Mā Chandraghaṇṭā | The Courage and Compassion of the Divine Mother
October 13, 2026
Jai Ma!
Today we arrive at the third day of Navaratri, continuing our celebration of the One Divine Mother through the many beautiful aspects in which She reveals Herself.
In our tradition, these first three days are dedicated to Mā Kālī, the vast, mysterious Mother from whom all things arise and into whom all things eventually dissolve. Today completes this first portion of our nine-day celebration, before we turn toward Mā Lakshmi for the following three days.
Throughout these nine days, we are also exploring the Navadurga, the nine forms of the Divine Mother traditionally honored during Navaratri.
On Day One, we encountered Her as Mā Śailaputrī, the Daughter of the Mountain, whose strength and stability remind us of the foundation upon which our spiritual lives are built.
On Day Two, She appeared as Mā Brahmachāriṇī, the devoted ascetic, reminding us of the beauty of simplicity, spiritual practice, and unwavering devotion.
And today, on the third day of Navratri, we encounter Her as Mā Chandraghaṇṭā (Maa Chandraghanta), a powerful and protective expression of the Divine Mother who embodies both tremendous courage and profound compassion.
There is something beautiful about this progression. The Mother has not changed. We are simply being invited to recognize another aspect of Her infinite nature.
Who Is Maa Chandraghanta, the Third Goddess of Navaratri?
The Courage and Compassion of the Divine Mother
Mā Chandraghaṇṭā is the third of the nine forms of Goddess Durga honored during Navaratri.
The name Chandraghaṇṭā comes from two Sanskrit words: chandra, meaning moon, and ghaṇṭā, meaning bell.
Her name refers to the distinctive crescent moon adorning Her forehead, traditionally described as resembling the shape of a bell.
Mā Chandraghaṇṭā is a powerful form of Pārvatī, associated with Her marriage to Lord Śiva and the awakening of Her protective, warrior-like nature.
In popular accounts of Her story, following Pārvatī's long period of austerity and devotion, Śiva arrives for their wedding accompanied by His extraordinary procession of attendants, spirits, and ascetics. His appearance is so unusual and fearsome that it frightens Pārvatī's family and those gathered for the celebration.
Pārvatī responds with divine strength, taking on a magnificent and powerful form. In some tellings, She persuades Śiva to appear in a more welcoming form so that their marriage may proceed peacefully.
These stories are told in different ways across Hindu traditions, but they reveal something meaningful about this aspect of Ma.
She is not simply fierce for the sake of fierceness. Her strength serves a purpose.
She protects. She restores balance. She meets fear with courage.
And yet, even in Her most powerful expression, She remains the compassionate Divine Mother.
Maa Chandraghanta's Symbols and Their Spiritual Meaning
Mā Chandraghaṇṭā is traditionally depicted with ten arms, carrying various weapons and sacred objects, while riding a tiger or lion.
Her appearance is magnificent, but what I find particularly beautiful is that Her expression is often peaceful, even as She is prepared to confront whatever threatens harmony.
The crescent moon upon Her forehead is shaped like a bell, giving Her the name Chandraghaṇṭā. The sound of Her bell is traditionally associated with dispelling negative influences and frightening away destructive forces.
Her ten arms represent Her extraordinary divine power and ability to act in many ways. The objects She carries vary somewhat across depictions, but commonly include a trident, sword, bow, arrow, lotus, and other sacred implements.
Her weapons represent Her readiness to confront destructive forces, protect righteousness, and overcome obstacles.
Her tiger or lion expresses courage, strength, and fearlessness. Even the most formidable forces of nature are under Her command.
Her hand raised in blessing reminds us that Her power is not separate from Her compassion. She offers protection and reassurance to those who turn toward Her.
What strikes me most about this form of Ma is the relationship between Her peaceful expression and Her tremendous strength.
We so often imagine that peace means the absence of conflict, or that gentleness requires us to remain quiet in the face of difficulty.
But Mā Chandraghaṇṭā reveals something different.
She can be peaceful without being powerless.
She can be fierce without abandoning compassion.
Her strength and Her tenderness are not opposites. They are both expressions of the same Divine Mother.
How to Celebrate Navaratri Day 3 and Honor Maa Chandraghanta at Home
Throughout Navaratri, devotees honor the Divine Mother through prayer, mantra, offerings, fasting, meditation, and pūjā.
For Day Three, we might approach Mā Chandraghaṇṭā through the qualities of courage, protection, and compassion.
There is no need for an elaborate ritual to begin. Even a small act of sincere devotion can become a meaningful offering.
Light a lamp or candle. Spend a few moments in quiet prayer, inviting Ma's blessings of courage, peace, and protection.
Offer flowers, fruit, or something prepared with love. Milk and milk-based sweets are traditionally associated with offerings to Mā Chandraghaṇṭā in many popular Navaratri observances.
Ring a small bell. If you have a pūjā bell, you might ring it during your prayers, allowing its sound to mark a moment of sacred attention.
Wear Royal Blue. Royal Blue is the color associated with Day Three in the 2026 Navaratri nine-color sequence. Its richness and depth beautifully complement the courage, strength, and protective presence of Mā Chandraghaṇṭā. Wearing this color can be a simple way to honor the Divine Mother and carry your devotion into the day.
Practice courage with compassion. Perhaps there is a conversation you have been avoiding, a boundary you need to honor, or a truth you have been afraid to acknowledge. Today might be an opportunity to approach it with both kindness and strength.
And perhaps we might also consider the things we have been taught about what it means to be peaceful.
Sometimes peace asks us to be still.
Sometimes it asks us to speak.
Sometimes it asks us to protect what is sacred, even when doing so feels uncomfortable.
The intention is not to seek conflict, but to recognize that compassion and courage can exist together.
Maa Chandraghanta Mantra for Navaratri Day 3
Om Devī Chandraghaṇṭāyai Namaḥ
ॐ देवी चन्द्रघण्टायै नमः॥
Salutations to the Goddess Chandraghaṇṭā.
You may repeat this mantra nine, twenty-seven, or 108 times, or simply offer it once with your whole heart.
As you repeat Her name, you might contemplate the qualities of courage, compassion, and inner steadiness.
A Moment of Reflection — Finding Courage Without Losing Compassion
I have been thinking about the many ways we misunderstand strength.
Sometimes we associate strength with force, with being louder, harder, or more powerful than those around us.
And sometimes we confuse compassion with always yielding, remaining silent, or allowing our own needs and boundaries to disappear.
But when I look at Mā Chandraghaṇṭā, I see something that holds both qualities without contradiction.
She is magnificent in Her power, yet peaceful in Her expression.
She carries weapons, yet offers blessings.
She is ready to confront destructive forces, yet Her presence is one of protection rather than cruelty.
Perhaps there is something here for us to contemplate in our own lives.
Can we stand firmly in what we know to be true without needing to diminish another?
Can we establish boundaries without closing our hearts?
Can we recognize that being loving does not require us to abandon ourselves?
And can we allow ourselves to be both gentle and strong, without believing that one must come at the expense of the other?
As we complete these first three days dedicated to Mā Kālī, perhaps we can reflect on what has begun to shift within us.
What have we become more aware of?
What patterns, attachments, or fears are we beginning to recognize?
What might we be ready to release, not through force or self-judgment, but through a growing willingness to see ourselves more clearly?
Tomorrow, we enter the next three days of our celebration, dedicated to Mā Lakshmi and the cultivation of divine qualities.
But today, we honor the Mother in Her magnificent expression as Mā Chandraghaṇṭā.
May She bless us with the courage to protect what is sacred, the wisdom to know when to act, and the compassion to remain openhearted even in moments of difficulty.
May we remember that true strength need not abandon tenderness, and that peace does not require us to surrender our sovereignty.
Jai Ma!
