English
Chandraghanta
Source: The popular Navadurga story (folk tradition); the wedding procession episode: Shiva Purana, Rudra Samhita, Parvati Khanda
Parvati's austerity was complete and Shiva had promised to marry her. The Himalayan city was in festival. Gateways were decorated, auspicious songs rang out, and Queen Mena waited eagerly to see her future son-in-law.
Word came that the wedding procession was arriving. In front walked the gods, in fine clothes, with music. Seeing each god, Mena asked, “Is this Shiva?” and each time she was told, “No, these are only his attendants.”
Then came Shiva's ganas. Some had no heads, some many heads; some were very tall, some very small. Ghosts, spirits and goblins came dancing and singing. The ash of the cremation ground drifted in the air.
And among them, riding a bull, was Shiva himself: ash on his body, serpents around his neck, matted hair, a third eye on his forehead, a trident and a skull-bowl in his hands. A tiger skin was his only garment.
Mena could not bear the sight and fell in a faint. When she came to, she wept and said, “I will not give my flower-like daughter to him! Whatever happens, this marriage will not take place.”
Silence fell over the palace. The procession stood at the gate, the mother refused the marriage, and the auspicious day seemed to be turning into a crisis. All eyes turned to Parvati.
The Shiva Purana tells that Parvati firmly told her mother she would marry no one but Shiva. The gods and sages too tried to reason with Mena.
The popular Navadurga story carries the episode further. Parvati saw that this form of Shiva was frightening everyone. So she herself took a radiant, powerful form. On her forehead shone a half-moon shaped like a bell (ghanta). For this she is called Chandraghanta.
In this form the Devi rode a lion and held weapons in her ten arms, yet her face was calm and full of compassion. She went before Shiva and asked him to take a form that would gladden her mother and the people of the city.
Shiva granted her request. The Shiva Purana too describes how Shiva at last took a supremely beautiful, divine form, lovelier than countless Kamadevas, adorned with jewels and fragrant garlands. Seeing him, all of Mena's fear vanished.
Mena herself performed the welcoming arati for her son-in-law. Then the marriage of Shiva and Parvati was celebrated with great splendour, and joy spread through all the worlds.
The story shows that the Chandraghanta form removes fear. She appears armed for battle, but her purpose is protection and peace. It is believed that the sound of her bell drives away negative forces.
Maa Chandraghanta is worshipped on the third day of Navratri. Devotees believe her grace builds courage and quiets the fears of the mind.
What this story teaches
When a situation fills with fear, courage joined with compassion opens the way. Chandraghanta teaches that the true work of power is protection and peace.
Maa Chandraghanta is worshipped on Tritiya, the third day of Sharad and Chaitra Navratri. The Chandraghanta form in this story comes from popular tradition; the wedding procession and Mena's fear are told in the Shiva Purana.
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