Katyayani Ma
On Navratri Day Seven 2016, Friday, October 7, we invoke and worship Katyayani Mata, the 6th manifestation of Durga. Katyayani Mata rules Jupiter. It was the great Rishi and Grammarian, Katyayana, without whose commentary, the Vedas become obscure, who uses the power of his Sacred Speech to invoke Adi Shakti, Herself. Katyayani Ma is born as his daughter to save Speech by slaying the Great Buffalo Demon, Mahishasura, who oppresses the sacrifice. The very repository of mantras, which we may intuit as the unfolding lotus, Katyayani Mata blesses Her devotees with her two mudra hand gestures of abhaya, “no fear”, and varada, “the giving of boons.”
She may be invoked and worshipped with the following mantra:
YA DEVI SARVBHUTESHU MAM KATYAYANI RUPENA SAMSTHITA
NAMASTASYAI NAMASTASYAI NAMASTASYAI NAMO NAMAH
CHANDRAHASOJJVAL KARA SHARDULVARVAHANA
KATYAYANI SHUBHAM DADYAD DEVI DANAVGHATINI
AND ALSO:
OM HRIM KATYAYANI SWAHA (108 RECITATIONS OF THIS KATYAYANI MANTRA)
Further to our observances and honoring of Sacred Speech, we invoke Speech, Herself, as Saraswati, known also as Vak (Vagdevi). For as Speech She is the Creatrix of the World.
Thus the Saraswati Avahan signals the beginning of Durga Puja.
