Kalratri Devi Temple Varanasi

Navaratri Day-7

Kalratri Devi Temple- Varanasi

ll Om Devi Kalaratryai Namah ll

ll Ekaveni Japakarnapura Nagna Kharasthita।
Lamboshthi Karnikakarni Tailabhyakta Sharirini॥
Vamapadollasalloha Latakantakabhushana।
Vardhana Murdhadhwaja Krishna Kalaratrirbhayankar ll

The seventh day of Shardiya Navratri is dedicated to the worship of seventh form of Goddess Durga that is Goddess Kalratri. According to a belief, body of Goddess Kalratri is depicted as pitch black skinned just like darkness, her hair appears disbanded, she wears a skull garland around her neck which shines like lightning, she has three eyes that are round like universe and light continuously radiate out from her eyes. She exhales fire flames continuously through her nose. Although her appearance is fierce, yet she always grant auspicious boons to her devotees, which is why she is believed to be a Shubhkari. With her blessings devotees are freed from any kind of fear. According to beliefs, Kalratri is a very powerful Goddess that blesses her devotees with fearless life. Her devotees are free from the fear of fire, water, animals, enemies and night etc.

Goddess Kalratri is widely regarded as one of the many destructive forms of Mother Goddess – Kali, Mahakali, Bhadrakali, Bhairavi, Mrityu, Rudrani, Chamunda, Chandi and Durga.

Once there were two demons named Shumbha and  Nishumbha, who invaded devaloka and defeated the demigods.Indra the ruler of the gods, along with the demigods went to the Himalayas to get Lord Shiva’s help in retrieving their abode. Together, they prayed to Goddess  Parvati  (Durga). Parvati heard their prayer while she was bathing, so she created another goddess, Chandi  (Ambika) to assist the gods by vanquishing the demons. Chanda and Munda were two demon generals sent by Shumbha and Nishumbha. When they came to battle her, Goddess Chandi created a dark goddess, Kali (in some accounts, called Kaalratri). Kali/Kaalratri killed them, thereby acquiring the name Chamunda.

Thereupon, a demon named Raktabija  arrived. Raktabija had the boon that if any drop of blood of his fell onto the ground, a clone of him would be created. When Kalratri attacked on him, his spilt blood gave rise to several clones of him. As such, it became impossible to defeat him. So while battling, Kalratri furious at this, drank his blood to prevent it from falling down, eventually killing Raktabija and helping goddess Chandi to kill his commanders, Shumbha and Nishumbha.

Another legend says that Goddess Chamunda (Kali) was creator of Devi Kalratri. Riding a powerful donkey, Kalratri chased the demons Chanda and Munda and brought them to Kali after catching and incarcerating them. Then these demons were killed by goddess Chamunda.

Yet another legend recounts that, there was a demon named Durgasur who tried to attack Kailash, the abode of Parvati  (Durga) in the absence of Shiva. Parvati got to know about this and created Kalratri, instructing her to warn Durgasur against an attack. Durgasur’s guards however tried to capture Kaalratri when she turned up as a messenger. Kaalratri then assumed a gigantic form and delivered the warning to him. Subsequently, when Durgasur came to invade Kailash, Parvati battled him and killed him gaining the name Durga. Here Kaalratri serves as an agent who gives the message and warning from Parvati to Durgasur.

Blue, red and white colours should be used to wear on this day.