Maa Katyayani
The warrior born of sage Katyayana's tapas — courage for dharma.
- Vahana
- The lion
- Bhog (offering)
- Honey
- Flower
- Marigold
- Colour
- Grey
Significance
Katyayani was born in the ashram of the sage Katyayana, from the combined anger of the gods, for the specific purpose of killing Mahishasura — and she is the form that does it. She is the warrior of the nine, and the sixth night is where the battle actually begins.
The Bhagavata places her elsewhere too: the gopis of Vrindavan worshipped Katyayani for a month to be given Krishna, which is why the form also carries an association with marriage and with the removal of obstacles to it. Both readings are current, and they sit together more comfortably than they first appear — in each case she is the one who gets a thing done.
How she is shown
Four arms, a sword and a lotus; born of the collected anger of the gods
What is done on this day
Offer honey. Unmarried women in many regions keep this day specifically. The Devi Mahatmya's account of the battle with Mahishasura is read from here through the eighth night.
The nine colours are widely published as if fixed, but they are not — the sequence is assigned from the weekday Navratri begins on, so it shifts every year. The colour shown here is the one most commonly associated with this form; follow your own community's list where it differs.
ॐ देवी कात्यायन्यै नमः