Welcome to the Navratri home page where you can learn about it’s significance, enjoy a great collection of Shlokas related to the divine Mother, Shakti, Durga with lyrics, translation, audio and significance. And listen to popular devotional songs. All ad-free!

About Navratri
Durga Shlokams
Navratri Songs

Navratri Songs

Compositions related to the Divine Mother. Play them all or just your favourites, uninterrupted! Click on the 3 dots next to a song for its lyrics.

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About Navaratri

Navratri, or the Divine Nine Nights, is a time of deep rest and rejuvenation. Each day is dedicated to one of the nine forms of the Mother Divine. The final day, the 10th day, is called Vijaydashami, the day popularly celebrated as the day of the victory of good over evil but it is really the sattva winning over the other gunas, the one consciousness expressing itself.

The word ratri means that which gives you deep rest or relief from three things, the three tapas. Tapas means the three types of fire or the three botherations – the physical, the subtle and the causal. The three types of botherations: Adi Bhautik – the worldly botheration, Adi Daivik – botherations on the level of the cosmic angels or devas, and then botherations of the soul. Navratri gives a deep rest that can relieve you from all these three botherations, so it’s a time of prayer and rejuvenation.

During Navratri, your mind should be immersed in the divine consciousness. It takes nine months for a baby to be born. So these nine days are like coming out of a mother’s womb once again, having a new birth. During these nine days and nights, one should go inwards and remember the source. Ask yourself these questions, “How was I born?”, “What is my source?”. You should dwell on your consciousness and see these nine days as the nine months.

The first three days are dedicated to Tamo Guna or inertia, the second three days to Rajo Guna or restlessness and activity, and the last three days to Sattva Guna or purity and high prana. The three Gunas that we all possess: Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. And victory over all the Gunas, being centered and celebrating life – the final day is called Vijaydashami or the Victory Day.

Nava Durga – Nine forms of Durga

Significance

Shailaputri (1st Day of Navaratri)
Meaning: “Daughter of the Mountain” (Shaila = mountain, Putri = daughter)
The daughter of the mountains, depicted riding a bull and carrying a trident. She is worshipped for strength, stability, and grounding energy to begin the spiritual journey.
Brahmacharini (2nd Day of Navaratri)
Meaning: “One who practices devotion” (Brahma = divine/sacred, Charini = one who moves/practices)
The ascetic form holding a rosary and water pot, representing penance and devotion. She is worshipped for wisdom, knowledge, and spiritual discipline in studies and meditation.
Chandraghanta (3rd Day of Navaratri)
Meaning: “Moon Bell” (Chandra = moon, Ghanta = bell)
The warrior goddess with a crescent moon on her forehead, riding a tiger. She is worshipped for courage, protection from enemies, and victory in battles both external and internal.
Kushmanda (4th Day of Navaratri)
Meaning: “Creator of the Universe” (Ku = little, Ushma = warmth/energy, Anda = egg/universe)
The cosmic creator with eight arms, residing in the sun’s core and holding various weapons. She is worshipped for health, wealth, prosperity, and the power of creation and manifestation.
Skandamata (5th Day of Navaratri)
Meaning: “Mother of Skanda” (Skanda = Lord Kartikeya, Mata = mother)
The mother of Lord Skanda (Kartikeya), depicted holding her son while riding a lion. She is worshipped for motherly protection, fertility, and blessings for children and family welfare.
Katyayani (6th Day of Navaratri)
Meaning: “Daughter of Sage Katyayana” (born from Sage Katyayana’s penance)
The fierce warrior goddess born from the combined energies of all gods to defeat Mahishasura. She is worshipped for marriage, love relationships, and the destruction of evil forces.
Kalaratri (7th Day of Navaratri)
Meaning: “Night of Death/Destruction” (Kala = time/death, Ratri = night)
The dark, fierce form with four arms riding a donkey, destroyer of demons and negativity. She is worshipped for protection from fear, removal of obstacles, and elimination of negative energies.
Mahagauri (8th Day of Navaratri)
Meaning: “Great White One” (Maha = great, Gauri = fair/white)
The radiant, white-complexioned goddess symbolizing purity and peace. She is worshipped for purification of sins, inner cleansing, and attaining spiritual enlightenment and serenity.
Siddhidatri (9th Day of Navaratri)
Meaning: “Giver of Supernatural Powers” (Siddhi = supernatural powers, Datri = giver)
The supreme goddess who grants all supernatural powers (siddhis) and sits on a lotus. She is worshipped for the fulfillment of desires, spiritual accomplishments, and the attainment of divine powers.

Significance of Vijayadashami

Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra, is one of the most significant festivals in Hinduism, celebrated on the tenth day of the bright half of Ashwin month. The festival marks the victory of good over evil and is celebrated for multiple mythological reasons across different regions of India.

The primary significance centers around Lord Rama’s victory over the demon king Ravana, as narrated in the Ramayana. After a fierce battle lasting ten days, Rama finally defeated Ravana on this day, rescuing Sita and restoring dharma. This victory symbolizes the triumph of righteousness over wickedness, truth over falsehood, and divine justice over tyranny. Many regions celebrate this with elaborate Ramlila performances and the burning of Ravana effigies.

In the context of Devi worship, Vijayadashami celebrates Goddess Durga’s victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura after a nine-day battle during Navaratri. The goddess, representing divine feminine power (Shakti), destroys the forces of ignorance and evil that Mahishasura symbolizes. This aspect emphasizes the protective and liberating power of the Divine Mother, making it particularly significant for Shakta traditions.

The festival also holds importance in the Mahabharata, where it commemorates the Pandavas’ successful completion of their exile and the retrieval of their weapons from the Shami tree. This connection makes Vijayadashami an auspicious day for new beginnings, learning new skills, and starting important ventures. Many people begin new educational pursuits, business ventures, or artistic endeavors on this day, believing it brings success and divine blessings. The festival ultimately represents the universal principle that truth and righteousness will always prevail over darkness and evil.