Day 3 — Chandraghantā: Courage with a Calm Bell

“Ring the inner bell before you step into conflict.”

On the third day of Navaratri , the Goddess arrives as Chandraghantā—bearing the crescent moon shaped like a temple bell on Her forehead. She rides a lion, holds weapons in ten arms, and yet Her face glows with calm. She is fierce, not frantic. She is courage, not chaos.
In the Durga Saptashati , the Devi’s battles begin with the sound of drums and conches, but Her entry brings a strange quiet. It is the silence of someone who knows what they’re doing. Chandraghantā does not remove the battlefield—She prepares us to walk onto it with presence.

Strength Without Strain
In our world, we often confuse intensity for power. We respond to tension by speaking faster, louder, sharper—believing that more force will bring more control. But Chandraghantā shows us another way. She teaches composure in motion. Just as a bell’s tone is clear without being jarring, we too can show up with clarity instead of clamor.
Before we speak, act, or confront, we are asked to tune in. The moon on Her brow is not just decoration—it is the cool intelligence that tempers hot reactions. It is the reminder that true strength is grounded, not reactive.

The Bell Within
Think of the bell that hangs at a temple entrance. You ring it not to create noise, but to create awareness. That is the energy of Chandraghantā. Before you speak, before you decide—pause and ring the bell inside. Let that one breath of presence shift the energy.
Fear shows up in many clever disguises—perfectionism, urgency, defensiveness. Chandraghantā doesn’t silence fear through denial; She meets it with attention. She steadies the hand holding the trident. She softens the breath so that the mind can see. And when attention enters, fear loses its grip.

A Simple Invocation
Ya Devī sarvabhūteṣu kṣāntirūpeṇa saṁsthitā…

We bow to the Goddess who lives in all beings as patient forbearance—strength that neither shouts nor shatters.

This is not weakness; it is strength with direction. The kind of strength that doesn’t need to win every argument to feel whole.

Practice for the Day: Soft-Belly Breathing
Before any hard conversation—or during any rising conflict—try this simple three-minute centering:
- Sit or stand comfortably. Let your shoulders relax.
- Place one hand on your lower abdomen.
Inhale through the nose for a count of 4, letting the belly rise.
- Exhale through the nose for a count of 6, letting the belly fall.
- Continue for three minutes. If thoughts distract you, imagine a gentle bell ringing in your awareness. Return.

This small ritual does not bypass difficulty—it prepares you for it. It steadies your first words, and your first words often shape everything that follows. The person across from you may not change. But you remain anchored. And that is enough.

The Spiritual Progression
Day 1 rooted us like a mountain. Day 2 lit a steady flame of devotion. Day 3 carries that steadiness into action. Chandraghantā does not ask us to avoid conflict. She asks us to carry grace into it.
Let your strength come with softness. Let your power carry peace. And when the moment comes to speak, lead, or even resist—do it with the dignity of the moon and the resonance of a bell.

“True bravery is gentle on the heart.”

Authored by: Dr Shambo S Samajdar and Shashank R Joshi