Navratri Nine Matchboxes is a probono project aimed to educate people about the nine goddesses which are celebrated during the nine-day festival in India.
Navratri is a festival in India, for nine days, people from the Hindu community celebrate by keeping fasts, and praying to the nine different forms
of goddess Durga.
In this series, I made illustrations of the nine goddesses to be used on matchboxes. One illustration per day, making it into a series.
These can be printed and mass-produced as collectibles or even for daily use.
Navratri Matchboxes
Day 1 : Shailputri Maata
SHAILPUTRI JI
The one called the ‘Daughter of hills’ hailing from the Kailash Parvat, mounting an ox, with a trident & a lotus in her hand as a weapon. Also, know to us by Parvati ji, Sati ji , Bhavani ji.
Shailaputri Ji is one of the first Navadurga’s Devis ,she’s the purest manifestation of Ma Durga and is welcomed on the first day of Navratri.
Day 1 : Shailputri Maata
SHAILPUTRI JI
The one called the ‘Daughter of hills’ hailing from the Kailash Parvat, mounting an ox, with a trident & a lotus in her hand as a weapon. Also, know to us by Parvati ji, Sati ji , Bhavani ji.
Shailaputri Ji is one of the first Navadurga’s Devis ,she’s the purest manifestation of Ma Durga and is welcomed on the first day of Navratri.
Navratri Matchboxes
Day 2 : Brahmacharini Maata
Brahmacharini Ji.
A goddess who did a severe penance, the one who is in white, carrying a japa mala and a kamandalu. Also the goddess who is welcomed on the second day of Navratri, a swaroop of Parvati ji, and a manifestation of Ma Durga ji ( in Navadurga)
Brahmacharini ji holds the significance of bachelorhood and the purity, the story goes back to the time when Parvati ji, went through a tapasya of 5000 years to marry Shiv ji. As the story continues, she engages in the same activities as Shiv ji, asceticism, yogin and tapas. Hence catching the attention of Shiv ji and marrying him.
Day 2 : Brahmacharini Maata
Brahmacharini Ji.
A goddess who did a severe penance, the one who is in white, carrying a japa mala and a kamandalu. Also the goddess who is welcomed on the second day of Navratri, a swaroop of Parvati ji, and a manifestation of Ma Durga ji ( in Navadurga)
Brahmacharini ji holds the significance of bachelorhood and the purity, the story goes back to the time when Parvati ji, went through a tapasya of 5000 years to marry Shiv ji. As the story continues, she engages in the same activities as Shiv ji, asceticism, yogin and tapas. Hence catching the attention of Shiv ji and marrying him.
Navratri Matchboxes
Day 3 : Chandraghanta Maata
Chandraghanta Ji.
An embodiment of strength, courage and bravery . She is the one who fights demons. Who has ten hands and carries a trishul, lotus, gada, kamandalu, sword, bow & arrow, japa mala and a ghanta in each and has one hand in the abhayamudra (the blessing mudra). Her vehicle is of a tiger who is in a state of anger, this also symbolises the bravery in her.
The one who is welcomed on the third day of Navratri and is a manifestation of Durga ji in the Navadurga. The one who fights demons for her devotees, it is said that during the war between her and the demons the ghanta in her hand produces such a loud noise that, it directly sends the demons to the Death God.
Day 3 : Chandraghanta Maata
Chandraghanta Ji.
An embodiment of strength, courage and bravery . She is the one who fights demons. Who has ten hands and carries a trishul, lotus, gada, kamandalu, sword, bow & arrow, japa mala and a ghanta in each and has one hand in the abhayamudra (the blessing mudra). Her vehicle is of a tiger who is in a state of anger, this also symbolises the bravery in her.
The one who is welcomed on the third day of Navratri and is a manifestation of Durga ji in the Navadurga. The one who fights demons for her devotees, it is said that during the war between her and the demons the ghanta in her hand produces such a loud noise that, it directly sends the demons to the Death God.
Navratri Matchboxes
Day 4 : Kushmanda Maata
Kushmanda Ji.
She is the one who created the whole Brahmannda with her smile. Sitting on a lion, having eight hands, carrying a lotus, chakra, kamandalu, bow & arrow, gada, Akshamala, and two jars of holy elixir & blood.
She is welcomed on the fourth day of Navratri, also known to us by the name Ashtabhuja Devi ( having eight hands ). She is a manifestation of Ma Durga ji, in the Navadurga. She blesses us with improved health, wealth and strength.
It is said that just with her smile she created this whole universe, when it was in its darkest hour. To sustain this whole universe , a source of light is required, Goddess Kushmanda Ji centred herself in the core of the sun, to provide that energy to the whole universe.
Day 4 : Kushmanda Maata
Kushmanda Ji.
She is the one who created the whole Brahmannda with her smile. Sitting on a lion, having eight hands, carrying a lotus, chakra, kamandalu, bow & arrow, gada, Akshamala, and two jars of holy elixir & blood.
She is welcomed on the fourth day of Navratri, also known to us by the name Ashtabhuja Devi ( having eight hands ). She is a manifestation of Ma Durga ji, in the Navadurga. She blesses us with improved health, wealth and strength.
It is said that just with her smile she created this whole universe, when it was in its darkest hour. To sustain this whole universe , a source of light is required, Goddess Kushmanda Ji centred herself in the core of the sun, to provide that energy to the whole universe.
Navratri Matchboxes
Day 5 : Skandamata
Skandmata Ji.
Day 5 : Skandamata
Skandmata Ji.
The one who is welcomed on the fifth day of the Navaratri, Skandmata Ji is a manifestation of ma Durga ji in Navadurga. She has four hands one holding a Lotus, one hand is in the blessing posture, and the other two holding her son - Sknad. Her complexion is white and she sits on lotus, and she is called Goddess with Padmāsana. The lion is her vehicle.
It is believed that Skandamata ji, awards here devotees with salvation, power, prosperity and treasures of life. When praying to her you also pray to Lord Sknad, hence gaining the powers of both.
Navratri Matchboxes
Day 6 : Katyayani Maata
Katyayani Ji.
She is the one who is welcomed on the sixth day of Navratri, she’s a manifestation of Ma Durga ji, in Navadurga. She can be depicted with four, ten or eighteen hands. She carries a long sword, lotus, Abhayamudra and Varadamudra and her vehicle is that of a lion.
She is Goddess of power. Her creation is one of the most important one, she was created from the combined energies of the gods when their anger at the demon Mahishasura manifested itself in the form of energy rays. The rays crystallized in the hermitage of Katyayana Rishi who gave it proper form therefore she is also called Katyayani or "daughter of Katyayana". Elsewhere in texts like Kalika Purana it is mentioned that it was Rishi Kaytyayana who first worshipped her, hence she came to known as Katayayani.
Day 6 : Katyayani Maata
Katyayani Ji.
She is the one who is welcomed on the sixth day of Navratri, she’s a manifestation of Ma Durga ji, in Navadurga. She can be depicted with four, ten or eighteen hands. She carries a long sword, lotus, Abhayamudra and Varadamudra and her vehicle is that of a lion.
She is Goddess of power. Her creation is one of the most important one, she was created from the combined energies of the gods when their anger at the demon Mahishasura manifested itself in the form of energy rays. The rays crystallized in the hermitage of Katyayana Rishi who gave it proper form therefore she is also called Katyayani or "daughter of Katyayana". Elsewhere in texts like Kalika Purana it is mentioned that it was Rishi Kaytyayana who first worshipped her, hence she came to known as Katayayani.
Thank You!
Hope you liked the concept!
