Durga’s second appearance is in the form of Brahmacharini. Here "Brahma" means meditation. That is, the Goddess is the meditator or a practitioner of penance. She is seen here holding a string of rosary beads in her right hand and a Kamandul (an urn containing holy water) in her left hand. In her previous life, when she was reborn as the daughter of Himalaya, she performed severe penance to have Mahadeva as her husband. The sage God Narad advised her to take up meditation to win Shiva. For undergoing strict meditation she was known as Brahmacharini or Tapasyacharini. Ignoring the beating sun and thunder showers, she began a Three Hundred year meditation living only on wood Apple leaves that fell on the forest floor. She furthered her penance making it even stricter by relinquishing food and water for another few Hundred years. As she gave up eating leaves she is also referred to as “Aparna”. Practicing this painstaking contemplation she became weak and skinny. Unable to withstand the plight of her daughter her mother, Manoka requested her to give up her resolution. Shocked at the sight of Durga she exclaimed “Uma! Na aar naa”. That is why Durga is also called “Uma”. On the other hand overwhelmed by Durga’s devotion and perseverance, all the Gods and sages in the heaven were pleased. At last, grandfather Brahma, pleased with devi’s austerities made an oracle, “O maiden! No one could achieve or endure the penance you have performed till date. I am captivated by your meditation and devotion. Your wish will be fulfilled and you will certainly have Shiva as your husband. You may now return home and rest. Your father will come soon to take you.” This form of Durga gives the devotees everlasting success. Worshop of this appearance enriches the faculties of sacrifice, honesty and self-discipline. In times of utter distress the worship of this form gives success and the willpower to come out victorious. This form of Durga is worshiped in the second day of the Durga puja.

The fourth appearance of the devi is in the form of Kushmanda. The mother gets the name as she created the universe with a smile. When there was darkness everywhere and there was no existence of the universe she created the universe with a smile. She is believed to be the source of eternal power. The Goddess has eight arms and that is why she is also known as “Astabhuja”. The deity’s seven hands hold the holy urn (Kamandul), a Bow, an Arrow, a Lotus, a Pot containing nectar, a Sudarshan Chakra and a Club. The Eighth hand holds a string of rosary beads that is believed to provide success and prudence. Pumpkin is termed as “Kushmando” in Sanskrit. Amongst the sacrificial vegetables that are offered in the worship of the Goddess (Naibidhya), pumpkin is the most important vegetable with which Devi Kushmanda is most placated. She is worshiped on the Fourth day of the Navratri celebration abiding by the rituals that are described in the Sashtra and the Purans. Worship of this form of the Devi exterminates sorrow and diseases and augments life, fame and strength. Mother Goddess is appeased with the slightest of devotion and if any one whole-heartedly worships the deity he will certainly gain her favour.

Katyayani is the sixth form of Devi Durga. Sage “Kattayan” was the son of the great sage “Kat”. Sage “Kattayan” was born in the “Kattya” clan. He was engaged in rigorous penance and worship of “Bhagabati Paramba”. His prayer was all about requesting the mother to appear in his house-hold as his daughter. Mother “Bhagabati” obliged him. After some time, when, the world was terrorized of Mahisasura, lord Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara with their divine powers gave form to a Goddess to combat Asura and destroy him. Kattayan was the first to worship her and that is why she is known as “Devi Katyayani”. It is mentioned in the Shastra that Katyayani was born as the daughter of the sage Kattayan. Taking birth on the Fourteenth day of the new moon in “Ashwin” (September-October), she accepted the worship of the sage Kattayan on Saptami, Astami and Navami and ultimately slew Mahishasura on Dashami. The deity’s complexion is as bright as Gold. She has four hands. The top right hand is positioned in a gesture of providing courage and the other hand is positioned in a gesture of rendering a boon. The top left hand is holding a Sword and the other holding a Lotus. The Goddess is mounted on a Lion and she is worshiped on the sixth day of the Durga puja. If one worships the deity with a pure soul he attains success in Religion, Wealth, Passion and Salvation. Disease, sorrow and fear are eliminated. Worship of this deity helps one to emancipate himself from the sin he may have committed over the cycle of his births and rebirths. We should all devote our prayers to the mother to lead a better life.

Mother's eighth form is known as "Mahagauri". Her complexion is extremely fair. Her garments are also white. She is mounted on an ox and has four hands. Her top right hand is rendering fearlessness and the hand below holds a trident. The top left hand holds a "Damru" and the hand below is in a gesture of giving a boon. To have Shiva as her husband she went through a rigorous penance in the form of "Parvati". As a result of this arduous meditation her complexion turned dark. Lord Shiva, pleased with the devotion of Parvati, bathed her in the holy water of the Ganges. As she bathed in the holy water she turned fair. From then onwards she became known as "Mahagauri". She is worshiped on the eighth day of the Durga puja. The devotee is benefited on all fronts as he worships the deity. Due to the Goddess's grace the devotee attains supernatural salvation, he is relieved from all his pains and fatigue and can set himself free from his previous sins. He is never faced with sorrow and poverty and never commits any sin. The devotee wins pure and endless virtue.