The sixth form of the Mother Divine is Katyayani. Worshipped on the sixth day (Shashti), she is also known as a Warrior Goddess and is believed to be one of the most violent forms of Maa Durga.
Form of the Devi
Goddess Katyayani has three eyes and four hands. She holds a sword in one of her left hands and a lotus in another. Her right hands can be seen in the varada mudra (bestowing boons) and abhaya mudra (represents removal of fear, benevolence and protection). With the crescent moon adorning her forehead, Goddess Katyayani rides a lion.
What Kaytayani represents
The subtle world which is invisible and unmanifest is ruled by this form of the Mother Divine – Katyayani. In this form, she represents everything that cannot be seen or understood. Katyayani represents the deep and most intricate secrets of Divinity.
Legend behind why the Devi took the form of Katyayani
Sage Katyayan longed for Devi Durga to be born as his daughter. He prayed and practiced austere penance for years. It was the time when the demon Mahishasura was creating havoc on earth. In despair, the gods beseeched Lord Vishnu to help them. Lord Vishnu called upon Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma to join him. The Holy Trinity combined their powers to create Goddess Katyayani, who was born to sage Katyahan. It is said in the Kalika Purana that the sage was the first to worship Goddess Durga in the form of Katyayani.
Significance of Katyayani
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar explains: Katyayani is that which is born out of the seer aspect of consciousness. Katyan is seer, you become the witness. You say, ‘I am not the body, I am not the mind, and you go deeper within.’ You become the seer of everything. From the seer aspect of consciousness, energy comes up, and that consciousness has an intuitive ability – this aspect is called Katyayani.
Everything that happens and unfolds before us, which is called Prapancha is not limited only to what is visible. That which is invisible and cannot be perceived by the senses is far greater than we can even imagine and comprehend.
That energy that sees beyond the senses and knows beyond logic is Katyayani.
There are divine and demonic forces in creation. So also anger can be a positive or a negative force. How can anger be a positive or a divine quality, and when can it become a negative or a demonic quality? Anger is important and has its place. Good anger is associated with wisdom, while bad anger with emotions and selfishness. Good anger comes from a sense of broad vision. Anger is appropriate when it is directed towards injustice and ignorance. Usually we think anger is justified and directed towards some injustice only. But if you go deeper into more subtle levels of existence, you will find that it is not really so. In such cases, anger creates bondage for the person. The anger that arises for righteous reasons and is directed towards negativity and injustice is represented by Devi Katyayani.
Devi Katyayani also represents that anger that arises in Creation to restore and revive the principles of Dharma and truth. Devi Katyayani represents that divine principle and form of the Mother Divine which is behind such terrible natural calamities and disasters.
Katyayani is the divine force or principle of the unmanifest Divinity that arises in the subtle layers of creation against negativity and for the purpose of restoring Dharma. It is said that the anger of a wise person only brings about greater good; whereas even the love of an ignorant or foolish person can only cause more trouble. That is why Devi Katyayani represents a beneficial and uplifting force.
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