Nava Durga means the nine forms of Goddess Durga. Each form has  special significance. Nava Durga,is worshipped in a big way and ceremoniously during the festival of NavaRaatri.

The 'Devi Kavacha'of the 'Chandipatha'scripture mentions all the nine form of Durgamata.The details of the nine forms are given below.

                                           

(1) Shailaputri-
'Shailaputri' is the daughter of the mountain 'Shaila',who is also known as Parvatimata,Hemavatimata and Sati Bhavanimata.She is worshipped the first among Navadurgas.

She is worshipped on the first day of Navaratri festival. Shailaputri is the embodiment of the power of the trinity,Brahma,Vishnu and Shiva.She mounts on a bull and has a trident and a lotus in her hands.

She holds a rosary and water pot in her hands.She is very blissful and showers her devotees with prosperity, happiness, peace and wealth.

She has a golden bright complexion,ten hands,three eyes and mounts on a lion. She holds weapons in her hands.She is the symbol power and bravery,who has a great potential to slay the demons.

She enlit the universe,which was dark and void,with her rays.She has sary,weapons,glitter etc.,in her hands, and she is mounted n a lion.She is shown as having ten or eight hands.

Skanda Mata has four hands and three eyes.She holds the child Skanda and a lotus in her hands.The left arm is in blessing posture and the lower hand also holds a lotus.

Kata performed penance in order to get the blessings of the Durgama,to have a daughter in the form of a goddess.Pleased with his devotion,Durgamata granted his request and Katyayani was born to Kata as an avatar of Durgamata.

She is mounted on a donkey with her right hand in granting boons and the right lower hand is in the pose of allaying fears. The left upper hand holds a pointed metallic weapon and a dagger in the lower left hand.

She holds a divine sword in her right hand to finish the demons.She relieves all her devotees from fear and worries,hence she is called, 'Shubhamkari'.Shubham(good),Kari(doer)

Lord Shiva bathed her with the river Ganges water and her body regained its beauty and she came to be known as 'Maha Gauri'(Maha=very,Gauri=White),.

She wears white clothes, has four arms,with the right hand in the pose of allaying fear and the lower right hand holds a trident.There is a 'Damru'(rattle drum)in the left upper hand and the lower one granting boons.She is mounted on a bull.

She has four arms and always in a pleasant,blissful pose.She is mounted on a lion. She blesses all Gods, saints, yogis, tantrics and all devotees as a manifestation of the Mother Goddess.By her blessings,the half body of Shiva became female and other half male, in the avatar of 'Ardhnarishvar'.