How should we worship the Goddess Durga?
Answers
There are three modes of worshiping Devi Durga:-
Prathama Kalpa
Ten-armed Katyayani worshiped at Dhakeshvari National Temple, Dhaka, Bangladesh
In this mode of worship, ten-armed Katyayani is invoked in a branch/tree of Bilvapatra in the evening of Shukla Shashthi and worshiped for three days (Saptami, Ashthami and Navami). Visarajana is done on Dashami.
The aforementioned mode of worship is widely practiced in West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Manipur, Tripura and Bangladesh during Durga Puja.
Madhyama Kalpa
Sixteen-armed Bhadrakali worshiped at Salt Lake FD Block (Kolkata), Durga Puja 2015
In this mode, sixteen-armed Bhadrakali is invoked within a jar, Yantra or idol during the morning of Shukla Pratipad. Worshiped is conducted for nine days (Pratipad to Navami) and Visarajana is done on Dashami.
The aforementioned mode of worship is practiced in North, West & Central India and Nepal where Durga Puja lasts for nine days under the name of Navaratri.
Uttama Kalpa
Buddhist image of eighteen-armed Ugrachanda
In this mode, eighteen-armed Ugrachanda is invoked within a trident or a sword during the noon of Amavasya. Devi is worshiped for sixteen days till Purnima and visarjana is done on Krishna Pratipad.
The aforementioned mode of worship is unique to Kamakhya temple, where Durga Puja lasts for the entire Devi Paksha (Mahalaya Amavasya to Sharad Purnima).
Of these three modes, Prathama Kalpa or the worship of ten-armed Katyayani is considered the best. But what makes Katyayani and Her worship unique?
The three principle forms of Durga are Durga, Chandika and Aparajita. Of these, Chandika has two forms:
1) Navarna Chandi of Devi Mahatmya with three Anga Vidyas- Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasarasvati.
2) Trishakti Chamunda of Navarna Mantra who is an esoteric form of Chandi.
Durga, like Navarna Chandi, has three Anga Vidyas:
1) Eighteen-armed Ugrachanda
2) Sixteen-armed Bhadrakali
3) Ten-armed Katyayani
Avidya is of three kinds- Tamasic, Rajasic and Satvic. By Sadhana of Ugrachanda, one is rid of Tamasic Avidya, as she represents the Kriya Yoga; hence Her form is Ugra (fierce). By Sadhana of Bhadrakali via Bhakti Yoga, Rajasic Avidya is destroyed; hence Her form is Ardha Ugra (semi-wrathful). By Sadhana of Katyayani via Jnana Yoga, Satvic Avidya is destroyed; hence Her form is Saumya (gentle), symbolising Brahmavidya.
Mahishasura symbolises the complex of threefold Avidyas, and was slain by Durga in Her Saumya form, which is Brahmavidya incarnate that terminates Avidya. Thus, Katyayani represents both the path & goal and hence worshiping this form is recomended for worship of Durga.
She is worshiped with the eleven-lettered Mantra (ll om durge durge rakShiNI svAhA: ll) that represents the complexity of Jnanamarga. With Her ten hands representing five Pranas and five Upapranas, Durga also shines forth as Pranashakti and the Sadhaka who attains Her grace achieves mastery over the Prana, and hence the senses and the mind. She is to be meditated in the center of one's heart in the dawn, in the navel at noon and at the base of spine in SahasrAra in the dusk.