Navratri

The first of the nine forms — Parvati as the daughter of Himavan, the mountain king. She represents the foundation of the path: rootedness and the resolve to begin. Her worship opens the nine-day Navratri sadhana.

Parvati as the tapasvini — performing severe penance to win Shiva as her husband. She represents discipline, vows kept, and the inward turn of devotion and study.

The Devi in her composed-yet-fierce form, armed and ready. The sound of the bell-shaped moon on her brow is said to drive fear from her devotees; she is worshipped for courage.

The Devi whose smile is said to have brought the universe — the cosmic egg, kushmanda — into being. She is worshipped for vitality, health, and prosperity.

The Devi as the mother of Skanda — the universal mother. She is worshipped for wisdom and for the wellbeing of one's children.

Born to slay the demon Mahishasura; the sage Katyayana was the first to worship her, and so she is called Katyayani. She is the focused warrior form, and is the goddess of a classical vrat kept by unmarried young women seeking a good spouse.

The fiercest of the nine forms — the destroyer of demons and of ignorance. Fearsome to behold, she is nonetheless ever-auspicious, and is also called Shubhankari for this reason. She is worshipped to dispel deep fear.

Parvati after long penance — by Shiva's grace her body became radiantly white, and so she is Mahagauri, "the great fair one". She is worshipped for purity, peace, and the restoration of what was lost.

The Devi who grants all the siddhis — the classical perfections. Even Shiva is said in some Shakta accounts to have received his perfections from her. Her worship completes the nine-day Navratri sadhana.