Katyayani is the sixth of the nine forms of Durga, worshipped on the sixth day of Navaratri. She takes her name from the sage Katyayana, who prayed for years that the Goddess would be born as his daughter. In this form she is the Mother who rides out to battle and kills Mahishasura, the buffalo demon.
Katyayani dhyana sloka and its meaning
चंद्रहासोज्ज्वलकरा शार्दूलवरवाहना । कात्यायनी शुभं दद्याद्देवी दानवघातिनी ॥
Caṃdrahāsojjvalakarā śārdūlavaravāhanā | Kātyāyanī śubhaṃ dadyāddevī dānavaghātinī ||
Meaning: May Goddess Katyayani grant us what is auspicious: she whose hand shines with the sword called Chandrahasa, who rides the finest of tigers, and who destroys the danavas.
Chandrahasa is the name of the sword, literally "the one that shines like the moon". Dānavaghātinī means "slayer of the danavas". Every word of this sloka points to a fighter.
Watch the story
A narrated retelling from our YouTube channel, in the regional language of this site.
The sage Katyayana and his wish
Long ago there lived a sage named Kata. His son was Katya. In the line (gotra) of Katya was born the famous sage Katyayana.
Katyayana worshipped Parambika, the Supreme Mother, and spent many years in hard penance. His one wish was that the Mother herself should be born as his daughter. Pleased with his devotion, the Goddess appeared before him and promised to fulfil it.
The story of Katyayani: the killing of Mahishasura
In those days Mahishasura was tormenting the worlds. Thanks to a boon from Lord Brahma, he could be killed only by a woman. He did not think any woman could stand against him, so he believed the boon made him safe.
To end his cruelty, Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara brought their radiance together. Out of that combined light rose one great Shakti. The first person to worship this Goddess was the sage Katyayana, and so she came to be called Katyayani.
The sage's prayer was answered in full. Tradition gives the dates like this: the Mother was born as Katyayana's daughter on the Chaturdashi of the dark half (Krishna paksha) of the month of Ashvayuja. On the Saptami, Ashtami and Navami of the bright half (Shukla paksha) she accepted the sage's worship. Then, on Dashami, she killed Mahishasura.
That Dashami is the day still celebrated. The victory of the Mother over Mahishasura is remembered on Vijayadashami, and Katyayani is the form in which, by this account, she won it.
There is a quiet lesson inside the fierce story. Mahishasura relied on a boon he thought could never be used against him. Katyayana relied only on his devotion. The power that the three gods created chose to come into the world as the daughter of a humble sage, through his prayer.
The form of Katyayani
Katyayani shines like pure gold. She has four hands:
- one shows varada mudra, the gesture of giving boons;
- one shows abhaya mudra, the raised palm that says "do not fear";
- one holds a sword;
- one holds a lotus.
She is commonly shown seated on a lion. Her dhyana sloka, quoted above, calls her mount a śārdūla, "the finest of tigers". Both images are worshipped, and both show the same thing: a Mother who is ready to fight for her children.
How Katyayani is worshipped on the sixth day of Navaratri
On the sixth day, the Goddess is worshipped as Katyayani in the kalasha, picture or idol kept for Navaratri.
Flowers: Red flowers are offered to her, especially roses.
Naivedya: A popular custom is to offer sweet pongal.
Mantra: Devotees chant this mantra 108 times:
ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं कात्यायनी दुर्गायै नमः
Oṃ aiṃ hrīṃ klīṃ kātyāyanī durgāyai namaḥ
Katyayani and marriage
Katyayani is widely prayed to for marriage. Devotees believe her worship helps a good marriage come together, and brings closeness and harmony between husband and wife. Families with a daughter or son waiting to get married often make a special point of her puja on this day.
The best-known example comes from the Bhagavata Purana: the young gopis of Vraja worshipped Goddess Katyayani for a month, praying to have Krishna as their husband.
What devotees pray to Katyayani for
Devotees believe that worshipping Katyayani brings the fruit of all four goals of life, the purusharthas: dharma, artha, kama and moksha. She is prayed to for relief from illness, grief and fear, for a good marriage, and for harmony in married life.