Navratri: Siddhidatri Maa, worshipped on Day 9, fulfils all divine aspirations

Neha Mangal

The 9th day of Navratri is also celebrated as Maha Navami. Devotees offer prayers on this auspicious day and seek blessings of Maa Siddhidatri. Navratri means nine days and nine nights. The word Siddhi means supernatural power and Dhatri means the awarder. Hence, it is believed that Maa Siddhidatri is that incarnation of Durga that fulfils all divine aspirations.
LEGEND OF MAA SIDDHIDATRI
The story of Maa Siddhidatri begins at a time when our universe was nothing more than a deep void. It was only full of darkness and there was no sign of life. This is when Goddess Kushmanda created the universe with her radiant smile.
Maa Kushamnda then created the Trimurti of Lord Bramha – the energy of creation, Lord Vishnu – the energy of sustenance and Lord Shiva – the energy of destruction. Once shecreatedthem all, Lord Shiva asked Maa Kushmanda to bestow him with perfection.
So, Maa Kushmanda created another goddess who bestowed Lord Shiva with 18 kinds of perfection. These included the Ashta Siddhi (8 primary forms of perfection) along with 10 secondary forms of perfection, as described by Lord Krishna.
The goddess who bestowed these perfections on Lord Shiva is Maa Siddhidatri – the giver of perfection. Now, Lord Bramha was asked to create the rest of the Universe. However, since Brhama required a man and a woman for creation,he found this task to be very challenging.
He prayed to Maa Siddhidatri and asked her for her help. Upon hearing Lord Bramha’s request, Maa Siddhidatri converted half of Lord Shiva’s body into a woman’s body. Thereafter Lord Shiva is also known as Ardhanarishwar (Ardh – half, Nari – woman, Ishwar – refers to Lord Shiva).
Lord Bramha was now able to create living beings along with the rest of the Universe. So, it was Maa Siddhidatri who helped Lord Bramha with the creation of the Universe and also bestowed perfection upon Lord Shiva. Maa Siddhidatri is depicted as being seated on a lotus or a lion. She has four arms and holds a conch shell, a mace, a lotus and a discus in each of these hands.
Worshipped on the ninth day of Navratri, Siddhidatri Devi possesses the Ashta Siddhi. It is believed that Maa Siddhidatri blesses her devotees with spiritual wisdom and she is also known to destroy ignorance.
Maa Durga is worshipped as Mahisasura Mardini which means the Annihilator of the Buffalo Demon. It is believed that on Maha Navami day Durga killed the demon Mahishasura.                  
On the Navmi or the 9th day, devotees should meditate on the Nirvana cycle. This chakra is located in the middle of our skull. By doing so, they receive the power of their Nirvana Chakra by the grace of Mother Siddhidatri.
Mantra:
Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Siddhidatri Devi Rupena Samsthita ||
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah ||”