Chandraghanta
Deities

Chandraghanta

Chandraghanta — Moon-Bell — Day 3 of Navratri

Status · Anusandhāna
Source · Tier 1
Tradition · Hindu
Period · Classical Shakta canon; integrated into Navratri by c. 10th c. CE

Chandraghanta

Chandraghanta is worshipped on the designated day of Navratri as one of the Navadurga — the nine progressive forms of the supreme goddess. The nine forms together narrate the complete theological progression from the newborn mountain-daughter to the liberated giver-of-siddhis:

  1. Shailaputri (daughter of mountain) — the beginning
  2. Brahmacharini (ascetic) — spiritual practice
  3. Chandraghanta (with moon-bell) — courage
  4. Kushmanda (cosmic-egg) — creation
  5. Skandamata (mother of Skanda) — nurturing
  6. Katyayani (born of sage) — warrior-power
  7. Kalaratri (dark night) — destruction of evil
  8. Mahagauri (great-fair) — purification
  9. Siddhidatri (giver of powers) — final liberation

The nine days of Navratri are thus a structured spiritual progression — the devotee moves with the goddess from mountain-innocence to liberated wisdom.

❀

✦Wisdom Graph: Divine Associations✦

MantraOm Devyai Chandraghantaāyai Namaḥ
Vāhana
tiger
Sacred flowers
lotus
Sacred colours
gold

📖 Stories

  • Chandraghanta — Courageous Form
    Chandraghanta represents the courageous aspect of the goddess; she is depicted with a moon-bell (ghanta) on her crown and rides a tiger.
    — Devi tradition

🪔 Worship Procedures

Daily rites
• morning āratī
• special Navratri pūjā
Puja sequence
  1. lotus flowers
  2. sandalwood
  3. incense
  4. prasadam

🛕 Principal Temples

  • Various Navadurga shrine sites10th c. CE onward
    📍 Pan-Indic
    Chandraghanta worshipped at Shakta shrines during Navratri

🎊 Festivals

  • Navratri day — chandraghanta
    Āśvina (Sep–Oct) · 1 day

📜 Primary Scriptural Sources

  • Devī Māhātmya (Durgā Saptaśatī)purana
  • Devī Bhāgavata Purāṇapurana
  • Durgā Kavachastotra