13th October 2010

Prof. G. C. ASNANI, MSc., Ph.D.

822, Sindh Colony,
Aundh,
Pune – 411 007 (HINDUSTAN, INDIA)
Tel: 91-20-2585-0347
E-mail: asnanigc@yahoo.com

News and Views: 13th October 2010

1. Today 13th October 2010 - 6th Day of Navratri Festivals

“Sarva Mangal Manglye Shive Sarvarth Sadhike
Sharanye Trimbyake Guari Narayani Namostute”

Katyayani
Sixth Durga is Katyayani. The son of “Kat” as “Katya”. Rishi Katyayan born in this
“Katya” lineage. Katyayan had observed penance with a desire to get paramba as his
daughter. As a result she took birth as a daughter of Katyayan. Therefore her name is
“Katyayani” . She has three eyes and eight hands. These are eight types of weapons missiles
in her seven hands. Her vehicle is Lion

Kathyayini (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathyayini)

Kathyayini (also known as Katyayani) is the sixth form of the Durga, part of the
Navadurga or the nine forms of Hindu goddess Durga or Shakti, worshipped during the
Navratri celebrations.[1]

In Shaktism she is associated with the fierce forms of Shakti and a War goddess, which also
include Bhadrakali and Chandi [2], and traditionally she is associated with the colour red,
as with Goddess Durga, the primordial form of Shakti, a fact also mentioned in Patanjali's
Mahabhashya on Pāṇini, written in 2nd BCE [3].
She is first mentioned in the Taittiriya Aranyaka part of the Krishna Yajurveda. Skanda
Purana mentions her being created out of the spontaneous anger of Gods, which eventually
lead to slaying the demon, Mahishasura, mounted of the lion given to her by Goddess
Gauri. This occasion is celebrated during the annual Durga Puja festival in most parts of
India.[4].

Her exploits are described in the Devi-Bhagavata Purana and Devi Mahatmyam, part of the
Markandeya Purana attributed to sage Markandeya Rishi, who wrote it in Sanskrit ca.
400-500 CE. Over a period of time, her presence was also felt in Buddhist and Jain texts
and several Tantric text, especially the Kalika Purana (10th century AD), which mentions
Uddiyana or Odradesa (Orissa), as the seat of Goddess Katyayani and Lord Jagannath [5][6].

Kathyayini

Daughter of Sage Katyayan, hence known as

Katyayani
Vengeance / Victory
Affiliation Avatar of Shakti
Weapon Talwar (longsword),
Lotus
Mount Dawon (tiger or lion)

In Hindu traditions like Yoga and the Tantra, she is ascribed to the sixth Ajna Chakra or
the 'Third eye chakra', and her blessings are invoked by concentrating on this point.[1]

Mythology
According to ancient legends, she was born a daughter of Katyayan Rishi, born in the
Katya lineage, thus called Katyayani, "daughter of Katyayan" . Elsewhere in texts like the
Kalika Purana, it is mentioned that it was Rishi Kaytyayan who first worshipped her,
hence she came to known as 'Katyayani. In either case, she is a demonstration or apparition
of the Durga, also known as Parvati, Shiva's wife, and is worshipped on the sixth day of
Navratri festival.[1][7].

Devi Mahatmya in Sanskrit, the central text of Shaktism, dated 11 CE

The Vamana Purana mentions the legend of her creation in great detail: "When the gods
had sought Vishnu in their distress, he, and at his command Shiva, Brahma, and the other
gods, emitted such flames from their eyes and countenances that a mountain of effulgence
was formed, from which became manifest Katyayini, refulgent as a thousand suns, having
three eyes, black hair, and eighteen arms. Siva gave her his trident, Vishnu a Sudarshan
Chakra or discus, Varuna a shankha, a conch-shell, Agni a dart, Vayu a bow, Surya a
quiver full of arrows, Indra a thunderbolt, Kuvera a mace, Brahma a rosary and water-
pot, Kala a shield and sword, Visvakarma a battle-axe and other weapons. Thus armed,
and adored by the gods, Katyayini proceeded to the Vindhya hills. There, the asuras
Chanda and Munda saw her, and captivated by her beauty they so described her to
Mahishasura, their king, that he was anxious to obtain her. On asking for her hand, she
told him she must be won in fight. He came, and fought; at length Durga dismounted from
her lion, and sprang upon the back of Mahisha, who was in the form of a buffalo, and with
her tender feet so smote him on the head that he fell to the ground senseless, when she cut
off his head with her sword, and hence was called Mahishasuramardini, the Slayer of
Mahishasura.[4], the legend also finds mention in Varaha Purana, and the classical text of
Shaktism the Devi-Bhagavata Purana [8]

According to 'Tantras, she revealed through the North (Uttaramnaya) face, which is one
six Faces of Shiva. This face is s blue in color and with three eyes, and also revealed the
Devis, Dakshinakalika, Mahakali, Guhyakah, Smashanakalika, Bhadrakali, Ekajata,
Ugratara (fierce Tara), Taritni, Chhinnamasta, Nilasarasvati (Blue Saraswati), Durga,
Jayadurga, Navadurga, Vashuli, Dhumavati, Vishalakshi, Gauri, Bagalamukhi,
Pratyangira, Matangi, Mahishasuramardini, their rites and Mantras.[9].

Elsewhere in history, Katyayani and Maitreyi are mentioned as a wives of Sage

Yajnavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्य) of Vedic India, credited with the authorship of the Shatapatha
Brahmana [10]Worship

The Bhagavata Purana in 10th Canto, 22nd Chapter, describes the legend of Katyayani
Vrata, where young marriageable daughters (gopis) of the cowherd men of Gokula in
Braja, worshipped Goddess Katyayani and took a vrata or vow, during the entire month of
Margashirsha, the first month of the winter season, to get Lord Krishna as their husband.
During the month, they ate only unspiced khichri, and after bathing in the Yamuna at
sunrise, made an earthen deity of the goddess on the riverbank, and worshipped the idol
with aromatic substances like sandalwood pulp, and lamps, fruits, betel nuts, newly grown
leaves, and fragrant garlands and incense. This follows the episode where Krishna takes
away their clothes while they were bathing in the Yamuna River [11][12].

She is worshiped as the Demigod who if you make vow of fasting, would give you the
husband you have wished and prayed for. The fasting, called Kätyäyané-vrata is made for
a whole month, offering such things as sandal, flowers, incense, etc.

"During the month of Märgaçérña, every day early in the morning the young
daughters of the cowherds (gopis) would take one another's hands and, singing of
Krishna's transcendental qualities, go to the Yamunä (Jamuna) to bathe. Desiring to
obtain Krishna as their husband, they would then worship the goddess Kätyäyané
with incense, flowers and other items".

Each day they rose at dawn. Calling out to one another by name, they all held hands and
loudly sang the glories of krishna while going to the Kälindé (Kalindi—personified
Jamuna) to take their bath.

During the Pongal (Thai Pongal), a harvest festival, which coincides with the Makara
Sankranthi, and is celebrated in Tamil Nadu, young girls prayed for rain and prosperity
and throughout the month, they avoided milk and milk products. Women used to bath
early in the morning, and worshiped the idol of Goddess Katyayani, carved out of wet
sand. The penance ended on the first day of the month of Thai (January-February) in
Tamil calendar.[13]

Temples

 Sri Katyayini Baneshwara Temple, Aversa, Karnataka, built in AD 1510

 Chhatarpur Temple, Delhi, built 1974.