Puja during Navratri: Huge rush at Mata Vaishnodevi Mandir in Rourkela

The holy Vaishnodevi Temple in Odisha’s Rourkela witnessed an unprecedented rush on Saturday on the auspicious occasion of the third day of Navratri. Devotees rushed in huge numbers to offer prayers to Maa Durga in her Maa Chandraghanta avatar.

During Shardiya Navratri, Hindu devotees worship Maa Durga in her nine avatars. The nine incarnations of Adi Shakti are known as Navdurgas; they are- Maa Shailputri, Maa Chandraghanta, Maa Kushmanda, Maa Skandamata, Maa Katyayani, Maa Kalaratri, Maa Mahagauri and Maa Siddhidatri.

Maa Chandraghanta is worshipped on Day 3 of the holy festival. She is one of the nine forms of Maa Durga and governs the planet ‘Shukra’. The goddess mounts the tigress and is depicted with ten hands. She also carries a lotus, arrow, dhanush, and japa mala (prayer beads) in her four right hands and keeps the fifth right hand in Abhaya Mudra.

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Meanwhile, she carries trishul, gada, sword and a kamanal in her four left hands and keeps the fifth left hand in Varada Mudra. She is the peaceful form of Maa Parvati and those who worship the Devi in this form get eternal power and strength.

So, devotees in huge number rushed to the Vaishnodevi Temple and waited for hours for the darshan. Temple authorities said that elaborate arrangements were made keeping in view the large crowd.

“There is so much peace and tranquility in the Temple. I loved the morning Alati. It feels so divine. We are praying Maa to fulfill our wishes,” said an elated devotee.

Worth mentioning, Vaishnodevi Temple at Rourkela is a replica of the original Temple of Vaishnodevi at Jammu (Trikuta Hills) and is situated on the top of the Durgapur Hill.