The tale of all nine forms of Goddess Durga worshipped on Navaratri

Offspring of Lord Brahma, King Daksha wrapped his daughter Sati in cotton wool.

She grew up, and ended as a thread with the homeless Lord Shiva on the love’s spool.

Her raved father, Daksha was shocked to see her love towards Shiva and her marrying urge.

She left her house and the road of her father, and walked with Shiva on the marriage verge!

Her father organised a sacrifice, inviting everyone except the newly married couple intentionally.

When she reached there without the invitation, he humiliated her and her husband ruthlessly!

Abashed, Sati jumped into the sacrificial fire and gave up her every breath!

Lord Shiva had a fit after hearing the lugubrious news of his wife’s death.

He decided neither to drink a droplet of water nor eat a single grain.

Glad Tarakasura, got a boon to die by Shiva’s child, and roamed as immortal in fain!

Tautened gods pleaded Sati to take rebirth and let Shiva out of the deep meditation.

On the other hand, The Lord Himalaya wanted a child and pamper it with full dedication.

Sati took rebirth as Shailyaputri as she was now the mighty Himalayas’s daughter!

Since then, she is worshipped on the very first day of Navaratri and in everyone’s hearts saunter!

The young Shailyaputri wasn’t aware of the purpose of her resurrection.

But an evening, Sage Narad recognised her, and told her to get out Shiva from deep meditation.

Shailyaputri went declaring her determined penance to her parents at once.

Her penance began and stayed for years, terminated only when Lord Brahma summons!

Commenced from fruits and roots to dry withered leaves.

Her penance was stopped by Lord Brahma, and Shiv truly receives.

He disguised into a sage, and tried to test the determined Paravathi.

She courageously showed him that she only was his companion, his wife Sati.

She surely told us all that at times tripping on tough paths to get accomplishment is necessary.

Since then, Brahmacharini sparkles in our heart and worshipped on day 2 of Navaratri 

The wedding was confirmed and Parvathi’s appearance was fair as the blooming floret.

All the gods were decked up and her mother stood at the gate to welcome Shiva with respect.

Shiva who had all dirt in his hair and unset clothes, was accompanied by his followers the ghosts.

Everyone was stunned and her mother fainted, but Shiva’s this form was Paravathi’s boast.

To tell Shiva, for other’s sake he need to be neatly decked up and look like a true bridegroom.

Paravathi took her sanctitude form, with 10 arms 3 eyes and felt like a ray of light in the gloom.

Amazed Shiva, decided to transmogrify himself into a charming and stunning look.

Since then, Goddess Chandraghanta’a name by our tongues is took!

Once, when there was no one, no universe nor the world,

The primal energy of the world, Goddess Kushmanda’s smile occurred!

The divine sparkle from her smile, forged this universe, engendered these planets.

Her three eyes created Mahalakshmi Mahakali and Mahasaraswati, as the three blooming florets. These goddesses stood as the pillars of basic energies and the Trimurti’s companions.

Then the goddess sat at the centre and gave the energy to illuminate the world to the sun.

The bright light as Lakshmi, heat as Kali and sound as Saraswati are all creations of our beloved.

Since then in our mind and heart, in the vision of the eyes and the internal sounds, she roved.

When Shiva didn’t notice the deep deep penance performed by the Goddess.

The gods pleaded Manmata, the God of Love to sprinkle love on Shiva and show his finesse.

Manmata did as asked by the Gods, but that disrupted Shiva’s deep brooding.

Shiva opened his third eye whose spark burnt Manmata into ashes as a result of his occluding.

Spark of Shiva’s eye and the love sprinkled by Kama transformed into a seed with a baby in it.

Seed’s spark was too strong that neither the God of Fire nor the Goddess Ganga could handle it.

The seed was given to the Forest Sharavan where the 6 sisters Kritika took care of the child.

Who later grew up, and killed the so-called immortal Tarakasura, demon the wild!

Scanda or Kartikeya was the name of Goddess Paravathi and Shiva’s son.

Since then, as Sacndamata the Goddess’s name in our minds constantly runs.

Everything was peaceful till the part demon part buffalo Mahishasura troubled them all.

Tormented gods were frustrated and to kill the evil Mahishasura they gave Goddess Shakti a call.

On the other side, Sage Katyayana was pleading Shakti to take birth as his own child.

And so, she took birth as his daughter with an aim to kill the sinful Mahishasura the wild.

Time passed and she grew as an ethereal woman, thronged with grace and magnanimity.

The fawners of him amazed by her grace thought of their master and her’s match would be pretty.

They asked for her hand for Mahishasura, and she proposed a demand of hers.

If she lost by him in a battle she would surely marry him by taking true promise in a verse.

And so, all was caught up by devising the grand battle between the demon and the Goddess.

Easily slew the army of Mahishasura and the demon was raged to glance at his people less.

He became a tough guy to be slew and showed his all strength.

But Shakti, stood on his back and pierced him with her trident.

The daughter of Katyayana, Katyayani brought amongst all a feeling of relief.

Since then, she is the one worshipped and blows away all our grief.

The hatred arose in Shumbha and Nishumbha because God Indra killed their brother.

They overthrew all, and ruled the three kingdoms by help of Chanda and Munda and one another.

Gods asked Goddess Shakti for help, and the death of these demons.

Hence, she decided to put on the battle with them all, at once.

Kaushiki’s glance of rage slew many of the army but strong demons were still safe.

Hence, to get some help she gave rise to a Goddess from her forehead with Kali as her name.

Kali became Chamunda by killing Chanda and Munda, and wearing their heads as her headdress.

But killing Raktabeej the demon and his boon for Kaushiki created big challenges.

As, the drop of blood falls when he gets stroked gives rise to a demon strong as him.

So she called Goddess Kali to make up a team and on death’s rope hang him.

Goddess Kaushiki stroked him whereas Kali spread her tongue in order to drink the falling blood.

We chant her name in our hearts and minds since her bravery and strength in our eyes occurred.

Also, while doing penance Paravathi lost her appetite and also the charm and radiance.

And in hers and Shiva’s marriage, he let Ganga flow on her till all her illumination she gains.

That illuminating and radiant Mahagauri is a symbol of peace, grace and purity.

Since, then Mahagauri’s radiance, purity is worshipped and also her divinity.

When the Universe arose from Goddess Kushmanda’s smile’s shine.

Shiva asked from Goddess for 18 perfections that he got from Siddhidatri, the Goddess divine. 

When Lord Brahma, the creator found the need of man and woman to create the rest of the world.

Siddhidatri transformed Shiva’s half body into woman and his Ardhanarishwara form occurred.

Since then, Siddhidatri is worshipped by us all on the final Navaratri’s day.

These all forms of Goddess Shakti help us trip on virtuous way.