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Navarātri is popularly considered to be 9 days dedicated to the worship of Navadurgā i.e 9 forms of Bhagavatī Durgā. However the Devi-Bhāgavata Purāna, which describes the procedure of Navarātri vrata, has no mention of Navadurgā. The only mention of Navadurgā found till now is in the Kālikā Purāna where they are simply described as āvaraṇa devatās of Kāmakhyā while being worshipped in the sacred Yonimaṇḍala of Kāmarūpa but nothing about their iconography or association with Navarātri. So can anybody cite any valid scriptural reference for Navadurgā worship during Navaratri ?

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Durga saptshati has multiple mentions of Navdurga.

When Markandeya ji asks for Durga kavach mantra, Brahma ji describes nine form of Durga or Navdurga.

  1. Shailputri / Parvati : fear and sorrow goes away by her darshan. Daughter of Himalaya.

Navdurga

  1. Brahmacharini : who continuously seeks Brahma
  2. Chandraghanta : Moon resides in who's Ghanta
  3. Kushmanda : this warm Universe resides in who's abdomen
  4. Skandamata : mother of Skanda
  5. Katyayani : daughter of Rishi Katya
  6. Kaalratri : destroyer of Kaal(death)
  7. Mahagauri : who received great Gaur varna by tapasya
  8. Siddhidatri : who gives Moksha

Navdurga

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  • which scripture contains Durga Kavacha? It is not present in Saptashati (Markandeya Purana)...
    – Tezz
    Commented Oct 16, 2021 at 12:35
  • @Tezz Devi Kavacha is always recited along with Chandi Patha. Its a limb of the whole recital. So I always assumed that it is also from the same Purana which has Devi Mahatyam but may be its from another scripture.
    – Rickross
    Commented Oct 16, 2021 at 14:15
  • This page says that Devi Kavacha is the Beejam for Durga Saptasati. Anyway its mandatory to recite Argala, Kavacha etc. before reciting the Chandi.
    – Rickross
    Commented Oct 16, 2021 at 14:18
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    Still this doesn't answers the question of how do we came to know about the iconography of Navadurga & why they are specifically associated with Sharad Navaratri & not any other day.
    – অনু
    Commented Oct 16, 2021 at 14:36
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    @Tezz Durga Saptshati published by Gita Press has chapter "अथ देव्याः कवचम्" has these shlokas. The original source is not mentioned in the book. Maybe I will write to Gita press and request for the info.
    – sbharti
    Commented Oct 17, 2021 at 19:28
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I do not know what is the connection between Navadurgas and Navratri. This is an interesting question.

However, Navadurgas are not only mentioned in Kalika Purana. They are also mentioned in the Skanda Purana. After Sati's death, they were sent along with Virabhadra, Bhutas, Ganas, Yoginis etc.

Expressly commanded by Rudra himself the extremely powerful Vīrabhadra came to the sacrificial enclosure accompanied by the nine Durgās and others. The nine Durgās were Kālī, Kātyāyanī, Īśānā, Cāmuṇḍā, Muṇḍamardinī, Bhadrakālī, Bhadrā, Tvaritā and Vaiṣṇavī. A big multitude of Bhūtas also entered the sacrificial enclosure of great refulgence. Śākinīs, Ḍākinīs, Bhūtas, Pramathas, Guhyakas, a host of Yoginīs (in circular formation) along with the sixty-four (Tantras) — all these entered the sacrificial enclosure suddenly. - Skanda Purana I.1.3.49-51

Reference -

  1. The Skanda Purana by G V Tagare, 1950
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