The Legend and worship of Goddess Kalaratri

 Ma Kalaratri

 Goddess Kalaratri is the most ferocious form of Goddess Parvati worshipped on the seventh day of the Navaratri festival. Featuring an aggressive form, she is a nightmare to demons, ghosts, and negativity and is the destroyer of time and death. 

 

Though the Goddess features a ferocious form, she is compassionate towards the devotees and bestows happiness and perfection upon them. Therefore, devotees worship her to attain a pure heart.  

According to legend, a demon called Raktabeej was torturing people very much. He got a boon that every single drop of his blood could form another epitome of Raktabeej. As a result, several Raktabeej lookalikes emerged and started to torture the people and the Devas.

 Due to the boon it became impossible for any God or Goddess to kill him, and Goddess Parvati took the form of Kalaratri to kill Raktabeej. The Goddess went for combat with the monster and carried a Patra (vessel) to collect and consume all his blood so that he could not form anymore. The Goddess fought as per her plan, killed Raktabeej, and freed the world from his evil clutches.

 Devotees hail Ma Kala Ratri as Shubhankari. The Goddess represents the Sahasrara Chakra and is in charge of bequeathing knowledge, power, and wealth to the seekers. 

 According to Saktha's belief, Goddess Kalaratri governs planet Shani in the Navagraha.

 Depiction of Goddess Kalaratri 

Goddess Kalaratri features a dark complexion and uses a donkey as her mount. She is four-handed and shows the Abhaya and Varada Mudra in her right hands, and carries a sword and a deadly iron hook in her left hands.

 Kalaratri Pooja Procedure

1. Place the portrait of Goddess Kalaratri on a pedestal.
2. Decorate the picture with garlands of red flowers and lemon.
3. Lit an oil lamp in front of her image.
4. Jaggery or ladoos made of jaggery are kept as offering.
5. Devotees recite Kalaratri mantras, shlokas, and Saptashati.
6. Perform Archana (Pooja) to the Goddess with red flowers and vermillion (kumkum). 

 Benefits of worshipping Kalaratri

1. Protection from black magic and other evil occult practices.
2. banishes negativity and procrastination.
3. Pureness in thoughts and actions.
4. Keeps troubles from enemies at bay.

 Kalaratri Pooja mantras

 Some of the important Kalaratri pooja mantras and shlokas of Goddess Kalaratri are below. 

 Kalaratri Moola Mantra

Om Devi Kalaratryai Namah॥ 

 

Kalaratri Prarthana Mantra 

Ekaveni Japakarnapura Nagna Kharasthita।

Lamboshthi Karnikakarni Tailabhyakta Sharirini॥

Vamapadollasalloha Latakantakabhushana।

Vardhana Murdhadhwaja Krishna Kalaratrirbhayankari॥ 

 

Kalaratri Stuti

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Ma Kalaratri Rupena Samsthita।

Namastasyai Samhitâ Namastasyai Namo Namah॥ 

 

Kalaratri Dhyana

Karalavandana Ghoram Muktakeshi Chaturbhujam।

Kalaratrim Karalimka Divyam Vidyutamala Vibhushitam॥

Divyam Lauhavajra Khadga Vamoghordhva Karambujam।

Abhayam Varadam Chaiva Dakshinodhvaghah Parnikam Mam॥

Mahamegha Prabham Shyamam Taksha Chaiva Gardabharudha।

Ghoradamsha Karalasyam Pinonnata Payodharam॥

Sukha Prasanna Vadana Smeranna Saroruham।

Evam Sachiyantayet Kalaratrim Sarvakam Samriddhidam॥ 

 

Kalaratri Stotra

Him Kalaratri Shrim Karali Cha Klim Kalyani Kalawati।

Kalamata Kalidarpadhni Kamadisha Kupanvita॥

Kamabijajapanda Kamabijaswarupini।

Kumatighni Kulinartinashini Kula Kamini॥

Klim Hrim Shrim Mantrvarnena Kalakantakaghatini।

Kripamayi Kripadhara Kripapara Kripagama॥ 

 

Kalaratri Kavacha

Om Klim Me Hridayam Patu Padau Shrikalaratri।

Lalate Satatam Patu Tushtagraha Nivarini॥

Rasanam Patu Kaumari, Bhairavi Chakshushorbhama।

Katau Prishthe Maheshani, Karnoshankarabhamini॥

Varjitani Tu Sthanabhi Yani Cha Kavachena Hi।

Tani Sarvani Me Devisatatampatu Stambhini॥