“Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Ma Katyayani Rupena Samsthita।
Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namaha ll”
She had incarnated as the daughter of pious Sage Katyayan. Pleased with the intense penance and austerities undertaken by the Sage, she had granted his wish to have Devi Mata born to him as his child and thus the name Katyayani. She is with four arms and rides her favored vehicle the Lion. In this form she represents the gentle and loving bhava of a daughter who matures into one of the fiercest forms of Devi. She is red in color which denotes power, she loves madhu or honey and hence honey is offered in Devi Katyayani’s worship. She has the power to grant boons or she is ‘Vardayani’.
She is one of the most ancient forms of Devi appearing in several ancient texts such as Taittriyia Aranyaka part of the Krishna
Yajurveda, Devi Bhagwata Puran, Markhandeya Purana etc.
She is also thought to be one of the most fiercest swaroopa of Devi. One of the very celebrated legends about her is her manifestation as ‘Mahishasuramardini’. Once the servants of demon king Mahishasura caught a glimpse of Devi when she was on her way to the hills of Mysore. They went and reported about her to the demon king. Besotted by her grace and beauty Mahishasura proposed marriage. She placed a condition that he could wed her only if he won in a direct battle with her. At the battlefield she appeared as Goddess Durga and defeated the mighty asura and hence her revered name Mahishasuramardini.
Another legend relates how Devi Katyayani accompanied Devi Lakshmi to a place called Karvir in the vicinity of Kolhapur to fight in a battle against demon King Kolhasur. Kolhasur had in his army an asura called Raktabeeja who had a boon that every drop of his blood falling on the ground would spring a new demon in his image. To help win the war Goddess Katyayani sprung a terrible form of Kali also called Rakteshwari who drank all of Raktabeeja’s blood before it fell on the ground thus helping to win this landmark battle between good and evil.
She is also thought to have manifested as Kanya Kumari (located in the southernmost tip of India). She is also considered to be manifested as fierce Devi forms such as Bhadrakali and Candika.
She resides in the Agya Chakra or Thirdeye Chakra and hence the devotee should focus on this chakra while meditating on her. Agya chakra or third eye position is situated between the two eyebrows on the forehead. It is the command center that gives access to inner vision and wisdom. This is the meeting point of three main Nadi’s or Pulsepoints viz Ida (Moon Naadi), Pingala (Sun Naadi) and Sushumana (Central Naadi). This the point where the boundaries of the human conscious and divine consciousness converge.
She should be worshiped with red flowers and red colored items. She controls the planet Jupiter in the horoscope, which is considered as the planet bestowing good fortunes. It controls our abstract mind, our quest for higher knowledge and spirituality, it also indicates our penchant for ‘Dharma’ or ‘righteousness’. Jupiter bestows wisdom, worldly position, power and wealth. It is said that people and students with horoscope having Jupiter afflicted or maleficent should worship this form of Devi.
Worshiping her will result in a great surge of Kundalini energy surging through the body, rising up and concentrating on the Agya Chakra In the olden days each form of Devi was worshiped mostly in form of ‘Yantra’, the whole night and day of serious sadhakas were spent meditating in front of a ghee lamp, experiencing each powerful aspect that particular day’s swaroopa represented. It is suggested that she should be worshiped by married women and maidens of marriageable age.
An interesting legend relates how the ‘Gopis’ worshiped Devi Katyayani for winning Bhagwaan Krishna as their husband.
Worshiping her with reverence and true submission will result in the devotee being bestowed the four blessings viz Dharma (The Righteous Path), Artha (Realization of the True Meaning or Knowledge, also wealth and material blessings), Kama (Desire) and Moksha (True liberation from the cycle of life and death)
Some of her mantras gathered from various sources:
1) Om Devi Katyayanii Namah
2) “Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Ma Katyayani Rupena Samsthita।
Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namaha ll”
3) “Chandrahasojjvalakara Shardulavaravahana।
Katyayani Shubham Dadyad Devi Danavaghatini॥
Continuing with my sharing of Devi Shloka / hymn from Devi Bhagwatam, the third para is as follows:
“ Shivakunde Shubha Nandam Nandini Devika Tate
Rukmani Dwara Vatyandu Radha Vranda Vane Vane
Devaki Madurayam Do Paatale Parameshwari
Chitrakoote Tada Sita Vindhye Vindhyadivasini
Karveere Mahalakshmi Rumadevi Vinayake
Aarogyam Vaidyanadedu Mahakali Maheshwari
Abhye Trushna Teerthedu Nidimba Vindya Parvate
Mandavye Mandavai Nama Swaha Maheshwaripure
Chakalanda Prachandado Chandika Damradagade
Someshwari Vararoha Pravase Pushkaravathi..”
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