(9) Siddhidatri Devi
ॐ देवी सिद्धिदात्र्यै नमः॥ Om Devi Siddhidatryai Namah॥
On the journey to Perfect Attainment, we arrive at the ninth and final form of the Goddess, Siddhidatri, She who Grants Perfection. Each day of Navaratri has a significant importance, but ninth day is the most prominent, as this is the final and concluding day of Durga puja.
Siddhi means accomplishment, fulfillment, complete attainment, and success. It relates to the successful achieving one‘s goal. It also can mean readiness or maturity, having attaining the right age or the right mindset.
But in the context of spirituality, Siddhi is said to be the attainment of unusual capacities, such as supernatural powers, psychic powers, and intuition, often associated with eight supernatural powers, but not limited to them.
The word “datri” means giver. So She is the grantor of attainment (siddhi daan) and achievements to sincere devotees and spiritual aspirants, especially if they worship Her on the ninth day of Navaratri.
She helps us spiritually when other aspects of life are accomplished. She represents the burning of past karmas and the ability to move forward unimpeded.
This beautiful Goddess is worshiped by all those desiring the Ultimate Perfection.
Dressed in red, She sits on a lotus flower. In her four arms She holds a club, discus, conch, and lotus. She is surrounded on all sides by sadhus, sages, rishis, and Gods, who worship Her as Jaya-Victory. Here is the significance of Her form:
lotus: fully bloomed means she completes the blossoming of the spiritual aspirant. The kundalini which was just awakening (budding lotus) in the first chakra as Shailaputri Devi, has now traveled to the crown and fully bloomed above the head, as Siddhidatri Devi
worshipers: great sages and even demons go to her for the final attainment
club: power, removes ignorance, final blow to ego
discus: cuts through final karma
conch: victory, the sound takes us back to the source and the real Siddhi that she provides is the realization that only she exists. She is the mistress of all achievements and perfections
red dress: symbolizes action; She is always busy destroying evil, protecting, and gracing devotees
How do we please Siddhidatri Devi and achieve the Ultimate Perfection? It is done by methodically following the nine step path – step by step!
There is no way to skip a step, and everyone progresses at their own natural pace. To quicken the process – start now!
Get inspired to live in dharma (your ideal of perfection), increase your sadhana, and perform tapasya.
As you increase in purity, you will become more receptive to the abundance of Goddess Durga’s blessings.
Above all, have faith that the fruits will come to you when the time is right.
Path to Perfect Attainment:
As a reminder of the process, first we became inspired (Shailaputri Devi) to learn the sacred scriptures (Brahmacharini Devi), and to practice sadhana (Chandraghanta Devi) in an effort to purify ourselves in such a way that all of our actions become tapasya (Kushmanda Devi).
Upon performing tapasya, support comes our way to nurture our divinity (Skandamata Devi), so that we are enabled to experience the purity of our true nature (Katyayani Devi).
Then, at the right time in our spiritual journey, when we are ripened and ready, our selfish ego is destroyed (Kalaratri Devi) and replaced with radiant divine light (Mahagauri Devi).
Finally, when our minds are completely matured, and we are ready to shoulder additional responsibilities, we experience perfection (Siddhidatri Devi).
When we reach the ninth step, our responsibilities naturally increase. Up until now we have been solely focused on elevating ourselves on the spiritual path.
With the blessings of perfection, we are now called upon and compelled to help others in the same way that we have been helped.
On the final day of Navaratri, chant her mantra and ask Her for an attainment that will help you on your path, be it the removal of a negative tendency like anger or fear, or the addition of a positive quality, like more compassion and humility.
May Siddhidāyinī (the giver of perfection) who is always served by masters (siddhas), celestial musicians (gandharvas), tree spirits (yakṣas), demons, and gods, grant us with perfection in all we do!
A Deeper Explanation of Siddhidatri
There is a four syllable mantra often associated with Gaṇeśa which is also associated with Siddhidātri, which means ‘may there be siddhi’ (or ‘may there be fulfillment’).
|| Siddhirastu || May there be complete accomplishment
In the Lakṣmī Tantra (37.1-3), there is a discussion about the difference between mental worship and external ceremonial ritual (pūjā). Mental impressions (vāsana) govern what our mind thinks about.
There are two types of impressions. Those which are created by external factors (like advertisements and information you read) and those created by internal factors (like how you manage your feelings and the meaning you give to experience).
Mental worship purifies the internal and external impressions created daily. External worship (ceremonial rituals) purifies the stock of impressions primarily caused by external factors.
The purification of these mental impressions is required for a clear and focused mind, which is required to attain success in any activity.
All distractions arise within the mind from left over junk in the mind field.
Siddhidātri is the goddess associated with clearing these mental impressions, and allowing us to create intentional pathways in the mind to create intentional ways of being and acting.