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Notes: All timings are represented in 12-hour notation in local time of Lancaster, United States with DST adjustment (if applicable).
Hours which are past midnight are suffixed with next day date. In Panchang day starts and ends with sunrise.
According to the Hindu Panchang, Goddess Jagaddhatri is worshipped on the Shukla Paksha Navami in Kartika month. Her worship is especially prominent in West Bengal and regions like Madhubani in Bihar, where it is celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion. Devi Jagaddhatri is considered one of the various manifestations of Goddess Durga. The literal meaning of Jagaddhatri is "Mother of the Universe", "Sustainer of the World" or "Protector of the Creation". Hence, She is revered as the divine mother who upholds and nurtures the entire cosmos.
Devi Jagaddhatri is calm, benevolent and powerful. She is depicted in a serene posture, seated on a Lion, adorned in red garments and holding a conch, discus, bow and arrows in Her hands. She is often shown with three eyes.
Scriptures such as the Shakti Sangama Tantra, Kamakhya Tantra, Bhavishya Purana, Smriti Sangraha and Durga Kalpa contain references to Devi Jagaddhatri. In the Shakta Sampradaya, this form of Goddess represents the victory of Sattva over Tamas. She is shown riding a lion, which is placing its paw over a demon named Karindrasura, who appears in the form of an elephant and symbolizes pride and arrogance.
Historically, the public celebration of Jagaddhatri Puja is believed to have started in Krishnanagar in Nadia district, where in the 18th century, King Krishnachandra Roy initiated the tradition of organizing the festival publicly. It is said that due to his inability to perform the Sharadiya Durga Puja with all the prescribed rituals, he offered worship to the Goddess in the form of Jagaddhatri in the month of Kartika as an act of repentance. Over time, this practice became widely popular.
The renowned saint of Bengal, Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa also gave special spiritual significance to the worship of Devi Jagaddhatri. According to him - "Worshipping Devi Jagaddhatri purifies the human heart from fear, lust, anger, attachment, pride and other negative tendencies."
According to one Puranic legend, Airavata, the celestial elephant and vehicle of Lord Indra, was cursed and transformed into the demon Karindrasura. He became extremely powerful and intoxicated with his might, was once enchanted by the beauty of Goddess Ganga. He proposed marriage to Her, but She refused. Enraged, Karindrasura attempted to abduct Her by force. At that moment, Goddess Ganga prayed to Adi Shakti Mahalaya, who manifested as Jagaddhatri and slew Karindrasura. From that day, She became known as Karindrasura-Nishudini, i.e., destroyer of Karindrasura. Upon his destruction, Karindrasura was freed from sin and was reinstated as Airavata.
Another story mentions that Karindrasura was the chief commander of the demon Durgamasura. After Goddess Durga killed Durgamasura, She manifested as Jagaddhatri and killed Karindrasura in battle. Yet another legend narrates that Mahishasura, while battling Goddess Katyayani, took the form of an elephant and thus became known as Karindrasura. Thereafter, the Goddess assumed the form of Jagaddhatri and destroyed him with Her chakra, bow, arrows and other divine weapons. From this perspective, Mahishasura and Karindrasura are different forms of the same demonic force.
