English
Siddhidatri
Source: Shiva Purana, Shatarudra Samhita (the Ardhanarishvara avatar); Shiva receiving siddhis from Siddhidatri: popular Navadurga tradition
At the beginning of creation, Brahma was given the task of making the world. By the resolve of his mind he created sages, Prajapatis and many beings.
But a difficulty arose. However many beings Brahma made, that many remained. Creation was not growing on its own. For every new being, Brahma himself had to will it into existence.
Brahma grew anxious. “How long can I go on creating alone? How will this creation spread by itself?” However much he thought, he found no way.
Then he meditated on Lord Shiva, the root cause of all. Brahma sat in hard austerity and remembered Shiva with complete faith. Time passed, but his meditation did not break.
The popular Navadurga story speaks of a time even before this. It says that Shiva himself had worshipped the primal Shakti, and by her grace Shiva had received all the siddhis. That Shakti was no longer separate from Shiva.
Pleased with Brahma's austerity, Shiva appeared before him. But the form Brahma saw was one he had never seen before.
The right half of that divine form was Shiva's: matted hair, ash, serpents and trident. The left half was a goddess's: flowers in her hair, earrings, and a smile full of compassion. In one body, half man and half woman…
Brahma folded his hands and praised that form. This was the Lord's Ardhanarishvara form, in which Shiva and Shakti share one body, never to be separated.
The Shiva Purana tells that Shiva then separated Shakti from his body, and the Devi appeared before Brahma on her own. Brahma bowed and said, “Mother, my creation is not growing. Give me the power to create the female, so that the world may spread by itself.”
The Devi granted Brahma's prayer and gave him that power. After this Brahma created both woman and man, and creation began to grow on its own. Then the Devi merged back into Shiva.
The popular Navadurga tradition links this story to the Devi Siddhidatri. According to it, Shiva gained the eight siddhis by worshipping this primal Shakti, and by her grace half of his body became the Devi's, so that he was called Ardhanarishvara.
The eight siddhis are: Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakamya, Ishitva and Vashitva. As the giver of these, the Devi is called Siddhidatri.
Maa Siddhidatri sits on a lotus, and the lion is also held to be her mount. In her four hands are a discus, mace, conch and lotus. It is believed that gods, sages, siddhas, gandharvas and humans all worship her.
The nine nights of Navratri reach completion with Siddhidatri. The journey that began with Shailputri on the first day arrives at fulfilment on the ninth.
The Ardhanarishvara form reminds us that Shiva and Shakti, spirit and nature, are incomplete without each other. Creation moves forward only when both are together.
What this story teaches
Completeness lies not in one alone but in the union of Shiva and Shakti. Practice carried through with patience is what becomes siddhi.
Maa Siddhidatri is worshipped on Mahanavami, the ninth day of Sharad and Chaitra Navratri. Many homes perform havan and Kanya Puja on this day and conclude the Navratri fast. The Ardhanarishvara story is in the Shiva Purana; its link to Siddhidatri is popular tradition.
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