On the 7th day of Navratri, the 7th day of the Moon, we invoke the 7th of Durga Ma’s manifestations, certainly Her most frightening, Kalratri Ma. Her image alone is unsettling – while most of Durga’s other forms ride on lions or tigers, Kalratri Ma rides a donkey; She is naked, disshevelled, hair flying, Her colour is that of midnight on the night of no moon, her ornaments consist of lightning, and She waves a bloody scimtar.
But Her devotees need not fear, as She conquers fear, illusion, and all dark things. Besides endowing Her devotees with courage and equanimity, She also gives siddhi & riddhi, accomplishments & prosperity, and Her invocation and worship is one of the most powerful means of removing bad vibes, black magic, evil influences, and other similar obstructions. She rules over Saturn, freeing Her devotees from his influence, shows the “no fear” abhaya mudra with one hand, and the boon giving varada mudra with another hand. She detoxifies the spirit, mind, and body.
For tantrikas, Kashmiri Shaivas, and those involved with Sacred Speech, She is Pratyahara, the unravelling of Speech, so as Mahakali, another of Her names, She wears the 51 syllables around Her neck as severed heads. Tantriks worship Her after midnight.
She may be invoked and worshipped with the following mantras:
YA DEVI SARVBHUTESHU MAM KALARATRI RUPENA SAMSTHITA
NAMASTASYAI NAMASTASYAI NAMASTASYAI NAMO NAMAH
EKVENI JAPA KARNAPURA NAGNA KHARASTHITA
LAMBOSHTHI KARNIKA KARNI TAILABHYAKTA SHARIRINI
VAM PADOLLASALLOHLATA KANTAKA BHUSHANA
BARDHAN MURDHAM DHWAJA KRISHNA KALRATRI BHAYANKARI
and
OM DEVI KALRATRYAYI SWAHA
Kalratri Mata
