Thread by @mmpandit

Some have asked about how exactly to know the form of the Goddess Durga to worship in Navratri.
This is a mighty complex subject and probably describing each form of Durga from each of the primary texts of Tantra would be several 100 tweets.
Small Thread

Just like each Mahavidya has several forms, the Great Goddess Durga also has 9 principal forms BUT these forms vary depending on the actual Purana and the actual living parampara from which you are committing to the worship.

In popular legend of India at present, you have the 9 forms from Shailaputri onwards, but this is hardly the only set form available.
For example the three primary forms according to another prominent parampara:
1. Nila Kanthi
2. Kshemankari
3. Hara Siddhi
+ 6 secondary forms

One thing which escapes most sadhakas is that your Dhyana mantra has to be exactly the same as your murti visualisation.
So.. for example the 6 other forms in this parampara are:
Rudramsa
Vana
Agni
Jaya
Vindhyavasini
Ripumarini

These 9 principal forms are exactly visualised depending on which region you learnt the text from and who taught you.
It’s important to remember that Durga is the Brahmanda Nayiki.
Markandeya sat in meditation so the legend goes just next to Saptashrungi here:

This Devi considered as one of the principal Shaktipeethas has a Syambhu massive murti of Durga. In the days when tourism was not rampant, people used to actually climb the 7 hills on foot.
One of those seekers used to live in Pune. (That’s how I know)

Someday I will recount the story which he told me of his own ancestor who went to Saptashrungi on foot every few years on pilgrimage from Pune.

Then again the 9 forms according to Skanda Yamala are:
Rudra
Chanda
Sachi
Shaiva
Chandi
Krura
Chandika
Navami
Ugra Chanda
And of course they hv precise Dhyana and colours.