The kshatkarmas are six simple actions or rituals associated with goddess worship.

Asana Shuddhi: Sitting Mat Purification Ritual. 

This involves preparing the body for meditation or worship through specific postures. 

Spread out the mat and purify it by sprinkling water. For this, you can recite the mat purification mantra or Devi’s Name –

Oṃ Pṛthvi! Tvayā Dhṛtā Lokā Devi! Tvaṃ Viṣṇunā Dhṛtā ⁠।

Tvaṃ Ca Dhāraya Māṃ Devi! Pavitraṃ Kuru Cāsanam ⁠।⁠।

Note: If you cannot recite this mantra then sprinkle water while reciting “Om Namah Shivaya” or the Gayatri Mantra or just sprinkling Ganga water will also do the job.

Pavitrikaran: Physical Purification Ritual

This generally refers to purifying the body before engaging in spiritual practices.

Now sit on the asana (mat) and purify yourself. To do this, sprinkle water on yourself while chanting the following mantra or Devi’s name –

Oṃ Apavitraḥ Pavitro-Vā Sarvāvasthāṃ Gato’pi Vā ⁠।

Yaḥ Smaret Puṇḍarīkākṣaṃ Sa Bāhyābhyantaraḥ Śuciḥ ⁠।⁠।

Punaḥ Puṇḍarīkākṣaṃ Punātu.

Punaḥ Puṇḍarīkākṣaṃ Punātu.

Punaḥ Puṇḍarīkākṣaṃ Punātu.

Atinīlaghanasyaamaṃ Nalinaayatalochanam ⁠।

Smārāmi Puṇḍarīkākṣaṃ Tena Snāto Bhavāmyaham ⁠।⁠।

Note: If you cannot chant this mantra, you can achieve the same result by chanting ‘Om Namah Shivaya‘ or the Gayatri Mantra or the name of your deity. And if even that is not easy for you then just sprinkle some Ganges water.

Shikhabandhan (Optional): A Brahmin Ritual

Shikha is the tying of a single knot over a tuft of hair on the upper side of the head. This is a traditional Hindu practice, especially among Brahmins.

If you wish, you can also tie a Shikha. The shikha is located at the center of our forehead, a point known as Brahmarandhra. To tie the shikha, make a knot in your hair and place your right hand on your head while reciting the shikha-bandhan mantra (or the Gayatri Mantra) –

Cidrūpiṇi Mahāmāye Divyatejaḥ Samanvite।

Tiṣṭha Devi Śikhāmadhye Tejovṛddhi Kuruṣva Me।। 

Note: If you don’t want a shikha, you can simply touch your head with your hand or a blade of kusha grass and recite the Gayatri Mantra.

Tilak: Ritual To Symbolize The Divine Connection

It is a mark made on the forehead with sacred ash, kumkum, or other materials. It symbolizes the third eye and divine connection.

Apply tilak on your forehead using sandalwood paste, saffron, ash, vermilion, or turmeric, according to your preference, deity, or spiritual practice i.e. Sadhana. Alternatively, you can make a Tripund with sandalwood paste.

You may recite the following mantra while applying tilak on your forehead –

Oṁ Candanasya Mahatpuṇyaṁ Pavitraṁ Pāpanāśanam।

Āpadāṁ Harate Nityaṁ, Lakṣmīs Tiṣṭhati Sarvadā॥

Achaman: Mental Purity Ritual

Sipping water after taking the deity’s name. It is a way of purifying the mind before any spiritual practice.

Take water in a clean vessel. Now, using your left hand, take some water in your right hand and chant the name or mantra of your chosen deity and sip the water, repeat this thrice. Again take the name of the deity and wash your hands. If you are a devotee of Shiva, you should chant Shiva’s name or mantra, and if you are a devotee of Goddess, you should chant her name or mantra. 

Devotees of the devi i.e goddess may also perform this ritual with the Navarna mantra, which is as follows:

​​Oṃ Aiṃ Ātmatattvaṃ Śodhayāmi Namaḥ Svāhā (Sip water)

Oṃ Hrīṃ Vidyātattvaṃ Śodhayāmi Namaḥ Svāhā (Sip water)

Oṃ Klīṃ Śivatattvaṃ Śodhayāmi Namaḥ Svāhā (Sip water)

Oṃ Aiṃ Hrīṃ Klīṃ Sarvatattvaṃ Śodhayāmi Namaḥ Svāhā (Take a few drops of water and mildly clean your hands)

Kavach: A Protection Measure

It is a protective mantra or stotram believed to provide spiritual protection. Here is a simple durga kavach you may recite –

Umadevī Śiraḥ Pātu Lālāṭe Śūladhāriṇī।
Cakṣuṣī Khecarī Pātu Karṇau Catvaravāsinī।।1।।

Sugandhā Nāsike Pātu Vadanaṃ Sarvadhāriṇī।
Jihvāṃ Ca Caṇḍikā Devī Grīvāṃ Saubhadri kā Tathā।।2।।

Aśokavāsinī Ceto Dvau Bāhū Vajradhāriṇī।
Hṛdayaṃ Lalitā Devī Udaraṃ Siṃhavāhinī।।3।।

Kaṭiṃ Bhagavatī Devī Dvāvūrū Vindhyavāsinī।
Mahābalā Ca Jaṅghe Dve Pādau Bhūtalavāsinī।।4।।

Evaṃ Sthitā’si Devi Tvaṃ Trailokye Rakṣaṇātmikā।
Rakṣa Māṃ Sarvagātreṣu Durge Devi Namo’stute।।5।।

Now you should chant a protective mantra or a kavach (divine armor), one is given above and some kavach stotras, mantras and sadhanas are given in our “Durga Sadhanas” book. This is only required if you are doing an intense sadhna outside your home in a lone place. Otherwise, you may simply skip this step.