Original text
नाम मंत्र: ॐ देवी चन्द्रघण्टायै नमः॥ प्रार्थना (ध्यान श्लोक): पिण्डज प्रवरारूढा चण्डकोपास्त्रकैर्युता। प्रसादं तनुते मह्यम् चन्द्रघण्टेति विश्रुता॥ स्तुति: या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ चन्द्रघण्टा रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Transliteration
Naam mantra: Om devi chandraghantayai namah || Prarthana (dhyana shloka): Pindaja pravararudha chandakopastrakairyuta Prasadam tanute mahyam chandraghanteti vishruta || Stuti: Ya devi sarvabhuteshu man chandraghanta rupena sansthita Namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah ||
Who is Maa Chandraghanta?
Maa Chandraghanta is the third of the Navdurga, the nine forms of Maa Durga worshipped on the nine days of Navratri. Her name means "she who has a half-moon shaped like a bell" — chandra is moon, ghanta bell. In Shardiya Navratri 2026 she is worshipped on Day 3 (Tritiya), Tuesday 13 October.
After her marriage to Shiva, Parvati wears a crescent moon on her forehead shaped like a temple bell, and in this form she is Chandraghanta. A popular telling connects the form to the wedding itself: when Shiva arrived at Himavan's palace in his frightening ascetic form, with ghosts and ganas, Parvati took this radiant, fierce form to calm the scene. The sound of her bell is said to drive away demons and negative forces.
She combines grace and readiness for battle: serene in face, yet armed and mounted on a tiger. Devotees pray to her for courage, calm and protection from fear.
Her form
She has ten arms holding weapons — trident, mace, sword, bow and arrow among them — with a lotus, and one hand raised in blessing; her golden form rides a tiger.
Mantras of Maa Chandraghanta
Naam mantra: ॐ देवी चन्द्रघण्टायै नमः॥ — chant 108 times on a mala.
Prarthana (dhyana shloka):
पिण्डज प्रवरारूढा चण्डकोपास्त्रकैर्युता।
प्रसादं तनुते मह्यम् चन्द्रघण्टेति विश्रुता॥
Stuti:
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ चन्द्रघण्टा रूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
The stuti is modelled on the Devi Mahatmya's "Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu" hymn, with her name in place: "To the Devi who dwells in all beings in the form of Maa Chandraghanta — salutations to her, again and again."
Puja vidhi on Day 3
- Wake early, bathe and wear clean clothes; light the lamp before the kalash and the Devi's image.
- Take a sankalpa for the day's worship (and the Navratri vrat, if you are keeping it).
- Invoke Maa Chandraghanta with the prarthana shloka above, picturing her form.
- Offer water, roli, akshat, red flowers or a red chunri, dhoop and a ghee lamp.
- Offer the day's bhog: milk, or sweets and kheer made with milk.
- Chant the naam mantra 108 times, then the stuti; read the Durga Chalisa or a chapter of the Durga Saptashati if you can.
- Close with the aarti, Jai Ambe Gauri, and distribute the prasad.
The nine days
← Day 2: Maa Brahmacharini · Day 4: Maa Kushmanda →
See all nine forms on the Maa Durga page, and dates and muhurat in Shardiya Navratri 2026.
Frequently asked questions
On which day of Navratri is Maa Chandraghanta worshipped?
On the third day (Tritiya); in Shardiya Navratri 2026 that is Tuesday 13 October.
What is the mantra of Maa Chandraghanta?
The naam mantra is ॐ देवी चन्द्रघण्टायै नमः॥, chanted 108 times, along with her prarthana shloka and the "Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu" stuti.
What bhog is offered to Maa Chandraghanta?
Traditionally milk, or sweets and kheer made with milk. Customs vary between families and regions.
Why is she called Chandraghanta?
Because of the bell-shaped half-moon (chandra-ghanta) on her forehead.
Which vehicle does Maa Chandraghanta ride?
A tiger, in most depictions; some show a lion.
Spotted a mistake?
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