1. Shailaputri (Daughter of the Mountain)
   ‘Shailaputri’ is the daughter of the great mountain, Himalaya, and the first among the nine Durgas. In her previous birth, she was the daughter of ‘Daksha.’ Her name was ‘Sati Bhavani’, the wife of Lord Shiva. Once Daksha had organized a big Yagna and did not invite Shiva. But Sati being obstinate, Shiva reached the Yagna venue. Daksha insulted Shiva. Sati could not tolerate the insult of her husband and burnt herself in the fire of Yagna. In the other birth she became the daughter of Himalaya in the name of Parvati - Himvathi and married Shiva. Gods bowed and prayed to her saying, "Thou are Shakti. Even the trinities, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, are deriving Shakti from you." Seated on ‘Nandi’, the sacred bull, Parvathi is holding a trident (Trishul) in one hand and Lotus (Kamala) in the other. She symbolises the trinities.
    
2. Brahmacharini
   The second Durga Shakti is ‘Brahamcharini.’ Brahma that is who observes penance (tapas) and follows virtue. Here "Brahma" means "Tapa". The Goddess is very gorgeous in this form. There is a rosary in her right hand and a Kamandalu (holy pot) in her left hand. She is full with merriment. In the previous birth, she was Parvati - Hemavathi, the daughter of Himavan. Once, when she was busy in games with her friends, Narada came to her and predicted that she would marry a naked-terrible 'Fakir’. Thereupon, Parvati told her mother, Menaka, that she would marry none except Shambhu or otherwise she would remain unmarried. Saying this, she went to observe penance and hence is famous as ‘Tapacharini - Brahmacharini.’ From that time onwards, her name ‘Uma’ became familiar.
    
3. Chandraghanta
   The name of third Shakti form is ‘Chandraghanta.’ There is a crescent moon in her forehead. She is charmful and radiant having golden colour. She has three eyes and ten hands holding ten types of weapons. She is seated on lion and ready for going to war. She is an unprecedented image of bravery. The frightful sound of her bell terrifies all the demons and danavas.
    
4. Kushmanda
   The name of fourth Durga is ‘Kushmanda.’ As ‘Kushmandini’, she is holding the cosmic egg or ‘Hiranya Garbha’ in her hand. Being the primordial energy, she is the creator and resides in the solar system. She shines brightly in all the ten directions like Sun. She is generally depicted with eight or ten hands. Seven types of weapons are shining in her seven hands. She is also holding a rosary and a lotus. She looks brilliant riding on the lion.
    
5. Skanda Matha
   The fifth form of Durga is "Skanda Matha". The daughter of Himalaya and married to Shiva, she had a son named "Skanda." Skanda was the commander of the army of Gods. ‘Skanda Matha’ is a deity of fire. Skanda is seated in her lap. She has three eyes and four hands. She is holding a lotus on her left hand while her other hand is in the blessing posture. She is white in colour and seated on a lotus.
    
6. Katyayani
   The sixth Durga from is ‘Katyayani’. In the past, there was a great sage by name ‘Kata’. Rishi Katyayan, born in this "Katya" lineage, observed penance with a desire to have the ‘Devi’ as a daughter. Devi blessed him by taking birth as a daughter of Katyayan and came to be known as "Katyayani". She has three eyes and eight hands. She is holding weapons in her seven hands and a lotus in the other hand. Her vehicle is lion.
    
7. Kalaratri
   The seventh Durga is ‘Kalaratri’. She is black like night. Durga’s hairs are unlocked. She has three bright eyes which are round like universe. She has put on necklaces shining like lightening. Thousands of flames of fire come out while she respires from her nose. She rides on ‘Shava’ (dead body). There is a sharp sword in her right hand. Her lower hand is in blessing posture. The burning torch (mashal) is in her left hand and her lower left hand is in the posture of offering protection, telling her devotees to be fearless. Being auspicious she is called "Shubhakari."
    
8. Maha Gauri
   The Eighth Durga form is "Maha Gauri". She is calm and peaceful. She is ‘Shakti’ without failure, but always fruitful. She is capable of absolving all the sins of the past, present and the future. Her body became black while observing penance in the Himalayas. Shiva cleansed her with the waters of the holy river Ganga. Then her body became bright. Therefore, she came to be known as "Maha Gauri". She is as white as a conch and moon. Gauri is of eight years old. Her clothes and ornaments are white and spotless. She has three eyes and four rands. She rides on a bull. Her top left hand is in "Fearless Mudra" (Abhaya Hastha) and lower left hand holds "Trishul." The top right hand has tambourine and the lower right hand is in blessing posture.
    
9. Siddhidatri
   ‘Siddhidatri’ is the ninth Durga form. This form is worshiped by all Gods, Rishis, Munis, Siddhas, Yogis, Sadhakas and devotees for attaining supreme bliss. There are eight Siddhis or ‘Ashta Siddhis’. They are: Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakamya, Iishitva and Vashitva. Maha Shakti bestows these Siddhies. It is said in "Devi Bhagavatha" that Supreme God Shiva secured all these Siddhies by worshipping the ‘Maha Shakti.’ With her gratitude, his body turned half female and half male and therefore Shiva is also called "Ardhanarishvara". One half of the body is that of Parvathi and the other half that of Shiva. Having a smiling face, the Goddess is seated on a lion. She has four hands which are holding conch, disc, mace and lotus.
    

108 Names of Durga Puja