3. Chandraghanta

Dhyana Mantra

पिण्डजप्रवरारूढा चण्डकोपास्त्रकैर्युता। प्रसादं तनुते मह्यं चन्द्रघण्टेति विश्रुता॥

May the Devi renowned as Chandraghanta, who is mounted on the supreme elephant and is armed with fierce weapons, grant me her grace.

The third power of Mother Durga is named 'Chandraghanta'. On the third day of Navaratri worship her image is worshipped and propitiated. This form of hers is supremely peace-giving and benevolent. On her forehead is a crescent moon shaped like a bell — for this very reason she is called Chandraghanta Devi. The colour of her body is radiant like gold. She has ten arms. In all ten hands are adorned weapons such as the sword and missiles such as arrows. Her mount is the lion. Her posture is one ever ready for battle. From the terrible, fierce sound of her bell, tyrannical danavas, daityas and rakshasas are always trembling.

In the Durga worship of Navaratri, the puja of the third day is of great importance. On this day the seeker's mind enters the 'Manipura' chakra. By Mother Chandraghanta's grace he has visions of extraordinary things. He experiences divine fragrances, and various kinds of divine sounds are heard. These moments are ones in which the seeker must be extremely careful.

By Mother Chandraghanta's grace all the seeker's sins and obstacles are destroyed. Her worship gives immediate fruit. Her posture is ever turned toward battle, so she removes the devotees' suffering very swiftly. Her mount is the lion, so her worshipper becomes valorous and fearless like a lion. The sound of her bell always protects her devotees from the troubles of ghosts and spirits. As soon as one meditates on her, the sound of this bell rings out to protect the one who has taken refuge.

Even though she is ever ready to subdue and destroy the wicked, her form remains full of gentleness and calm for the beholder and the worshipper. A great virtue obtained by her worship is that along with valour and fearlessness, gentleness and humility also develop in the seeker. Radiance and beauty increase in his face, eyes and whole body. A divine, extraordinary sweetness enters his voice. Wherever devotees and worshippers of Mother Chandraghanta go, people see them and feel peace and happiness. From such a seeker's body there is an invisible radiation of luminous divine particles. This divine activity is not visible to ordinary eyes, but the seeker and those who come into contact with him experience it fully.

We should purify our mind, speech, action and body completely, as laid down by the prescribed rules, and take refuge in Mother Chandraghanta, being ready in her worship. By her worship we can become free of all worldly sorrows and easily become worthy of the supreme abode. We should strive to keep her pure image ever in our meditation and advance on the path of practice. Her meditation brings the highest good for both this world and the next, and leads to a good destiny.