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What is the story behind goddess Kalaratri
What is the story behind goddess Kalaratri – Goddess Kalaratri is a fierce form of the Hindu goddess Durga and is worshipped on the seventh day of the Navratri festival. Her name, “Kalaratri,” translates to “the Dark Night” or “the Black Night,” symbolizing her association with darkness and destruction.
According to Hindu mythology, the story behind Goddess Kalaratri revolves around her divine mission to annihilate a demon named Raktabeej. Raktabeej possessed a unique power: whenever a drop of his blood fell on the ground, a clone of him would emerge, making him virtually indestructible.
As Raktabeej wreaked havoc on the gods and humans, causing widespread destruction, the gods turned to Goddess Durga for help. In response to their prayers, Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva, transformed into Goddess Kalaratri.
Goddess Kalaratri’s appearance is fierce and awe-inspiring. She is depicted with wild hair, bloodshot eyes, a dark complexion, and a third eye on her forehead. She has four arms, with one hand holding a cleaver and another holding a fiery iron noose (Hooked vajra and curved sword), third hand is in Abhaymudra and fourth in Varamudra position. Her formidable form strikes fear into the hearts of evil forces.
When the battle began, Raktabeej’s clones multiplied rapidly, making it nearly impossible for the gods to defeat him. In order to counter this, Goddess Kalaratri stretched her tongue out and consumed Raktabeej’s blood as it spilled from his wounds. By doing so, she prevented his blood from falling on the ground and creating more clones.
Eventually, Goddess Kalaratri annihilated Raktabeej, freeing the world from his reign of terror. Her victory over the demon symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, and the power of the divine feminine to vanquish negativity.
Worshipping Goddess Kalaratri during Navratri is believed to invoke her blessings and protection, providing devotees with strength and courage to overcome challenges and obstacles. She is regarded as the destroyer of ignorance and negative forces, guiding individuals towards spiritual growth and inner transformation.
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