Goddess Chandraghanta

Manyanshi Joshi
Sep 24
3 min read

The third goddess worshipped during Navratri is Goddess Chandraghanta (चंद्रघंटा).

🔱 Goddess Chandraghanta – Third Day of Navratri

Form of: Goddess Durga
Appearance: She rides a tiger or lion, has ten arms, and wears a crescent moon (Chandra) on her forehead shaped like a bell (Ghanta) – hence the name Chandraghanta.
Color of the day: White
Symbolism: She represents bravery, courage, and grace. Although she looks calm and serene, she is a fierce warrior goddess who destroys evil.
Weapons: She carries weapons like trident (trishul), mace (gada), bow, arrow, sword, and more.
Blessings: She removes all sins, physical sufferings, mental tribulations, and ghostly hurdles.

Worshipping Chandraghanta on the third day is believed to awaken the manipura chakra (solar plexus chakra) and bring peace, courage, and strength to devotees.

🌸 Significance of Goddess Chandraghanta – Third Day of Navratri

Goddess Chandraghanta symbolizes courage, grace, and divine strength. Her worship on the third day of Navratri is extremely significant for devotees on both spiritual and emotional levels.

🔱 Key Significances:

1. Symbol of Courage & Valor

Chandraghanta is a fierce form of Goddess Durga, ready for battle with her ten arms holding weapons.
Despite her warrior stance, her face reflects calm and compassion.
She teaches that inner peace and outer strength can coexist.

2. Destroyer of Evil & Negativity

She rides a lion or tiger, symbolizing her control over fear and power.
She destroys negative energies, evil spirits, and demonic forces, protecting her devotees from harm.

3. Awakening the Manipura Chakra (Solar Plexus Chakra)

This chakra governs personal power, confidence, and transformation.
Worship of Chandraghanta helps clear this energy center, promoting self-belief, clarity, and determination.

4. Represents Feminine Grace and Justice

The crescent moon (Chandra) on her forehead resembles a bell (Ghanta), symbolizing the sound that wards off negativity.
She represents the perfect blend of beauty and bravery, emphasizing that gentleness doesn't mean weakness.

5. Liberation from Suffering

Devotees believe she helps remove past karma and ongoing suffering — both mental and physical.
She brings peace, mental stability, and emotional healing.

🙏 Why Worship Her on Day 3?

By Day 3 of Navratri, the devotee is moving from cleansing (Day 1: Shailputri) and wisdom (Day 2: Brahmacharini) toward strength and action (Day 3: Chandraghanta).
She prepares the devotee for deeper spiritual awakening by instilling fearlessness and determination.

🕉️ Historical & Mythological Background of Goddess Chandraghanta

Goddess Chandraghanta is the third form of Navadurga, the nine forms of Goddess Durga worshipped during Navratri. Her story is rooted in ancient Hindu mythology, particularly in the Shakta tradition (worship of the Divine Mother), and is symbolically rich with spiritual meaning.

🔱 Origin & Mythology of Chandraghanta

🔸 Marriage of Parvati and Shiva

After rigorous penance (as Brahmacharini), Parvati was finally accepted by Lord Shiva as his consort.
On the day of their marriage, Shiva arrived at King Himavan's palace in an extremely fearsome form: he was covered in ash, surrounded by ghosts, wearing snakes and a garland of skulls.

🔸 Parvati’s Transformation into Chandraghanta

Seeing Shiva’s terrifying appearance, Parvati’s family was shocked and frightened.
To protect her family’s honor and to bring balance, Parvati transformed into Chandraghanta, a powerful and divine warrior goddess.
In this form, she wore a crescent moon (Chandra) on her forehead shaped like a bell (Ghanta) – hence the name Chandra-Ghanta.
She calmed Shiva, transformed the environment, and made the divine marriage auspicious and serene.

🔸 Waging War Against Evil

After her marriage, Goddess Chandraghanta remained ever-vigilant and ready for battle.
She is often depicted as fighting against evil spirits, demons (asuras), and injustice, particularly Shumbha-Nishumbha and other malevolent beings.
Her lion/tiger mount represents fearlessness, and her weapons signify that she is always prepared to protect her devotees.

🧘‍♀️ Symbolic History: Spiritual Lessons

Aspect	Meaning
Chandra (Moon)	Symbolizes calmness, spiritual awareness, and devotion
Ghanta (Bell)	Sound that removes negative energy; alertness
Weapons in 10 hands	Multiple abilities to destroy evil and protect righteousness
Lion or Tiger mount	Courage and fearlessness in the face of adversity

🕯️ Historical Roots in Scriptures

You can find references to Goddess Chandraghanta in:

Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati) – A core scripture describing her battles with demons.
Markandeya Purana – Details the Navadurga forms.
Kalika Purana and Shakta Upanishads – Discuss her symbolic role in feminine divine energy.

🧩 Summary

Goddess Chandraghanta is not just a mythological figure — she represents a powerful archetype of inner strength, balance, and protection. Her story marks a transition in Navratri: from penance and peace (Brahmacharini) to strength and action. She is the divine warrior who shows that compassion and courage can exist together.