Maa Kalratri is one of the forms of the Hindu goddess Durga, who is worshipped during the Navratri festival in India. She is often depicted as a fierce and dark-complexioned goddess with long, flowing hair and four hands, holding a cleaver and a torch in two of her hands and showing the abhaya and varada mudras in her other two hands. The story of Maa Kalratri goes back to the time when the demon Raktabeej had become invincible due to a boon from Lord Brahma. Every drop of his blood that fell to the ground gave rise to a new demon, making it impossible to kill him. The gods then turned to Goddess Durga for help. Goddess Durga took the form of Maa Kalratriand went to battle with Raktabeej. She swallowed him and his blood before it could touch the ground, thus preventing the creation of new demons. Kalratri’s fierce form and the ability to swallow demons whole is said to have terrified even the bravest of warriors. The importance of Maa Kalratri lies in the fact that she represents the power of destruction and transformation. Devotees believe that worshipping Maa Kalratri can help them overcome their fears and obstacles and empower them with courage and inner strength. She is also believed to protect her devotees from negative energies and evil forces. Maa Kalratri is also associated with the Muladhara chakra, which is believed to be the centre of stability, grounding, and survival instincts. Devotees of Maa Kalratri believe that meditating on her can help them balance this chakra and find inner stability and strength in times of difficulty. Mantra: क्लीं ऐं श्री कालिकायै नम:। OR ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं कालरात्र्यै नम:।
