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Maha Ashtami (Sandhi Puja)

Maa Durga as Chamunda and Mahishasuramardini

Shakta

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Maha Ashtami — Day 8 of Sharadiya Navaratri. The most powerful day of Devi worship. The Sandhi Puja, performed in the 48-minute window straddling Ashtami-Navami junction, commemorates Devi's slaying of Chanda and Munda as Chamunda. At every Bengali pandal and Devi mandir, 108 ghee-diyas are lit and 108 lotuses are offered. Kumari Puja (worship of a young girl as living Devi) is performed in many homes.

Dates 2026–2027

October 19, 2026October 8, 2027

Mantra

ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे

Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundayai Vichche

The Navakshari mantra — invoking Devi as Chamunda, the slayer of Chanda and Munda. The most powerful Shakta mantra of Maha Ashtami.

How to recite

Recite the Devi Mahatmyam Chapter 8 (Chanda-Munda Vadham) and Chapter 11 (Narayani Stuti). Perform the Sandhi Puja in the 48-minute window straddling the junction of Ashtami and Navami tithis (last 24 minutes of Ashtami + first 24 minutes of Navami). At Sandhi Puja, light 108 ghee diyas and offer 108 lotuses to Chamunda Devi.

Benefits

Maha Ashtami with Sandhi Puja is the spiritual peak of Sharadiya Navaratri. The exact moment of Sandhi (the junction of two tithis) is when Devi assumed her Chamunda form and slew Chanda-Munda. Worship in this 48-minute window is held to grant the merit of nine days of tapasya.

✦ Special Note

Sandhi Puja's exact timing varies year to year per the tithi clock. The Belur Math Sandhi Puja in Kolkata is the most attended. Dates per the Gupta Press Panjika (guptapresspanjika.org — the standard Bengali almanac since 1869), following its Amanta (Bengali) lunar convention with months ending on Amavasya (new moon), as used for Kali worship and dark-fortnight rituals; cross-checked against astronomical tithi computation.

Foods Allowed

Strict phalahar — only fruits, milk, water through the daySabudana khichdi (only as parana after Sandhi Puja)Kuttu puri with aloo sabzi (parana)Bengali bhog as Devi-naivedya only: khichuri, labra, payesh, niramishCoconut, mishri, panchamritPumpkin and ash gourd — ritual offerings onlySendha namak only

Foods to Avoid

All grains until after Sandhi Puja paranaOnion, garlic, brinjal — strictlyRegular saltMeat, fish, eggs, alcoholAnything not first offered to Devi at Sandhi Puja

Meal Idea

Strict phalahar — fruits, milk, panchamrit — through the day. After Sandhi Puja parana: kuttu puri with aloo sabzi, sabudana khichdi, and coconut barfi.

🪔 Aarti

Jai Ambe Gauri

जय अम्बे गौरी, मैया जय श्यामा गौरी । तुमको निशिदिन ध्यावत, हरि ब्रह्मा शिवरी ॥ मांग सिंदूर विराजत, टीको मृगमद को । उज्जवल से दोऊ नैना, चंद्रवदन नीको ॥ कनक समान कलेवर, रक्ताम्बर राजे । रक्त पुष्प गल माला, कंठन पर साजे ॥ केहरि वाहन राजत, खड्ग खप्पर धारी । सुर-नर-मुनिजन सेवत, तिनके दुखहारी ॥ कानन कुंडल शोभित, नासाग्रे मोती । कोटिक चंद्र दिवाकर, राजत सम ज्योति ॥ शुम्भ-निशुम्भ बिदारे, महिषासुर घाती । धूम्र विलोचन नैना, निशिदिन मदमाती ॥ चंड-मुंड संहारे, शोणित बीज हरे । मधु-कैटभ दोऊ मारे, सुर भयहीन करे ॥ ब्रह्माणी रुद्राणी तुम, कमला रानी । अगम निगम बखानी, तुम शिव पटरानी ॥ चौंसठ योगिनी मंगल गावत, नृत्य करत भैरूं । बाजत ताल मृदंगा, अरु बाजत डमरू ॥ तुम ही जग की माता, तुम ही हो भरता । भक्तन की दुख हर्ता, सुख सम्पत्ति करता ॥ भुजा चार अति शोभित, वरमुद्रा धारी । मनवांछित फल पावत, सेवत नर नारी ॥ कंचन थाल विराजत, अगर कपूर बाती । श्री अम्बेजी की आरती जो कोई नर गावे, कहत शिवानंद स्वामी सुख-सम्पत्ति पावे ॥

Ambe Tu Hai Jagdambe Kali

अम्बे तू है जगदम्बे काली, जय दुर्गे खप्पर वाली । तेरे ही गुण गावें भारती, ओ मैया हम सब उतारें तेरी आरती ॥ तेरे भक्त जनों पर माता, भीड़ पड़ी है भारी । दानव दल पर टूट पड़ो मां, करके सिंह सवारी ॥ सौ-सौ सिंहों से बलशाली, है अष्ट भुजाओं वाली, दुष्टों को तू ही ललकारती ॥ मां-बेटे का है इस जग में, बड़ा ही निर्मल नाता । पूत-कपूत सुने हैं पर ना, माता सुनी कुमाता ॥ सब पे करुणा दर्शाने वाली, अमृत बरसाने वाली, दुखियों के दुखड़े निवारती ॥ नहीं मांगते धन और दौलत, ना चांदी ना सोना । हम तो मांगे तेरे चरणों में, एक छोटा सा कोना ॥ सबकी बिगड़ी बनाने वाली, लाज बचाने वाली, सतियों के सत को संवारती ॥ चरण शरण में खड़े तुम्हारी, ले पूजा की थाली । वरद हस्त सर पर रख दो मां, संकट हरने वाली ॥ मां भर दो भक्ति रस प्याली, अष्ट भुजाओं वाली, भक्तों के कारज तू ही सारती ॥

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