Navadurga Ganjifa
Major Hinduism goddess and her manifestations
Durga, one of the most important deities in Hinduism, is known for her nine manifestations – various aspects of the goddess from motherly to fearsome. Durga’s role in the Hindu religion and India in general can be seen during the nine-day Navaratri festivals which transform the streets of the country’s cities and villages. Navaratri is one of the biggest holidays in India.
Above: Raghurajpur, Odisha Map
Shailaputri raja, pradhan, and pip cards from Navadurga deck by Banamali Mahapatra (2007).
Shailaputri raja, pradhan, and pip cards from Navadurga deck by Banamali Mahapatra (2007).
Shailaputri raja, pradhan, and pip cards from Navadurga deck by Banamali Mahapatra (2007).
Shailaputri raja, pradhan, and pip cards from Navadurga deck by Banamali Mahapatra (2007).
Above: Shailaputri raja, pradhan, and pip cards from Navadurga deck by Banamali Mahapatra (2007).
Above: Navaratri festival celebrations include classical and folk dance events, India 2010. Photo by Sheetal Saini.
The nine manifestations of Durga are as follows:
- Shailaputri, “the daughter of the mountain”
- Brahmacharini, the ascetic goddess of devotion and piety
- Chandraghanta, “she of the bell-shaped half-moon”
- Kushmanda, who had created the universe with a single smile
- Skandamata, the mother of Skanda (Kartikeya), the half-brother of the god Ganesha
- Katyayani, the warrior goddess
- Kalaratri, the goddess of destruction
- Mahagauri, the goddess of beauty and radiance
- Siddhidatri, the goddess of supernatural powers
Each manifestation has its own iconography, which helps identify it on the Navadurga deck we’re considering. The cards are by Banamali Mahapatra, the National Award-winning artist from Raghurajpur. They’re divided in standard ganjifa fashion, each suit composed of ten pip and two court cards: the lower court card of pradhan (minister) and the upper one of raja (king). Mahapatra depicts the nine manifestations on the pradhan cards and Durga in warrior form on the raja cards.
Artist: Banamali Mahapatra
Brahmacharini pradhan and pip and Chandraghanta and Kushmanda pradhan cards from Navadurga deck by Banamali Mahapatra (2007).
Brahmacharini pradhan and pip and Chandraghanta and Kushmanda pradhan cards from Navadurga deck by Banamali Mahapatra (2007).
Brahmacharini pradhan and pip and Chandraghanta and Kushmanda pradhan cards from Navadurga deck by Banamali Mahapatra (2007).
Brahmacharini pradhan and pip and Chandraghanta and Kushmanda pradhan cards from Navadurga deck by Banamali Mahapatra (2007).
Above: Brahmacharini pradhan and pip and Chandraghanta and Kushmanda pradhan cards from Navadurga deck by Banamali Mahapatra (2007).
Kushmanda pip, Skandamata pradhan, and Katyayani raja cards from Navadurga deck by Banamali Mahapatra (2007).
Kushmanda pip, Skandamata pradhan, and Katyayani raja cards from Navadurga deck by Banamali Mahapatra (2007).
Kushmanda pip, Skandamata pradhan, and Katyayani raja cards from Navadurga deck by Banamali Mahapatra (2007).
Kushmanda pip, Skandamata pradhan, and Katyayani raja cards from Navadurga deck by Banamali Mahapatra (2007).
Above: Kushmanda pip, Skandamata pradhan, and Katyayani raja cards from Navadurga deck by Banamali Mahapatra (2007).
Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidari pradhan cards from Navadurga deck by Banamali Mahapatra (2007).
Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidari pradhan cards from Navadurga deck by Banamali Mahapatra (2007).
Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidari pradhan cards from Navadurga deck by Banamali Mahapatra (2007).
Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidari pradhan cards from Navadurga deck by Banamali Mahapatra (2007).
Above: Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidari pradhan cards from Navadurga deck by Banamali Mahapatra (2007).
Footnotes
- All ganjifa images courtesy: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Digital Cultural Resources, IGNCA
- IGNCA, Ganjifa cards database.
- Banamali Mahapatra Navadurga deck.
By Lev Golinkin
United States • Member since May 26, 2026
I'm a US-based author and journalist. I've been collecting playing cards since I was about 8 years old, when I got mesmerized by the various decks that were used in Soviet Ukraine, where I'm from. I collect mainly European decks such as those by Dondorf, Grimaud, and Piatnik. I love courts above all else, and am drawn toward historical and artistic decks.
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