Durga

In Hinduism, Durga is a form of Saraswati, Parvati, Lakshmi or Devi, the

Related Topics:
Hinduism - Saraswati - Parvati - Lakshmi - Devi

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

supreme goddess. She is depicted as a woman riding a lion

Related Topics:
Goddess - Lion

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

with multiple hands carrying weapons and assuming mudras, or

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

symbolic hand gestures. This form of the Goddess

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

is the embodiment of feminine and creative energy (Shakti).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

According to the narrative from the Devi_Mahatmyam of the markandeya purana, the form of Durga was created as an warrior goddess to fight the demon Mahisashur who could not be defeated by any of god or man due to a boon he received after intense prayers to Brahma. By virtue of this power, he invaded the gods, who went for help to the supreme trinity -

Related Topics:
Devi_Mahatmyam - Purana - Brahma

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, but Mahishashur defeated all of them and unleashed a reign of terror on earth, heaven and the nether worlds. Eventually, since only a woman could kill him the gods got together with the trinity and created a dazzling beam of energy out of

Related Topics:
Brahma - Vishnu - Shiva

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

which Durga was born. Her form was blindingly beautiful, with a face sculpted by Shiva, torso by Indra, breasts by Chandra (the moon), teeth by Brahma, bottom by the Earth, thighs and knees by Varuna (wind), and her three eyes by Agni (fire). Each god also gave her their own most powerful weapons - Shiva's trident, Vishnu's discus, Indra's thunderbolt, etc.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The word Shakti, meaning strength, reflects the warrior aspect

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

of the goddess, embodying a traditional male role. But she

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

is also strikingly beautiful, and initially Mahishasur tries to marry

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

her. In her other incarnations such as Annapurna or Parvati,

Related Topics:
Annapurna - Parvati

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

she is more mother-like, and as Karunamayi (karuna = kindness),

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

she is softer.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mahishasur's story is also of interest. His father Rambha, king of

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

the demons, once fell in love with a water buffalo, and mahishasur

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

was born out of this union. He is therefore able to change between

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

human and buffalo form at will ("mahisha" means buffalo). After

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

conquering the three worlds, he is finally challenged by Durga. After

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

several days of battle during which his army is decimated, he is

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

finally killed on the tenth day of the waxing moon.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This day of victory is

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

celebrated as Vijaya Dashami (East and South India), Dashain

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(Nepal) or Dussehra (North India) - all these words literally

Related Topics:
Nepal - Dussehra

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

mean "the tenth day". In Kashmir she is worshipped as shaarika (the main

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

temple is in Hari Parbat in Srinagar).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The actual period of the worship however may be

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

over the nine preceding days Navaratri (N. India) or the five days

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(Bengal / Orissa).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~