Maa Kalratri, Maa Durga’s 7th Avtar, is honoured on the 7th day of Navaratri. Kaal denotes time and death in this context, and Kaalratri refers to the One who is Kaal’s Death. Maa Kalratri annihilates ignorance and throws light into the darkness. This form also portrays the dark side — the superpower that causes devastation and eliminates all negative and filthy things. Her believers, on the other hand, find peace and courage in Her.

Maa Kaalratri has a dark skin tone. Her mount is a donkey with a lot of hair and four hands. The right two hands are in “giving” and “protecting” mudras, while one of the two left hands carries a cleaver and the other a torch. Her three eyes emit lightning-like beams, and her necklace gleams like thunder. Flames appear through Her nostrils when she inhales and exhales air. On this day, Ganesha suggests wearing blue, red, and white.

Maa teaches us that sadness, misery, decay, destruction, and death are inevitable and cannot be avoided. These are life’s realities, and ignoring them is pointless. To realise the totality of our existence and our potential, we must acknowledge their presence and significance.

Chant this mantra to worship Maa Kaalratri…
वाम पादोल्ल सल्लोहलता कण्टक भूषणा |
वर्धन मूर्ध ध्वजा कृष्णा कालरात्रि भर्यङ्करी ||

Vāma pādōlla sallōhalatā kaṇṭaka bhūṣaṇā |
vardhana mūrdha dhvajā kr̥ṣṇā kālarātri bharyaṅkarī ||

The festival of Navratri is unique. This is a time for new beginnings and dedicating yourself to the Goddess Shakti. Bring home and install a Meru Prusth Shree Yantra this Navratri — a gorgeous, holy sign of Goddess Lakshmi’s blessings.