Durgashtami, or Durga Ashtami, is the eight day of the Navratri . Durgastami is also known as Mahashtami and is one of the important days of Durga Puja. People fast on this day. Weapons of Goddess Durga are worshipped this day and it is known as Astra Puja. There is also a belief in some regions that Goddess Kali appeared from the forehead of Durga on this day to annihilate Chanda and Munda and Rakthabija.
During the Durga Puja rituals on Mahashtami day the 64 Yoginis and Ashtanayikas – the eight consorts – of Durga are also worshiped. The eight consorts of Durga, also known as Eight Shaktis, are interpreted differently in different regions of India. But ultimately all the eight goddesses are incarnations of Shakti with different aims.
Sometimes they are also an attempt to give form to a particular aspect of Shakti.The Ashtanayikas that are worshipped during Durga Puja are Brahmani, Maheswari, Kameswari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Narasinghi, Indrani and Chamunda. Durgashtami day ends with Sandhi puja, which overlaps into the next day which is the Mahanavami day. Watch more episodes of CEO Tv.
