.
''Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic'', by W.J. Wilkins. 1900. ''page 306'' Her exploits are described in the Devi-Bhagavata Purana and Devi Mahatmyam, part of the

Markandeya Purana The ''Markandeya Purana'' ( sa, मार्कण्डेय पुराण; IAST: ) is a Sanskrit text of Hinduism, and one of the eighteen major Puranas. The text's title Markandeya refers to a sage in Hindu History, who is the central char ...

attributed to sage

Markandeya Bhargava Markandeya ( sa, मार्कण्‍डेय ) is an ancient rishi (sage) born in the clan of Bhrigu Rishi (Bhargava Brahmins Community). The Markandeya Purana especially, comprises a dialogue between Markandeya and a sage cal ...

Rishi, who wrote it in Sanskrit ca. 400-500 CE. Over a period of time, her presence was also felt in Buddhist and Jain texts and several Tantric text, especially the

Kalika Purana The Kalika Purana ( sa, Kālikā Purāṇa), also called the Kali Purana, Sati Purana or Kalika Tantra, is one of the eighteen minor Puranas (''Upapurana'') in the Shaktism tradition of Hinduism. The text was likely composed in Assam or Cooch Beha ...

(10th century), which mentions ''Uddiyana'' or ''Odradesa'' (

Odisha Odisha (English: , ), formerly Orissa ( the official name until 2011), is an Indian state located in Eastern India. It is the 8th largest state by area, and the 11th largest by population. The state has the third largest population of ...

), as the seat of Goddess Katyayani and Lord

Jagannath Jagannath ( or, ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ, lit=Lord of the Universe, Jagannātha; formerly en, Juggernaut) is a deity worshipped in regional Hindu traditions in India and Bangladesh as part of a triad along with his brother Balabhadra, and sister ...

. In Hindu traditions like

Yoga Yoga (; sa, योग, lit=yoke' or 'union ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India and aim to control (yoke) and still the mind, recognizing a detached witness-consciou ...

and

Tantra Tantra (; sa, तन्त्र, lit=loom, weave, warp) are the esoteric traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism that developed on the Indian subcontinent from the middle of the 1st millennium CE onwards. The term ''tantra'', in the Indian ...

, she is ascribed to the sixth Ajna

Chakra Chakras (, ; sa , text=चक्र , translit=cakra , translit-std=IAST , lit=wheel, circle; pi, cakka) are various focal points used in a variety of ancient meditation practices, collectively denominated as Tantra, or the esoteric or ...

or the Third eye chakra and her blessings are invoked by concentrating on this point.

Origin

According to the Vamana Purana she was created from the combined energies of the gods when their anger at the demon Mahishasura manifested itself in the form of energy rays. The rays crystallized in the hermitage of Kātyāyana

Rishi ''Rishi'' () is a term for an accomplished and enlightened person. They find mentions in various Vedic texts. Rishis are believed to have composed hymns of the Vedas. The Post-Vedic tradition of Hinduism regards the rishis as "great yogis" or ...

, who gave it proper form therefore she is also called Katyayani or "daughter of Katyayana". Elsewhere in texts like

, it is mentioned that it was Rishi Kaytyayana who first worshipped her, hence she came to be known as ''Katyayani''. In either case, she is a demonstration or apparition of the

and is worshipped on the sixth day of Navratri festival. Devimahatmya Sanskrit MS Nepal 11c

The Vamana Purana mentions the legend of her creation in great detail: "When the gods had sought Vishnu in their distress, he and at his command Shiva, Brahma and the other gods, emitted such flames from their eyes and countenances that a mountain of effulgence was formed, from which became manifest Katyayini, refulgent as a thousand suns, having three eyes, black hair and eighteen arms. Shiva gave her his trident, Vishnu a

Sudarshan Chakra Sudarshana Chakra (Sanskrit: सुदर्शन चक्र, lit. "disc of auspicious vision", IAST: Sudarśana Chakra) is a spinning, celestial discus with 108 serrated edges, attributed to Vishnu and Krishna in the Hindu scriptures. The Sud ...

or discus, Varuna a shankha, a conch-shell, Agni a dart, Vayu a bow,

Surya Surya (; sa, सूर्य, ) is the sun as well as the solar deity in Hinduism. He is traditionally one of the major five deities in the Smarta tradition, all of whom are considered as equivalent deities in the Panchayatana puja and a m ...

a quiver full of arrows,

Indra Indra (; Sanskrit: इन्द्र) is the king of the devas (god-like deities) and Svarga (heaven) in Hindu mythology. He is associated with the sky, lightning, weather, thunder, storms, rains, river flows, and war. volumes/ref> I ...

a thunderbolt, Kuvera a

mace Mace may refer to: Spices * Mace (spice), a spice derived from the aril of nutmeg * '' Achillea ageratum'', known as English mace, a flowering plant once used as a herb Weapons * Mace (bludgeon), a weapon with a heavy head on a solid shaft used ...

, Brahma a

rosary The Rosary (; la, , in the sense of "crown of roses" or "garland of roses"), also known as the Dominican Rosary, or simply the Rosary, refers to a set of prayers used primarily in the Catholic Church, and to the physical string of knots or b ...

and water-pot, Kala a shield and sword,

Visvakarma Vishvakarma or Vishvakarman ( sa, विश्वकर्मा, Viśvakarmā, all maker) is a craftsman deity and the divine architect of the devas in contemporary Hinduism. In the early texts, the craftsman deity was known as Tvastar and the ...

a battle-axe and other weapons. Thus armed and adored by the gods, Katyayani proceeded to the Mysore hills. There, the

asuras Asuras (Sanskrit: असुर) are a class of beings in Indic religions. They are described as power-seeking clans related to the more benevolent Devas (also known as Suras) in Hinduism. In its Buddhist context, the word is sometimes translated ...

saw her and captivated by her beauty they so described her to Mahishasura, their king, that he was anxious to obtain her. On asking for her hand, she told him she must be won in fight. He took on the form of Mahisha, the bull and fought; at length Durga dismounted from her lion, and sprang upon the back of Mahisha, who was in the form of a bull and with her tender feet smote him on the head with such a terrible force that he fell to the ground senseless. Then she cut off his head with her sword and henceforth was called Mahishasuramardini, the Slayer of Mahishasura., The legend also finds mention in Varaha Purana and the classical text of

, the Devi-Bhagavata Purana Skanda Purana have an other Version, where Katyayani appear as 2 armed Goddess and later Expand Into 12 armed. Here Because of Kartikey's splendor She got her name. Parvati gifts her lion in this Version. It's unique version as Katayayani ''forgives Mahisha''

Other legends

Raktabīja, an aide of Kolhasur, possessed a power (

Siddhi In Indian religions, (Sanskrit: '; fulfillment, accomplishment) are material, paranormal, supernatural, or otherwise magical powers, abilities, and attainments that are the products of yogic advancement through sādhanās such as meditation ...

) whereby every drop of his blood spilled on earth would give rise to a demon. Due to this power, Bhairava was finding it impossible to kill Raktabīja. Katyayani swallowed all of Raktabīja's blood without letting it fall on earth. She created an Amrut Kunda (tank of nectar) to rejuvenate Bhairava's soldiers, thus playing a crucial role in the war. Her temple to the South of Kolhapur commemorates this. The second among the 'Shaktipeeths' is Tulja Bhavani (

) of Tuljapur. It is the family deity of the Bhosale Royal family, the Yadavs and of countless numbers of families belonging to different castes. The founder of the Maratha kingdom, Shivaji always visited the temple to seek her blessings. It is believed that the Goddess

Bhavani(Katyayani) gave him a sword - 'the Bhawani sword' - for success in his expeditions. The history of the temple has been mentioned in the Skanda Purana. According to

s, she revealed through the North face, which is one six Faces of Shiva. This face is blue in colour and with three eyes and also revealed the

Devi Devī (; Sanskrit: देवी) is the Sanskrit word for 'goddess'; the masculine form is ''deva''. ''Devi'' and ''deva'' mean 'heavenly, divine, anything of excellence', and are also gender-specific terms for a deity in Hinduism. The conce ...

s, Dakshinakalika, Mahakali, Guhyakali, Smashanakalika, Bhadrakali,

Ekajata In Hinduism, the goddess Tara ( sa, तारा, ) is the second of the Dasa (ten) Mahavidyas or "''Great Wisdom goddesses''", and is a form of Adishakti, the tantric manifestation of Parvati. Her most famous centre of worship is the temple ...

, Ugratara (fierce Tara), Taritni, Chhinnamasta, Nilasarasvati(Blue Saraswati),

, Jayadurga, Navadurga, Vashuli, Dhumavati,

Visalakshi The Vishalakshi Temple or Vishalakshi Gauri Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Vishalakshi (''Viśālākshī'', sa, विशालाक्षी, "she who has large eyes"), (an aspect of the goddess Parvati/Gauri) at Mir Ghat ...

, Bagalamukhi, Pratyangira, Matangi, Mahishasuramardini, their rites and Mantras.

Worship

The

Bhagavata Purana The ''Bhagavata Purana'' ( sa, भागवतपुराण; ), also known as the ''Srimad Bhagavatam'', ''Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana'' or simply ''Bhagavata'', is one of Hinduism's eighteen great Puranas (''Mahapuranas''). Composed in Sa ...

in 10th Canto, 22nd Chapter, describes the legend of ''Katyayani Vrata'', where young marriageable daughters ( gopis) of the cowherd men of Gokula in

Braja Braj, also known as Vraj, Vraja, Brij or Brijbhoomi, is a region in India on both sides of the Yamuna river with its centre at Mathura-Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh state encompassing the area which also includes Palwal and Ballabhgarh in Haryan ...

, worshipped Goddess Katyayani and took a vrata, or vow, during the entire month of Margashirsha, the first month of the winter season, to get Lord Krishna as their husband. During the month, they ate only unspiced khichri and after bathing in the Yamuna at sunrise made an earthen deity of the goddess on the riverbank and worshipped the idol with aromatic substances like sandalwood pulp, lamps, fruits, betel nuts, newly grown leaves, fragrant garlands and incense. This precedes the episode where Krishna takes away their clothes while they are bathing in the Yamuna River. She is worshiped as the Adi shakti swaroop who if you make vow of fasting, would give you the husband you have wished and prayed for. The fasting, called Kātyāyanī-vrata is made for a whole month, offering such things as sandal, flowers, incense, etc.: "During the month of Mārgaśīrṣa, every day early in the morning the young daughters of the cowherds(gopis) would take one another's hands and singing of Krishna's transcendental qualities, go to the Yamuna(Jamuna) to bathe. Desiring to obtain Krishna as their husband, they would then worship the goddess Kātyāyanī with incense, flowers and other items". Each day they rose at dawn. Calling out to others by name, they all held hands and loudly sang glories of Krishna while going to Kālindī(personified Jamuna) to take their bath. The Adolescent Virgin Goddess in the southern tip of India, Devi Kanya Kumari is said to be the avatar of

Katyayani Or

. She is the goddess of penance and Sanyas. During the Pongal( Thai Pongal), a harvest festival, which coincides with the

Makara Sankranthi Makar(a) Sankranti (), also referred to as Uttarayana, Maghi, or simply Sankranti, is a Hindu observance and a festival. Usually falling on the date of January 14 annually, this occasion marks the transition of the Sun from the zodiac of Sag ...

and is celebrated in Tamil Nadu, young girls prayed for rain and prosperity and throughout the month, they avoided milk and milk products. Women used to bath early in the morning and worshiped the idol of Goddess Katyayani, carved out of wet sand. The penance ended on the first day of the month of

Thai Thai or THAI may refer to: * Of or from Thailand, a country in Southeast Asia ** Thai people, the dominant ethnic group of Thailand ** Thai language, a Tai-Kadai language spoken mainly in and around Thailand *** Thai script *** Thai (Unicode block ...

(January–February) in Tamil calendar.

Prayers

Mantra

चंद्रहासोज्जवलकरा शार्दूलवरवाहना। कात्यायनी शुभं दध्यादेवी दानवघातिनि।।: ''Chandra Hasojja Valakara , '' ''Shaardulavar Vaahana , , '' ''Kaatyayani Shubham Daddya , '' ''Devi Daanav Ghaatini , , '' ॐ देवी कात्यायन्यै नम: Oṃ Devī Kātyāyanyai Namaḥ ''Chandrahasojjvalakara Shardulavaravahana , '' ''Katyayani Shubham Dadyad Devi Danavaghatini , , '' ''Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Ma Katyayani Rupena Samsthita , '' ''Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah , , ''
Devi Katyayani
की पूजा का मंत्र ॐ देवी कात्यायन्यै नमः॥ या देवी सर्वभू‍तेषु माँ कात्यायनी रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥

Dhyan Mantra

स्वर्णाआज्ञा चक्र स्थितां षष्टम दुर्गा त्रिनेत्राम्। वराभीत करां षगपदधरां कात्यायनसुतां भजामि॥ Swarnagya chakra sthitam shashtam Durga Trinetram. Varabhit Karam shadgpadmdharam katyayansutam Bhajami

Temples

Sri Katyayani Temple, Bakor, Mahisagar District, Gujarat
web site is not working and contact details have changed.
Sri Katyayani Peeth Temple, Vrindavan, (U.P)
*

Shri Katyayani Baneshwar Temple, Aversa Shri Katyayani Baneshwar Temple (Kannada language, Kannada:ಶ್ರೀ ಕಾತ್ಯಾಯಿನಿ ಬಾಣೇಶ್ವರ ದೇವಸ್ತಾನ),(Devanagri language, Sanskrit:श्री क़ात्यायनी बाणेश� ...

, Karnataka, built in AD 1510, original idols brought from Goa during Portuguese rule. *

Chhatarpur Temple Chhatarpur Temple (Officially: Shri Aadya Katyayani Shakti Peetham) is located in a down town area in Chhatarpur, Delhi, India. This temple is dedicated to Goddess, Katyayani. The entire complex of the temple is spread over a wide area of 70 ac ...

, Delhi, built 1974. * Sri Kartyayani Temple, Cherthala, Alappuzha, Kerala, India. * Sri Katyayani Temple, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India. * Sri Kathyayini Amman Temple, Marathurai, Thanjavur, Tanjore District, Tamil Nadu. * Sri Katyayani Shakthipeeth Adhar Devi(Arbuda Devi) Temple, Mount Abu, Aravali Range, Rajasthan, India. * Sri Kathayee Amman temple, Nelli Thoppu, Kovilur, Thanjavur, Tanjore District, Tamil Nadu *Sri Kumaranalloor Karthyayani Temple, Kumaranalloor, Kottayam, Kerala, India Shri Katyayani Devi mandir is a mesmerizing Hindu temple devoted to goddess Katyayani. The temple is situated in Bakor in ta-Khanpur adjacent to Mahisagar district, which is just 3 km far away from Kaleshwari. The goddess Katyayani, which is one of the parts of Navadurga, is deliberated to be the 6th form of goddess Durga. Devotees from all caste and religion are greeted here. The temple has been built in north Indian architecture and is located in Gujarat. The temple is crafted with attractive and polished marbles which are spread over 70 acres consisting of 5 small & large temples divided into three different complexes. The temple complex also has other temples dedicated to Lord Ganesha, Lord Sai, Lord Hanuman and Lord Shiva. The focus of attraction of this temple is the idol figure of Devi Katyayani. It says that one & only idol in the form of stone. Numerous festivals are celebrated here along with the auspicious festival of Navrati. The 5th day of Navrati is to be the day of arrival of Devi Katyayani. If you are planning to visit Bakor; try your best to visit Devi Katyayani's temple. The goddess Katyayani in Bakor takes the important place in the pre-historical period. Devi Katyayani, who already resided here and come forward to welcome goddess Katyayani. Goddess Devi Katyayani is having very compassionate relations. Even now every day during the morning Aarti at Bakor temple Devi Katyayani is supposed to be present every day, When you visit that temple feel the greatness of Devi Katyayani, you get blessed, and full peace of mind.http://www.katyayanidevibakor.org/ ''Katyayani Mandir, Bakor'', by N.R.Upadhyay,2016.

References

External links

Katyayani Peeth, Vrindavan

from Devi Purana {{DEFAULTSORT:Katyayani Hindu goddesses Navadurgas War goddesses