कात्यायनी
Goddess Katyayani
Sixth Form of Navadurga
Katyayani Beej Mantra
ॐ देवी कात्यायन्यै नमः
Goddess Katyayani is the sixth manifestation of Navadurga, born from the combined tejas of the trimurti to slay Mahishasura. She is worshipped especially by unmarried women seeking a suitable life partner, and by those facing prolonged obstacles in marriage. The Gopis of Vrindavan are said to have undertaken the Katyayani Vrata to gain Sri Krishna as husband.
Katyayani embodies fierce compassion, the maternal power that protects her devotees while annihilating every obstacle in the path of love and marriage. Her four arms hold the lotus and sword, with the remaining hands in abhaya and varada mudras, granting fearlessness and the fulfilment of righteous desires.
Form
Sixth Navadurga
Day
Friday (Shukravar)
Ruling
Marriage, love, feminine power, victory
Boon
Suitable life partner, strength, courage
Solah Shukravar Vrat
सोलह शुक्रवार व्रत
Recite ॐ देवी कात्यायन्यै नमः 108 times for 16 consecutive Fridays, beginning on a bright-half (shukla paksha) Friday. The classical Katyayani Vrata observed by Gopis is the canonical remedial form for marriage obstacles.
Each Friday: bathe before sunrise, dress in clean white or yellow vastra, offer yellow flowers (preferably marigold or chameli), light a ghee lamp, and complete the japa with a turmeric or rudraksha mala. Conclude the 16-week vrata with kanya-bhojan (feeding nine unmarried young women) and a small dakshina to a married woman embodying saubhagya.