Who Is Maa Chandraghanta? Maa Chandraghanta is the third of the nine Navadurga forms and the Navratri Day 3 goddess. In 2026, she is worshipped on Tuesday, 13 October, on Ashwin Shukla Tritiya. Her name joins chandra (moon) and ghanta (bell), after the bell-shaped half-moon on her forehead. Devotees wear red, offer kheer, and chant Om Devi Chandraghantayai Namah.
If you have ever stood in a temple at evening aarti, you know the sound of the ghanta. It does not just echo. It travels into the chest. Restless thoughts loosen, and a little peace settles in.
Day 3 carries that same vibration. It belongs to मां चंद्रघंटा, the warrior form of Maa Durga. Her name comes from the half-moon on her forehead, shaped like a bell.
But why does a warrior goddess carry such a gentle name? Why does her story hold a soldier’s courage and a mother’s softness? The answer begins on Maa Parvati’s wedding day. Yesterday, Maa Brahmacharini won Bhagwan Shiv through tapas. Today, the wedding procession arrives.
This blog covers the Maa Chandraghanta katha, puja vidhi, mantra, bhog, and aarti, plus the Day 3 colour. Each answer comes first, and the scripture source follows.
Key Takeaways
- Maa Chandraghanta is the third Navadurga form and the Navratri Day 3 goddess.
- Her name means the one with a bell-shaped moon on her forehead.
- She has ten arms, a golden complexion, and a lion as her mount.
- The colour for 2026 is red, and the bhog is kheer.
- Chant the Maa Chandraghanta mantra (मां चंद्रघंटा का मंत्र) and ring a bell during her aarti.
Maa Chandraghanta at a Glance
| Detail | Answer |
| Goddess | Maa Chandraghanta, third of the nine Navadurga |
| Navratri day and date | Day 3, Tuesday, 13 October 2026 (Ashwin Shukla Tritiya) |
| Colour of the day | Red (Tuesday) |
| Mount | Lion (some images show a tigress) |
| Arms | Ten, holding weapons and sacred objects |
| Complexion | Golden |
| Bhog | Kheer and milk-based sweets |
| Simple mantra | Om Devi Chandraghantayai Namah (मां चंद्रघंटा का मंत्र) |
| Tradition links her with | Venus (Shukra) and the Manipura chakra |
| Scripture for her place in the nine forms | Devi Kavacha, verses 3 to 5 |
Confirm the Tritiya tithi timing with your local panchang. The Sharad Navratri 2026 guide explains the full calendar.
Who Is Maa Chandraghanta? Meaning and Form
Maa Chandraghanta is the warrior form of Maa Parvati, worshipped on the third day of Navratri. The Devi Kavacha lists her third among the Navadurga.
Why is Maa Chandraghanta called Chandraghanta?
She takes the name from the half-moon on her forehead, shaped like a bell. Chandra means moon, and ghanta means bell. The Devi Kavacha preserves the name and its order:
Tritiyam Chandraghanteti, Kushmandeti chaturthakam.
Devotees say her bell scatters fear and silences negative forces. That is a traditional belief. The Devi Mahatmya itself does not list this name.
How does Maa Chandraghanta look?
Maa Chandraghanta shines with a golden glow and rides a lion. She has three eyes and ten arms. Her dhyan mantra lists a sword, a mace, a trident, a bow, an arrow, a lotus, a kamandalu, and a mala. Two hands show the gestures of boon-giving and fearlessness.
| Symbol | How teachers read it (interpretation) |
| Bell-shaped half-moon | Calm that stays alert |
| Ten arms with weapons | Readiness against every kind of evil |
| Lotus and kamandalu | Softness, purity, and a mind trained by tapas |
| Abhaya mudra | The gift of fearlessness to devotees |
| Lion | Courage that carries her forward |
Maa Chandraghanta Katha: The Warrior Form of Maa Parvati
This Navratri Day 3 katha has two tellings. The wedding scene comes from the Shiva Purana and Kalidasa, while Maa Chandraghanta’s role in it comes from devotional tradition. The text below marks which is which.
The wedding procession arrives
On the wedding day, Bhagwan Shiv arrived exactly as he is. Ash covered his body, and a garland of skulls hung at his neck. Serpents including Vasuki dev coiled around his arms. Bhoots, ganas, and wild creatures danced around him.
The earth shook, and the guests froze in fear. Maa Menaka took one look and trembled. She feared for her daughter’s future. Some tellings say she asked Maa Parvati to reconsider.
Sources: Shiva Purana, Chapter 40 – The Marriage Procession of Shiva; and Shiva Purana, Chapter 43 – Description of Shiva’s Wonderful Sport.
Maa Parvati becomes Maa Chandraghanta
Maa Parvati saw her mother’s fear and stayed calm. She took a fierce and radiant form. A golden glow surrounded her, and a bell-shaped half-moon shone on her brow. She had ten arms, and a lion stood beneath her.
Her bell rang once, and the fear in the hall fell silent. Her family understood that she was ready for Bhagwan Shiv’s world. Bhagwan Shiv then took a beautiful form, and the wedding went forward.
The Shiva Purana narrates Shiv’s changed form. It does not name Chandraghanta in this scene. The identification belongs to devotional tradition.
Another popular telling: Jatukasura and the bats
Another retelling places Maa Chandraghanta in Kailash soon after the wedding. The asura Tarakasura sends his commander Jatukasura, who leads an army of bats. The sky goes dark, and the ganas feel helpless.
Maa Parvati rises to protect her home. Her bell sends out a divine sound that scatters the bats. She then strikes Jatukasura down. No primary text cited here names this episode. It follows popular devotional retelling.
What the Maa Chandraghanta katha teaches?
This katha pairs courage with compassion. Maa Chandraghanta does not shout or strike first. She changes form, calms the room, and protects her family. Teachers read the story as a lesson in readiness. This reading is an interpretation, not a scriptural quote.
Which Goddess Is Worshipped on the Third Day of Navratri?
Devotees worship Maa Chandraghanta on the third day of Navratri. The Devi Kavacha lists her third, and the Tritiya tithi marks the third day. The sequence also follows a story. On Day 1, Maa Shailputri takes birth in the mountains. On Day 2, Maa Brahmacharini performs tapas. Then on Day 3, Maa Chandraghanta arrives at the wedding with courage.
So the first three days move from birth to tapas to readiness. This reading is an interpretation. The order of the names itself comes from the Devi Kavacha. Anyone who asks which Navratri Day 3 goddess to worship will find the same answer in the text.
How to Worship Maa Chandraghanta at Home: Puja Vidhi
Begin with a tidy puja space and a calm mind. Then offer red flowers, kheer, mantra, and a ringing bell. This Maa Chandraghanta puja vidhi follows a common North Indian method, and families adapt it.
What should you offer Maa Chandraghanta during puja?
- The kalash and barley tray from Ghatasthapana
- An image or murti of Maa Chandraghanta or Maa Durga
- A small bell (ghanta)
- Red flowers, roli, kumkum, akshat, and a red chunri
- A ghee diya, incense, and camphor
- Kheer and fruit for bhog
What flowers should you offer Maa Chandraghanta?
Red hibiscus and red roses suit the red colour of the day. White jasmine and lotus also work. Devotional tradition prefers fragrant, fresh flowers. No primary text cited here fixes the flower.
Step-by-step Maa Chandraghanta puja vidhi
- Bathe before sunrise and wear clean red clothes.
- Water the barley, refill the diya, and clear the puja space.
- Place an image or murti of Maa Chandraghanta beside the kalash.
- Invoke Shri Ganesh first. Then take a sankalp, a spoken resolve to complete the puja.
- Ring the bell gently to welcome Maa.
- Offer red flowers, roli, kumkum, and akshat.
- Recite the dhyan mantra, then chant the mantra 108 times.
- Offer kheer or another milk-based sweet as bhog.
- Perform aarti with the bell, then share the prasad with the family.
Can Maa Chandraghanta be worshipped without fasting?
Yes. Puja does not require a fast. Fasting is a personal vow that families choose. Bhagavad Gita 6.16 warns against both over-eating and over-fasting. People with health conditions should ask a doctor before fasting.
What should you do on the third day of Navratri?
- Wear red and begin the day with Maa’s puja.
- Ring the bell during the puja and the aarti.
- Offer kheer and share it as prasad.
- Read or listen to the katha with the family.
Maa Chandraghanta Mantra: मां चंद्रघंटा का मंत्र
The Maa Chandraghanta mantra comes in four forms. Choose the one that fits your practice.
Simple chant
ॐ देवी चन्द्रघण्टायै नमः॥
Om Devi Chandraghantayai Namah.
Repeat it 108 times with a mala, or as often as you can. This chant needs no guru’s initiation, so every devotee can use it.
Maa Chandraghanta’s dhyan mantra (माँ चंद्रघंटा का ध्यान मंत्र)
वन्दे वाञ्छितलाभाय चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखराम्।
सिंहारूढा चन्द्रघण्टा यशस्विनीम्॥
मणिपुर स्थिताम् तृतीय दुर्गा त्रिनेत्राम्।
खङ्ग, गदा, त्रिशूल, चापशर, पद्म कमण्डलु माला वराभीतकराम्॥
पटाम्बर परिधानां मृदुहास्या नानालङ्कार भूषिताम्।
मञ्जीर, हार, केयूर, किङ्किणि, रत्नकुण्डल मण्डिताम्॥
प्रफुल्ल वन्दना बिम्बाधरां कान्त कपोलां तुङ्गकुचाम्।
कमनीयां लावण्यां क्षीणकटि नितम्बनीम्॥
Vande Vaanchhita-Laabhaaya Chandraardha-Krita-Shekharam.
Simhaaroodhaa Chandraghantaa Yashasvineem.
Manipura Sthitaam Tritiya Durgaa Trinetraam.
Khadga, Gadaa, Trishoola, Chaapa-Shara, Padma Kamandalu Maalaa Varaabheetakaraam.
Pataambara Paridhaanaam Mriduhaasyaa Naanaalankaara Bhooshitaam.
Manjeera, Haara, Keyoora, Kinkini, Ratna-Kundala Manditaam.
Praphulla Vandanaa Bimbaadharaam Kaanta Kapolaam Tungakuchaam.
Kamaneeyaam Laavanyaam Ksheena-Kati Nitambaneem.
(Important note: This is traditional Navadurga dhyan mantra; printed texts vary slightly)
The mantra means this. I bow to Maa Chandraghanta, who grants desired fruit and wears a half-moon as her crest. She rides a lion, has ten arms, and shines with glory. She is golden, dwells at the Manipura chakra, and has three eyes. Her hands hold a sword, a mace, a trident, a bow, an arrow, a lotus, a kamandalu, and a mala. Two hands grant boons and fearlessness.
Maa Chandraghanta Stuti and prarthana
Devotees also recite the stuti and the prarthana. The stuti follows the pattern of the Devi Mahatmya refrain, such as 5.47 to 5.49 for Shanti (peace). The named-Devi versions are later devotional adaptations.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ चन्द्रघण्टा रूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu Maa Chandraghanta rupena samsthita.
Namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah.
Navadurga stuti
पिण्डज प्रवरारूढा चण्डकोपास्त्रकैर्युता।
प्रसादं तनुते मह्यं चन्द्रघण्टेति विश्रुता॥
Pindaja pravararudha chandakopastrakairyuta.
Prasadam tanute mahyam chandraghanteti vishruta.
The prarthana means this. May Maa Chandraghanta, who rides the finest mount and bears fierce weapons in her wrath, show me her grace.
The bell mantra
Her bell has its own verse. Priests ring the ghanta before puja with these words:
Agamartham tu devanam gamanartham tu rakshasam.
Kuryad ghantaravam tatra devatahvana-lanchhanam.
It means: ring the bell to welcome the gods and to send away the rakshasas.
मां चंद्रघंटा की आरती: Maa Chandraghanta Aarti
Devotees sing the Maa Chandraghanta aarti after the bhog, with a lit ghee diya and a ringing bell. The aarti praises her golden radiance, her ten arms, and her fearless protection. Many families sing मां चंद्रघंटा की आरती together.
माँ चन्द्रघण्टा जी की आरती
जय माँ चन्द्रघण्टा सुख धाम।
पूर्ण कीजो मेरे काम॥
चन्द्र समान तू शीतल दाती।
चन्द्र तेज किरणों में समाती॥
मन की मालक मन भाती हो।
चन्द्रघण्टा तुम वरदाती हो॥
सुन्दर भाव को लाने वाली।
हर संकट में बचाने वाली॥
हर बुधवार जो तुझे ध्याये।
श्रद्धा सहित जो विनय सुनाये॥
मूर्ति चन्द्र आकार बनाये।
सन्मुख घी की ज्योत जलाये॥
शीश झुका कहे मन की बाता।
पूर्ण आस करो जगत दाता॥
कांचीपुर स्थान तुम्हारा।
कर्नाटिका में मान तुम्हारा॥
नाम तेरा रटूँ महारानी।
भक्त की रक्षा करो भवानी॥
जय माँ चन्द्रघण्टा सुख धाम।
पूर्ण कीजो मेरे काम॥
How to perform the aarti with the bell
Ring the bell slowly and keep the rhythm steady. Move the lit diya in a clockwise circle before the image of Maa. Keep singing until the circle ends. Then bow, take the prasad, and share it with everyone present.
Maa Chandraghanta Bhog: What to Offer
Offer kheer and other milk-based sweets to Maa Chandraghanta. Devotees believe milk offerings bring peace and remove obstacles. This is a devotional belief. No primary text cited here prescribes the Maa Chandraghanta bhog.
Traditional offerings
- Kheer, the signature offering
- Milk-based sweets such as barfi and peda
- Seasonal fruit
Bhog for fasting households:
If your family fasts, offer makhana kheer or sabudana kheer. Add fruit and dried coconut. Use rock salt, never table salt, in any savoury offering. People with diabetes should take only a small taste of prasad.
Navratri Day 3 in 2026: Date and Colour
Navratri Day 3 in 2026 falls on Tuesday, 13 October. The colour is red. The colour follows the weekday, and 13 October is a Tuesday.
| Year | Day 3 date | Weekday | Colour |
| 2025 | 24 September | Wednesday | Royal blue |
| 2026 | 13 October | Tuesday | Red |
No scripture prescribes this colour, so the custom is modern and optional. Many devotees see red as the colour of shakti. Devotees often offer red flowers, sindoor, and a red chunri to Maa Chandraghanta. Both calendars in the pillar guide agree on this date.
Benefits of Worshipping Maa Chandraghanta
Devotees pray to Maa Chandraghanta for courage, fearlessness, and a calm mind. They also pray for strength to face obstacles. These are devotional beliefs. They are not medical claims, and worship does not replace care for anxiety or fear.
Astrological and chakra associations
Jyotish tradition links Maa Chandraghanta with Venus (Shukra). Devotees pray to her for harmony in relationships. Yogic and tantric traditions link her with the Manipura chakra, the solar plexus chakra near the navel. The dhyan mantra names this chakra. These are traditional associations, not scientific claims. They do not replace medical or mental health care.
Conclusion: Courage With a Gentle Heart
On the morning of 13 October, Maa Chandraghanta asks for courage with a soft heart. She asks you to ring the bell, light the diya, and face the day without fear. The rest of Navratri grows from that steady courage. Tomorrow, on 14 October, Maa Kushmanda takes the story further. Tradition says she created the universe with her smile. What does that smile teach us about energy and warmth? Read the Day 4 guide’ to find out.
Frequently Asked Questions About Third Day of Navratri
Yes. Maa Chandraghanta is understood in devotional tradition as a form of Maa Parvati, the third form among the Navadurga worshipped during Navratri. The Chandraghanta form represents Parvati with a more powerful and warrior-like aspect while retaining her compassionate nature.
The name Chandraghanta combines Chandra, meaning moon, and Ghanta, meaning bell. It refers to the crescent-shaped moon on Maa Chandraghanta’s forehead, which is traditionally described as resembling a bell.
Maa Chandraghanta’s ten arms represent her readiness to protect devotees and confront evil. Her dhyan mantra describes her carrying weapons and sacred objects including a sword, mace, trident, bow, arrow, lotus, kamandalu and mala, along with gestures associated with blessing and fearlessness.
The lion is traditionally associated with courage, strength and fearlessness in depictions of Maa Chandraghanta. Her lion mount reinforces the warrior aspect of the goddess and her readiness to protect devotees.
Maa Brahmacharini is associated with tapasya, discipline and devotion, while Maa Chandraghanta represents a more powerful and protective form of Maa Parvati. In the Navratri sequence, Brahmacharini is worshipped on Day 2 and Chandraghanta on Day 3, creating a transition from spiritual discipline to courage and readiness.
Yes. There is no universal rule in the article’s puja tradition that restricts Maa Chandraghanta Puja to the morning. Devotees can worship her according to their family tradition and available time. If a specific festival muhurat or local panchang is being followed, that timing should take priority.
Yes. Devotees can worship Maa Chandraghanta through a picture of the goddess or through devotional remembrance and mantra chanting. A formal murti is not a universal requirement for personal worship at home.
No. Ringing a bell is a traditional part of Hindu puja and is especially associated with Maa Chandraghanta because of her name and symbolism, but personal worship does not become invalid if a devotee does not have a bell. The article also includes the traditional ghanta verse used before puja.
The bell is central to Maa Chandraghanta’s identity because the crescent moon on her forehead is described as being shaped like a bell. In devotional interpretation, the sound of the bell is associated with dispelling fear and negative forces. This is a traditional belief, rather than a claim made by the Devi Mahatmya itself.
Maa Chandraghanta is traditionally associated with the Manipura chakra, also known as the solar plexus chakra. This association appears in the dhyan mantra and in later yogic and tantric traditions. It is a spiritual tradition, not a scientifically established claim.
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