12 forms of Durga- worshipped in each month

Dwadasha Rupas are the 12 forms of Goddess Durga and they symbolize her divine manifestations which protect, nurture, and guide the devotees. These 12 forms are associated with the 12 months through the year. A prominent Hindu Goddess Durga is known for strength, protection, and motherhood. Goddess Durga is also known as the ‘the Divine Mother’ and her weapons are chakra, Trishul, mace, bow, arrow, and sword. Each weapon of Maa Durga symbolizes a different virtue, such as happiness, strength, courage, and duty. She is known for defeating the Demon Mahishasura with bare hands. Each form of Maa Durga provides spiritual, reinforcing faith, courage, and positivity in each month of the year. In this blog, we will learn about 12 different forms of Durga worshipped each month.

1. Chaitra - Annapurna

Goddess Annapurna is the Goddess of food and nourishment and she is the manifestation of Goddess Parvati. The name Annapurna comes from the words anna (food) and purna (full). She also symbolizes abundance and prosperity and is known for providing physical and spiritual nourishment. She is worshipped for the blessing of Harvestation and ensures abundance.   

2. Jyestha - Gauri

Mahagauri is the Goddess of Grace, Purity, and Beauty. She is worshipped on the eighth day of Navratri. She is believed to remove the sins of devotees and help them attain Moksha. She embodies innocence and tranquility. She is illustrated as riding a bull and wearing a white and golden saree. Devotees worship her in Jyestha to get relief from any obstacles and negativity of life.

3. Ashad - Kamakhya

Goddess Kamakhya is a Goddess of desire and tantric shakti. She embodies Kama, which means the God of Desire. She was Lord Shiva's young bride. The Kamakhya Temple in Assam is considered a very sacred site, as it is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas in India. She is worshipped in a non-iconic and un-anthropomorphic form of stone shaped like a yoni (female private part). Devotees worship her for the blessing of a child and to remove any black magic. 

4. Shravan - Parvati

Goddess Parvati is the Goddess of Power, energy, love, and motherhood. She is also known as Gauri and Uma. She is the wife of Shiva and one of the divine devi from the tridevi including Saraswati and Laxmi. She is a major goddess in Hindu Dharm. Parvati is also considered Durga and both of them are described as two sides of the same coin. 

5. Bhadra Maas - Tara

The Goddess Tara is considered the tantrik manifestation of Parvati and a form of Adishakti. The three famous forms of Tara are Ekajata, Ugratara, and Nilasaraswati. The associated planet with Maa Tara is Jupiter. Goddess Tara is the protector of Danger. Devotees should worship her in Bhadra Maas to get her protection. 

6. Ashwin - Durga

Goddess Durga, the fierce and invincible warrior is worshipped in Ashwin. She is known as the power of Good over evil and is also known as the Divine Mother. Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu created Goddess Durga to defeat the demon Mahishasura. She is often depicted as riding a tiger with trishula, chakra, mace, bow, and arrow in her hands. 

7. Kartik - Kali

Goddess Kali is the most fearsome form of Maa Durga and the remover of darkness. She is often depicted as wearing a garland of skulls, has a dark complexion, riding a donkey, positioning her right hand in Abhaya and Varada mudras, and holding a sword and an iron hook in her left hand. She is the Goddess who destroys demons, ghosts, negative energies, and evil spirits. Devotees worship her in Kartik to purify their souls and obtain courage and protection. 

8. Agrahayan - Katyayani

Goddess Katyayani is a fierce and sixth form of Goddess Durga. She is also known as Mahishasurmardini (the slayer of Mahishasura) and she is the daughter of Sage Katyayana who is a devotee of Mahadevi Shakti. Her favorite color is maroon and she is often depicted as a warrior riding a lion with a sword and a lotus in her left hand, and positioned as the Abhaya and Varada mudras in her right hand. Devotees worship her to bring happiness and wealth. She is also considered the remover of ignorance and brings prosperity. 

9. Poush - Shakambhari

Goddess Shakambhari is a manifestation of Goddess Durga. She is the devi of nourishment and vegetation. She is regarded as an incarnation of Mahadevi and recognized with Durga in Hinduism. As Durga's incarnation, Shakambhari gives food to the needy and hungry people during famine. In Hindu mythology, the goddess Shakambhari is described as Aadi Parashakti who killed the demon Durgam and was recognized as Durga. 

10. Magh - Saraswati

Saraswati is the Goddess of knowledge, music, the arts, and education. The Goddess Saraswati is illustrated with a calm nature, dressed in a white saree and seated on a white lotus. Her connection with the white color represents purity, wisdom, and truth. She is worshipped in Magh to prepare for the new year with renewed purpose and clarity and also seek enlightenment. 

11. Phalgun - Shitala

Goddess Shitala is also known as Sheetala, Sitala, and Seetla. The name Shitala comes from a Sanskrit word that means “coolness”. She is considered an incarnation of Parvati. She is worshipped to cure smallpox, sores, pustules, and any other diseases. Devotees also worship her to cure fever, skin diseases, and heat diseases. She is also known as Thakurani, and Jagrani (queen of the world).

12. Baisakh - Gandheswari

Goddess Gandheswari is the incarnation of Goddess Durga. She is also known as Gandharva, another name of Radha Rani. She is the Goddess of fragrance. Devotees worship her for their business development. Her name Ghandheswari comes from the words Gandha (aroma) and iswari (goddess). She is also associated with cosmetics, camphor, sandalwood, spices, incense, and perfumes.