English
Katyayani
Source: Vamana Purana (the Mahishasura episode); Bhagavata Purana, 10th Skandha, chapter 22; the Navadurga tradition
Long ago there lived a sage named Kata. In his line was later born the great sage Katyayana, a fierce ascetic and a deep devotee of the Devi.
The popular story says Katyayana had a single wish: that the Mother of the world herself would come to his home as his daughter. With this wish he performed hard austerities for many years.
In those days the terror of a demon named Mahishasura was growing. He had defeated the gods in battle, driven them from heaven and seated himself on Indra's throne.
The defeated gods, led by Brahma, went to Shiva and Vishnu and told them their sorrow. Hearing of Mahishasura's cruelty, Vishnu and Shiva were filled with anger.
From that anger a blazing radiance came forth from their faces. Then radiance began to pour from the bodies of Brahma, Indra and all the gods. All of it gathered in one place, like a burning mountain.
The Vamana Purana tells that this mass of light moved towards the hermitage of an ascetic. It was the hermitage of the sage Katyayana. The trees, the river and the sky around it all blazed with that light.
Katyayana, sitting in meditation, opened his eyes. Before him was a light like a thousand suns, and within it a form was slowly appearing…
From that mass of light a divine Goddess appeared. Her radiance spread across the three worlds. Formed from the radiance of the gods, she had appeared in the hermitage of Katyayana, and so she was called Katyayani.
According to popular tradition, Katyayana was the first to worship the Devi, and she gave him the affection of a daughter. The sage's years of practice bore fruit.
The gods offered the Devi their weapons. Riding a lion, she went to battle Mahishasura, and after a fierce fight she ended the demon. That is why Katyayani is also called Mahishasura Mardini.
Katyayani's glory appears in another lovely story. The Bhagavata Purana tells that the gopis of Vraja kept a vow to the Devi Katyayani for the whole month of Margashirsha. Each morning they bathed in the Yamuna, made an image of the Devi from sand, and worshipped her.
Their prayer was: “Katyayani, great Maya, great yogini, sovereign Goddess, make the son of Nanda my husband. Salutations to you.” At the end of the vow Shri Krishna accepted their sincere devotion and promised them that in the nights of the coming autumn their wish would be fulfilled. The gopis' month of devotion bore fruit.
For this reason it is still believed today that Maa Katyayani is worshipped for a wished-for life partner and a happy married life.
Maa Katyayani's form is radiant. She has four arms: one holds a sword, one a lotus, and the other two are raised in the gestures of fearlessness and blessing. She rides a lion.
What this story teaches
When all powers unite for one purpose, Katyayani appears. Sincere practice and a shared resolve are never wasted.
Maa Katyayani is worshipped on Shashthi, the sixth day of Sharad and Chaitra Navratri. Katyayana's wish for the Devi as his daughter comes from popular tradition; her appearance at his hermitage is described in the Vamana Purana.
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