oddess Chandraghanta. Day of worship: 3rd day of Navratri Governing planet: Venus Mantra: Om Devi Chandraghantayai Namah ॐ देवी चघटायैनम Iconography: Goddess Chandraghanta mounts the tigress. She wears the semi-circular moon(Chandra) on her forehead. The half-moon on her forehead looks like the bell(Ghanta) and hence, Her name. She is depicted with ten hands. Goddess Chandraghanta carries Trishul, Gada, sword and kamandalu in Her four left hands and keeps the fifth left hand in Varadamudra. She carries a lotus flower, arrow, Dhanush and Japa Mala in Her four right hands and keeps the fifth right hand in Abhaya Mudra. Special powers: This form of the Mother Goddess is ready for war with all her weapons, to protect the peace and welfare of Her devotees. It is believed that the sound of the moon-bell on her forehead drives all types of evil away from Her devotees. Kushmanda About: After taking the form of Siddhidatri, the Mother Goddess started living within the Sun thereby liberating the Sun's energy to the universe. Since then, this form of the Goddess has been known as Kushmanda, namely for her power and capability to live inside the Sun. The glow and radiance of her body is as luminous as that of the Sun. Day of worship: 4th day of Navratri Governing planet: Sun Mantra: Om Devi Kushmandayai Namah ॐ देवी कूमाडायैनम Iconography: Rides on a lioness and has eight hands. She holds a kamandalu, Dhanush, Bada and Kamal in Her right hands. Her left hands hold Amrit Kalash(pot of nectar), japa mala(prayer beads), Gada and Chakra - in that order. Specific power: She created the universe in the flash of Her smile and is believed to bestow siddhis(supernatural powers) and niddhis(wealth) to Her devotees. Skandamata About: In her form as mother of the God of War, Lord Skanda(also known as Kartikeya), she is known as Goddess Skandamata. Day of worship: 5th day of Navratri Governing planet: Mercury Mantra: Om Devi Skandamatayai Namah ॐ देवी कदमातायैनम Iconography: Goddess Skandamata mounts the ferocious lion. She carries baby Skanda in her lap. Lord Skanda(also known as Kartikeya or Lord Murugan) is the brother of Ganesha. Goddess Skandamata is depicted with four hands. She carries lotus flowers in Her upper two hands. She holds baby Skanda in one of Her right hands and keeps the other right hand in Abhayamudra. She sits on a lotus flower and because of that, is also known as Goddess Padmasana. Special powers: Devotees who worship this form of the Mother Goddess get the added benefit of blessings of Lord Skanda, the God of War(also known as Kartikeya). Katyayani About: To destroy demon Mahishasura. Day of worship: 6th day of Navratri Governing planet: Jupiter Mantra: Om Devi Katyayanyai Namah ॐ देवी कायाययैनम Iconography: Goddess Katyayani rides on a magnificent lion and is depicted with four hands. She carries a lotus flower and sword in her left hands respectively and keeps her right hands in Abhayamudra and Varadamudras. Kaalratri About: This is the fiercest and the most ferocious form of the Mother Goddess, in which she manifests to destroy the demons, Sumbha and Nisumbha. Day of worship: 7th day of Navratri Governing planet: Saturn Mantra: Om Devi Kalaratryai Namah ॐ देवी कालरायैनम Iconography: Her complexion is dark black and She rides on a donkey. She is depicted with four hands. Her right hands are in Abhayamudra and Varadamudra. She carries a sword and deadly iron hook in her left hands. Mahagauri About: Goddess Shailputri at the age of sixteen was extremely beautiful and blessed with a fair complexion. Due to her extremely fair complexion, she was known as Goddess Mahagauri. Day of worship: 8th day of Navratri Governing planet: Rahu Mantra: Om Devi Mahagauryai Namah ॐ देवी महागौयनम Iconography: She rides the bull, just like Goddess Shailputri. She has four arms, holding a Trishul in one of her right hands and depicts the Abhayamudra with the other right hand. She carries a Damaru in one left hand and depicts the Varadamudra in her other left hand. Siddhidhatri About: In the beginning of the universe, Lord Rudra worshipped th