The sixth day of the holy festival of Navratri is dedicated to Maa Katyayani who is the extremely powerful and warrior form of Goddess Durga. Most people know her as the goddess who killed the terrifying demon Mahishasura but another very interesting story related to Maa Katyayani is found in the Bhagavata Purana. This story is not about war or the destruction of demons but it highlights that form of the goddess which fulfills the deep wishes of devotees. This account tells us how the mother becomes pleased with the selfless devotion of her followers and grants them the desired boon.
When the Gopis Desired Krishna as Their Husband
The young Gopis living on the holy land of Vrindavan had unbreakable faith and love for Lord Shri Krishna. This affection of theirs for Krishna was not an ordinary attraction but a high level of spiritual devotion. They believed that Krishna is that divine soul who can guide their lives. The Gopis had the realization that Krishna is not ordinary and to obtain his presence the divine grace is extremely necessary. To fulfill this desire of theirs and to remove the obstacles of the path the Gopis decided to take shelter of Maa Katyayani.
Worship of the Goddess on the Yamuna Bank
The Gopis took a special resolve to fulfill their wish. They used to wake up every day before sunrise and take a bath in the cold water of the Yamuna River. On the bank of the river they used to make a beautiful idol of Maa Katyayani using the same mud. With faith and belief they offered flowers and fruits to that idol. There was only one goal in their mind and that was the love of Shri Krishna. During the prayer they used to continuously chant a special mantra in which they prayed to the mother that Shri Krishna the son of Nandaraya should become their husband. There was amazing discipline and simplicity in their spiritual practice.
Fruit of Devotion and the Blessing of the Mother
For an entire month the Gopis continued their prayer with extreme faith. Their call was true and their hearts were filled with faith. Maa Katyayani was extremely pleased with this selfless devotion of theirs. Immediately after that through the playful acts of Krishna their wishes started getting fulfilled. According to the Puranic tradition the blessings of Maa Katyayani brought the Gopis closer to Krishna and made their spiritual bond even deeper. The mother proved that she does not just destroy enemies but also makes the path of love easy.
Deep Significance of This Legend
This story shows a different and gentle aspect of Maa Katyayani. While on one hand she is a brave woman who destroys unrighteousness on the other hand she is also a compassionate mother who listens to the call of her children. It is believed that by her grace all the obstacles coming in relationships are ended. Due to this belief even today many devotees meditate on Maa Katyayani for the attainment of a happy married life and good fortune. Her story teaches us that true devotion has the power to cross the biggest obstacles.
Glory of the Sixth Day of Navratri
On the sixth day devotees worship the mother for courage and the fulfillment of their wishes. This story of hers reminds us that the divine power not only protects the universe but it also listens to the simple and true prayers of our minds. With the blessing of the mother any difficult goal can become accessible.
Whom did the Gopis worship?
According to the Bhagavata Purana the Gopis of Vrindavan worshiped Maa Katyayani to obtain Shri Krishna.
What did the Gopis pray to the mother?
They prayed that Lord Shri Krishna should become their life partner and the obstacles in their path should be removed.
On which day is Maa Katyayani worshiped?
Maa Katyayani is primarily worshiped on the sixth day of Navratri.
From what did the Gopis make the idol of the mother?
The Gopis had built the statue of the mother by using the pure mud of the banks of the Yamuna River.
What does this form of Maa Katyayani teach?
This form teaches that the mother is a compassionate goddess who fulfills the loving and true wishes of her devotees.
