On Navratri Day Eight 2025, the 7th day of the Moon, Monday, September 29, 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, dishevelled, 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 unraveling 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