Maa Kala Ratri is the seventh form amongst the Navadurga or the nine forms of th

e Hindu goddess Parvati or (Shakti). She is worshipped during the nine nights of
Navratri celebrations.[1] . The seventh day of Navratri pooja (ritual) is dedic
ated to Durga Kalaratri and she is considered the most violent form[2] of Goddes
s Durga. Kalaratri is the one of the fiercest forms of Durga and her appearance
itself evokes fear.
This form of Goddess is believed to be the destroyer of all demon entities, ghos
ts, spirits and negative energies, who flee upon knowing of her arrival.[3]
Contents [hide]
1 Mythology
2 Story
3 Temples
4 References
Mythology[edit]
Kaal Ratri means the One who is the Death of Kaal . Here Kaal is dedicated as time
& death and ratri means night. Kaal Ratri is the one who destroys ignorance and
removes darkness. This form primarily depicts that life also has a dark side the
violence of Mother Nature, creating havoc and removing all dirt. She is also kn
own as Shubhamkari or "good-doing".
Story[edit]
Once, there was a demon named Raktabeej, who has obtained a boon from Lord Brahm
a that every drop of his blood will fall on the ground and another clone of his
would be born. After getting the boon, he started to torment the innocent humans
and Gods. To kill him, they all went to Goddess Parvati to the Kailash Mountain
s and told her the story of the demon Raktabeej. She promised them that she will
stop him. When Raktabeej was egoistic about his power, Parvati watched from bel
ow from the skies, he said to himself that no one can kill him, Parvati was furi
ous, she disappeared and her voice echoed to Raktabeej, he did not know where it
was coming from, and soon enough, it was. Parvati transformed her appearance wh
en invisible, now her new appearance became ferocious, she wore a girdle of seve
red human hands, a garland of human skull heads representing the fifty letters o
f the Sanskrit alphabet or a garland or flowers, for her clothing, she wears tig
er skin like Lord Shiva. She has three eyes that symbolizes past, present and fu
ture and sometimes, when she gets too furious, her eyes looked bright red. She h
as two dead heads for her earrings and a black complexion, she rode on a donkey,
she has four hands holding a trident, sword, scimitar and vajra. Raktabeej was
scared of Parvati's new form, she was none other than Goddess Kaalratri. A long
battle ensued, and at the end, she stabbed and decapitated him with her weapons
and she drank all his blood.
The complexion of Maa Kalaratri is like dark night with bountiful hair and heave
nly shaped form, and, she has four hands. The left two hands holds a cleaver and
a torch, and the right two are in the mudras of giving and protecting . She wears a
necklace that shines like the moon. Kalaratri has three eyes which emanate rays
like lightning. Flames appear through her nostrils when she inhales or exhales.[
4] Her mount is the donkey, often considered as a donkey's corpse. Blue, red and
white colors should be used to wear on this day.
The appearance of Maa Kalaratri can be seen as being very dangerous for evil-doe
rs. But she always bears good fruits for her devotees who are not afraid of her
and all should avoid fear when faced with her, for she removes the darkness of w
orry from life of her bhaktas or worshipers. Her worship on 7th day of Navratri
has very much a high importance to Yogis and Sadhakas. Yogis & Sadhaka penance o
n Shahtra Chakra on this day. For the worshipers on this day door opens of every
siddhi, power and practice in the universe