NAVRATRI SERIES: DAY-> 9 MATA SIDDHIDATRI

 सिद्धगन्धर्वयक्षाघैरसुरैरमरैरपि।

सेव्यमाना सदा भूयात् सिद्धिदा सिद्धिदायिनी॥

वन्दे वांछित मनोरथार्थ चन्द्रार्घकृत शेखराम्। कमलस्थितां चतुर्भुजा सिद्धीदात्री यशस्वनीम्॥ स्वर्णावर्णा निर्वाणचक्रस्थितां नवम् दुर्गा त्रिनेत्राम्। शख, चक्र, गदा, पदम, धरां सिद्धीदात्री भजेम्॥

Siddhidatri is the ninth form of the Goddess Durga. Siddhi means supernatural power or meditative ability and Datri means give or awaeder. She fulfills all the aspirations. Her weapons are mace, chakra, shankha, lotus in which 8 siddhis are absorbed. She is seated on a lion or fully bloomed lotus.It is believed that one side of Lord Shiva’s body is that of Goddess Siddhidatri. Hence he is also known as Ardhanarishwar. 

 STORY 

Around the time when the universe was just a massive void completely full of darkness, there were no indications of the world anywhere. But then a ray of divine light, which is ever existing, spread everywhere, illuminating each and every nook of the void. This sea of light was formless. Suddenly, it started taking a definite size, and finally looked like a Divine Lady, who was none other than Goddess Mahashakti herself. The Supreme Goddess came forth and gave birth to the Trinity of Gods, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahadev. She advised the three Lords to contemplate to understand their roles of performing their duties for the world. Acting on the words of Goddess Mahashakti, Tridev sat by the bank of an ocean and performed penances for many years. The pleased Goddess appeared before them in the form of Siddhidhatri. She bestowed upon them, she created Her 2 clone and visnu, Bramha's wives in the forms of Saraswati, Lakshmi and goddess adi parasakti born as sati and reborn as Parvatii. Goddess Siddhidhatri entrusted Brahma to take up the role as the creator of worlds, Vishnu with the role of preserving the creation and its creatures, and Mahadev with the role of destroying the worlds when it is time. She tells them that their powers are in the forms of their respective wives, who will help them perform their tasks. The Goddess assured them that she will also provide to them, divine miraculous powers, which will also help them carry out their duties. Saying this, she bestowed to them eight supernatural powers, in which they were named Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakambya, Ishitva and Vashitva. Anima means reducing one's body to the size of a crumb, Mahima means expanding one's body to an infinitely large size, Garima means becoming infinitely heavy, Laghima means becoming weightless, Prapti means having omnipresence, Prakambya means achieving whatever one desires, Ishitva means possessing absolute lordship, and Vashitva means having the power to subjugate all. Apart from the eight supreme siddhis that goddess Siddhidatri had granted Tridev.

In this form Durga is seated on a lotus and is four-armed. She holds a lotus, mace, Chakra and shankha. In this form Durga removes ignorance and she provides the knowledge to realize that or Brahman.

                                           May Goddess Siddhidatri bestow her blessings upon you.