Navratri 2023: Understanding Maa Durga’s Ten Arms

This year, Shardiya Navratri started on October 15 and runs until October 23. Nine different manifestations of Maa Durga are worshipped over these nine days of Navratri. It is possible to think of Maa Durga’s 10 arms as her immortal incarnation, with each of the weapons holding a different siddhi or power. The worshippers are presented these weapons with the hopes of strength, safety, and advancement.

Maa Durga’s 10 arms stand for the safety of her followers. Celebrity astrologer Parduman Suri discussed the significance of the ten weapons that Maa Durga carries in her ten arms.

Understanding the Meaning of the Ten Items in Devi Durga’s Hands
Trishul: Lord Mahadev gave Trishul to Goddess Durga. The three sharp sides of this trident stand for the attributes of Tamas, Rajas, and Satva.

Sword: Lord Ganesha bestowed this sword to its owner. It represents wisdom and understanding. The sharpness of the sword is a metaphor for intelligence, and its sheen is a metaphor for knowledge.

The mother receives a spear as a sign of good fortune from Lord Agni. It also symbolizes ferocious force. It can tell what is right from bad and behaves in accordance with that knowledge.

Vajra: Indradev gave Vajra as a gift. It represents inner strength and a strong determination. Goddess Durga bestows unbreakable self-assurance and resolve to her devotee.

Axe: Lord Vishwakarma gave Maa Durga an ax and armor. It stands about battling evil without worrying about the repercussions.

Sudarshan Chakra: The Sudarshan Chakra, which Lord Krishna gave to the mother, is also an unbreakable sword. It represents the idea that the Mother Goddess, who is at the core of creation, rules over the whole world and that the cosmos likewise revolves around her.

Bow and Arrow: The Wind God and Sun God bestow the bow and arrow, which are seen as energetic emblems. The arrow is a symbol of kinetic energy, whereas the bow is a symbol of potential energy. Additionally, it suggests that Goddess Durga is in charge of all the universe’s energy sources.

Mace: The mace represents both religion and intellect. Truth is protected by Mace.
Dagger: It stands for empowering force. Mother’s dagger offers assistance in the fight against adversaries.

Conch: It represents sound. Maa Durga’s conch shell stands for wealth and universalism.