Third day of Navaratra: Chandraghanta Devi worshipped today

KATHMANDU: Chandraghanta Devi, the third of the nine forms of Goddess Durga, is being worshipped with special rituals in Dashain Ghar and prayer rooms across Nepal today, the third day of Navaratra.

According to Hindu religious scriptures and mythology, Chandraghanta Devi bears a bell adorned with a crescent moon, which gives her the name Chandraghanta. Worshipping the goddess is believed to bestow strength and spiritual power, said Toyaraj Nepal, a retired professor at Valmiki Vidyapeeth of Nepal Sanskrit University.

The Markandeya Purana explains the name through the phrase “Chandra Ghantayan Yasya,” referring to the goddess whose bell bears the moon. Chandraghanta Devi is traditionally depicted with a crescent moon and a bell, symbolising her divine power.

The goddess is described as having a golden or yellow complexion and is revered for destroying demonic forces and protecting devotees. Her worship is also associated with meditation on the Manipura Chakra. Devotees believe that meditating on her divine form can bestow spiritual strength and various supernatural powers.

According to Chintamani Bhattarai, an associate professor at Valmiki Vidyapeeth, the grace of Chandraghanta Devi is believed to cleanse devotees of their sins. He described the goddess as peaceful, compassionate, and benevolent, adding that her association with music makes her particularly significant in religious worship. Devotees also believe that meditating on her on this day brings radiance to the forehead.