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Shree Chandraghantaa Ashtottarashatanaamaavalih

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Shree Chandraghantaa Ashtottarashatanaamaavalih

1. Om Chandra/Shekharaayai Namaha

2. Om Chandrashekhara/Vallabhaayai Namaha

3. Om Chandra/Mandala/Madhya/Sthaayai Namaha

4. Om Chandra/Koti/Susheetalaayai Namaha

5. Om Chandra/Kaantyai Namaha

6. Om Chandra/Koti/Nibha/Aananaayai Namaha

7. Om Chandra/Bhaginyai Namaha

8. Om Chandramah/Karna/Kundalaayai Namaha

9. Om Chandra/Haasaayai Namaha

10. Om Chandra/Haasinyai Namaha

11. Om Chandrikaayai Namaha

12. Om Chandra/Dhaatryai Namaha

13. Om Chandavatyai Namaha

14. Om Chandramaayai Namaha

15. Om Chandana/Priyaayai Namaha

16. Om Chandra/Mandala/Madhya/Sthaayai Namaha

17. Om Chandra/Mandala/Darpanaayai Namaha

18. Om Chandra/Choodaayai Namaha

19. Om Chandra/Roopinyai Namaha

20. Om Chaamundaayai Namaha

21. Om Chanda/Munda/Vadha/Udyataayai Namaha

22. Om Chaitanya/Bhairavyai Namaha

23. Om Chandaayai Namaha

24. Om Chaitanya/Ghana/Gehinyai Namaha

25. Om Chandikaayai Namaha

26. Om Chanda/Daitya/Ghnyai Namaha

27. Om Chaandaalinyai Namaha

28. Om Chitta/Jnaayai Namaha

29. Om Chintita/Padaayai Namaha

30. Om Chitta/Sthaayai Namaha

31. Om Chitta/Roopinyai Namaha

32. Om Chakrinyai Namaha

33. Om Chaaru/Champa/Aabhaayai Namaha

34. Om Chaaru/Champaka/Maalinyai Namaha

35. Om Chandrikaayai Namaha

36. Om Chaapinyai Namaha

37. Om Chit/Svaroopaayai Namaha

38. Om Chid/Aadhaaraayai Namaha

39. Om Chanda/Vegaayai Namaha

40. Om Chid/Aalayaayai Namaha

41. Om Chapalaayai Namaha

42. Om Chintaamani/Guna/Aadhaaraayai Namaha

43. Om Chintaamani/Vibhooshanaayai Namaha

44. Om Chitta/Chintaamani/Krita/Aalayaayai Namaha

45. Om Chintaamani/Krita/Aalayaayai Namaha

46. Om Chaaru/Chandana/Lipta/Angyai Namaha

47. Om Chaturaayai Namaha

48. Om Chatur/Mukhyai Namaha

49. Om Chaitanya/Daayai Namaha

50. Om Chid/Aanandaayai Namaha

51. Om Chaaru/Chaamara/Veejitaayai Namaha

52. Om Chanda/Mundaayai Namaha

53. Om Chandyai Namaha

54. Om Charchitaayai Namaha

55. Om Chanda/Veginyai Namaha

56. Om Chatur/Bhujaayai Namaha

57. Om Chintyaayai Namaha

58. Om Chid/Aananda/Svaroopinyai Namaha

59. Om Chitra/Roopinyai Namaha

60. Om Chaaru/Angyai Namaha

61. Om Chanchalaayai Namaha

62. Om Chaaru/Charitrinyai Namaha

63. Om Charchaayai Namaha

64. Om Chaaru/Haasinyai Namaha

65. Om Chatulaayai Namaha

66. Om Chitraayai Namaha

67. Om Chitra/Maalya/Vibhooshitaayai Namaha

68. Om Chaaru/Dantaayai Namaha

69. Om Chaaturyai Namaha

70. Om Charitra/Pradaayai Namaha

71. Om Choolikaayai Namaha

72. Om Chitra/Vastra/Antaayai Namaha

73. Om Chaaru/Daatryai Namaha

74. Om Chakoryai Namaha

75. Om Chauryai Namaha

76. Om Choraayai Namaha

77. Om Chanchad/Vaag/Vaadinyai Namaha

78. Om Chora/Vinaashinyai Namaha

79. Om Chaaru/Chandana/Lipta/Angyai Namaha

80. Om Chanchat/Chaamara/Veejitaayai Namaha

81. Om Chaaru/Madhyaayai Namaha

82. Om Chaaru/Gatyai Namaha

83. Om Chandilaayai Namaha

84. Om Chaaru/Homa/Priyaayai Namaha

85. Om Chaarvaayai Namaha

86. Om Charitaayai Namaha

87. Om Chakra/Baahukaayai Namaha

88. Om Chakravaaka/Stanyai Namaha

89. Om Cheshtaayai Namaha

90. Om Chitraayai Namaha

91. Om Chaaru/Vilaasinyai Namaha

92. Om Chit/Svaroopaayai Namaha

93. Om Champaka/Pushpa/Nivaasinyai Namaha

94. Om Chira/Prajnaayai Namaha

95. Om Chaatakaayai Namaha

96. Om Chaaru/Hetukyai Namaha

97. Om Chokaara/Roopaayai Namaha

98. Om Chora/Ghnyai Namaha

99. Om Chora/Baadhaa/Vinaashinyai Namaha

100. Om Chaitanyaayai Namaha

101. Om Chetana/Sthaayai Namaha

102. Om Chaturaayai Namaha

103. Om Chamatkrityai Namaha

104. Om Chakrinyai Namaha

105. Om Chakra/Dhaarinyai Namaha

106. Om Chitta/Geyaayai Namaha

107. Om Chid/Vilaasinyai Namaha

108. Om Chakravarti/Kula/Aadhaaraayai Namaha

Iti Shree Chandraghantaa Ashtottarashatanaamaavalih

Meaning

The Chandraghanta Ashtottara Shatanamavali is a list of 108 names of Chandraghanta Devi, the third form of Durga, worshipped on the third day of Navaratri. She is Parvati in a fierce ten-armed form with a bell-shaped half-moon on her head. The namavali opens with Om Chandrashekharaayai Namaha, Om Chandrashekharavallabhaayai Namaha and Om Chandramandalamadhyasthaayai Namaha: the one crowned with the moon, the beloved of the moon-crowned Shiva, and the one who dwells at the centre of the moon's disc.

Significance

Every name begins with the sound "Ch". Two families of names stand out. The first is about the moon: cool, bright and calm, as in Om Chandrakotisusheetalaayai Namaha, "cool as a crore of moons". The second is about fierceness, built on the word "Chanda": Om Chandaayai Namaha, "the fierce one", and Om Chandavegaayai Namaha, "the one of fierce speed". Read together, they show what the story says about her: strength and peace sit together in her.

Other names fill in the picture. Om Chakradhaarinyai Namaha means the one who holds the discus, one of the many weapons in her ten hands. Om Chaaruhaasinyai Namaha means the one with a lovely smile, the gentle face she keeps for her devotees. Om Chitsvaroopaayai Namaha calls her consciousness itself, a reminder that the fierce warrior who drove away Jatukasura is the same Mother who lives in the mind.

How and when to chant

The natural time to chant this namavali is on the third day of Navaratri, Ashvayuja Shukla Tritiya, though it can be said on any day. Light a lamp before her picture or the Navaratri kalasha and offer a pinch of kumkuma or a flower at each name. Orange flowers are offered to her. Payasam and other sweets are popular naivedya. Many devotees also ring the puja bell with care on this day, remembering her story. A steady recitation takes about ten minutes. A namavali needs no initiation, so anyone can chant it with devotion.

To read about her wedding-day form and the bat-demon Jatukasura, see the story of Chandraghanta Devi.

Frequently asked questions

Which day of Navaratri is Chandraghanta worshipped, and who is she?
Chandraghanta is worshipped on the third day of Navaratri. She is Parvati in a fierce ten-armed form, wearing a half-moon shaped like a bell on her head.
What is the Chandraghanta Ashtottara Shatanamavali and how is it chanted?
It is a list of 108 names of Chandraghanta Devi, each said as "Om ... Namaha". Light a lamp, offer a flower or kumkuma at each name and chant slowly; it takes about ten minutes.
What is the mantra of Chandraghanta?
Her mantra is "Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chandraghantayai Namah". Devotees usually chant it 108 times on the third day of Navaratri.
What flowers and naivedya are offered to Chandraghanta?
Orange flowers are offered to her, and payasam and other sweets are popular naivedya. The exact offerings vary by family tradition.
What does "Om Chandrashekharaayai Namaha" mean?
It means "salutations to the one crowned with the moon". It points to the bell-shaped half-moon on her head that gives Chandraghanta her name.

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