Navaratri and the Nine Phases of Womanhood: A Journey Through Ayurveda and the Divine Feminine
In Ayurveda, a woman’s life is a sacred journey marked by transformative phases — from menarche to menopause, from conception to childbirth, and beyond. These transitions echo the rhythm of nature, the wisdom of the body, and the energy of the divine feminine. Similarly, the festival of Navaratri, with its nine nights dedicated to the goddess in her various forms, symbolizes the cyclical and powerful nature of womanhood. Navadurga Quality Symbolic Comparison with Womb/Reproductive Function 1. Shailaputri Root power, grounding Like the ovaries: the origin, holding the seed of creation 2 . Brahmacharini Inner strength, asceticism Menstrual preparation phase: quiet inner work before creation 3. Chandraghanta Protective, warrior aspect Fallopian tubes: strong yet guiding—pathways for potential life 4. Kushmanda Creator of the universe The uterus as a cosmic egg—where creation is formed 5. Skandamata Motherhood, nurturer Uterus during pregnancy—nurturing and sustaining new life 6. K...