CHAITRA Navratri 2022- KNOW THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIRD DAY OF NAVRATRI

                                                      CHAITRA Navratri 2022- KNOW THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIRD DAY OF NAVRATRI

"THIRD NAVRATRI- THE DAY OF MAA CHANDRAGHANTA"

                  The third day of the Navratri Festival is dedicated to Maa Chandrghanta, which signifies Peace, Calmness & Purity. According to the Vedic Texts, Maa Chandrghanta is believed to be the 'SHAKTI' of Lord Shiva who is also referred to as the "Married" form of Devi Parvati. She is known to protect Her devotees from all types of the evil spirits and has a Half-moon(Shaped like a Temple's Bell) sitting on Her forehead.
                The Hindu Religious History says that   Maa Chandrghanta was known as Devi Sati in her previous birth.  In this Incarnation, She was married to Lord Shiva and had even sacrificed her life when her father Daksha Prajapati had once deliberately insulted her husband publically. Thereafter, She was born as Parvati(Tge daughter of Mountains) and observed very rigorous Penance to seek blessings of marrying Lord Shiva. Because of Her continued devotion & dedication, She came to be known as Maa Brahmacharini and Lord Shiva agreed to marry Her. 

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 Their marriage preparations were in full swing and everyone was very happy for Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati. However, on the day of their marriage, Lord Shiva arrived with a huge, but very strange Baraat(Marriage Procession). Ghosts, Sages, Goblins, Ghouls, Aghori and Ascetic were all parts of this Unusual Marriage Procession. Lord Shiva, Himself,  had multiple snakes around his neck and his whole body was smeared with ash. Moreover, Lord Shiva had snakes in his hair too, which gave him a very scary and horrifying look. The relatives of Maa Parvati were left shocked upon on seeing such a terrifying form of Lord Shiva and almost everyone got fainted out of extreme horror.
                Watching all this, Maa Parvati got worried and feared that her family and also Lord Shiva would be highly embarrassed because of this unique situation. Therefore, She immediately also transformed herself into a terrorizing Avtaar(Form) namely, "Chandrghanta". This was a very frightening sight to witness and She also looked as terrifying as Lord Shiva.  Maa Chandrghanta's complexion turned golden and She now had Ten Arms. She used her tenth arm to bless Her devotees, while the other nine arms carried a specific Astra-Shastra(Weapon). She was carrying a Trishul(Trident) in one hand while a Kamandalu(Watering Pot) in another hand. Also, Maa Chandrghanta carried a Gada(Mace), a Bow and Arrow, a Sword, a Ghanta(Bell) and Kamla(Lotus flower) in Her other hands.

 In this terrifying form, Maa Chandrghanta approached Lord Shiva and convinced Him to take a noble form. Then Lord Shiva agreed and He transformed Himself into a handsome prince. Also, now He was bedecked with beautiful jewels and ornaments. Finally, Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati's marriage was completed by observing all the rituals and performing
 prayers by different Gods.  Their marriage was celebrated all over the world and is being observed today as the festival of 'Maha Shivratri'.
                As per Hindu Mythology, Maa Chandrghanta's vehicle is a lion.  This Avtaar(Incarnation) of Maa Durga denotes that She can have both forms- a  Compassionate one towards Her devotees and, the other a Terrifying one towards Her enemies.  She is known to bless Her devotees with divine grace and fearlessness.  Maa Chandrghanta is also termed as one of the most powerful forms of the Goddess Durga and She offers relief from various sufferings and distress.
                The vishesh mantra dedicated to Maa Chandrghanta is, "PINDAJPRAVARARUDHA  CHANDKOPASTRAKAIURTA PRASADAM TANUTEY MAHAYAM CHANDRA GHANTETI VISHRUTA" which is chanted on this day. Another suksham(Smaller) mantra that can be recited to please Maa Chandrghanta is, "AUM CHAN CHAN CHAN CHANDRAGHANTAAYE HUN".