Maa Siddhidatri
The Mother of All Siddhis
Prof (Dr) Shalini Verma ‘Lifoholic’
14th of October, 2021: On the 9th day of Navratri, we celebrate the fulfilment of all our aspirations with the blessings of Maa Siddhidatri, one of nine forms of Adi Shakti Maa Durga.
Maa Siddhidatri is invoked on the ninth day of the Navaratri. In this form, she empowers us accomplish all our aspirations. She is the moola Roopa (original form) of Maa Parvati. She possesses and bestows all type of Siddhis to her devotees. Even Lord Shiva got all the Siddhis by grace of Goddess Siddhidatri.
In the beginning of the universe Lord Rudra worshipped Adi-Parashakti for creation. It is believed that Goddess Adi-Parashakti had no form. The supreme Goddess of Power, Adi-Parashakti, appeared in the form of Siddhidatri from the left half of Lord Shiva. Maa Siddhidatri is worshipped by not only humans but also by Deva, Gandharva, Asura, Yaksha and Siddha.
Maa Siddhidatri is named so as she grants all our aspirations (siddhis). She has four hands each holding a charka, conch shell, trident, and mace. Maa Siddhidatri sits on a fully bloomed lotus. She possesses eight supernatural powers, or the siddhis, called Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakambya, Ishitva, and Vashitva.
- Anima means reducing one’s body to the size of an atom
- Mahima means expanding one’s body to an infinitely large size
- Garima means becoming infinitely heavy
- Laghima means becoming weightless
- Prapti means having omnipresence
- Prakambya achieving whatever one desire
- Ishitva means possessing absolute lordship
- Vashitva means having the power to subjugate all
Stuti
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ सिद्धिदात्री रूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Maa Siddhidatri Rupena Samsthita।
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah॥
As per the legend, at the beginning when there was nothing but utter darkness, Maa Kushmanda created the universe using her radiant smile. After that, she also created the holy trinity – Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu. Each one of these gods was given a job to do. Brahma became the creator, Vishnu the preserver and Shiva the destroyer.
After this allocation of duty, Lord Shiva went and prayed to Maa Kushmanda and asked her to bless him with more perfection and lots and lots of blessings. And that’s when Maa Kushmanda created Maa Siddhidatri.
Maa Siddhidatri blessed Shiva not just with eight or ‘ashtasiddhis’ but with 18 siddhis (or 18 perfections). These 18 comprised not just the ‘ashtasiddhis’ but also ten more siddhis which are the secondary perfections. As soon as this happened, half of Lord Shiva’s body transformed into Maa Siddhidatri tereby she became half of Shiva and that form of Shiva where he is half female and half male is called Ardhanareshwar.
It is believed that Ketu is governed by Maa Siddhidatri. By worshipping this form of Maa Adi Shakti, we achieve religion, meaning, work, and salvation. For this, we need to put all our attention towards the Nirvana cycle. This chakra is located in the middle of our skull. By doing so, the we receive the power present in our Nirvana Chakra by the grace of Maa Siddhidatri.
Prarthana
सिद्ध गन्धर्व यक्षाद्यैरसुरैरमरैरपि।
सेव्यमाना सदा भूयात् सिद्धिदा सिद्धिदायिनी॥
Siddha Gandharva Yakshadyairasurairamarairapi।
Sevyamana Sada Bhuyat Siddhida Siddhidayini॥
