The Divine Mother — Warrior Goddess
The story where this form appears — one sitting, one face.
Durga (दुर्गा) — "the inaccessible" or "the one who defeats difficult situations" (from dur + gati, meaning no place to go/Impossible to defeat) — is the fierce protective aspect of the Hindu Divine Mother. She is depicted as a warrior goddess with multiple arms (often 8, 10, or 18), riding a lion or tiger, carrying weapons given by various gods (trident from Shiva, discus from Vishnu, spear from Kartikeya, etc.). She fought and defeated the buffalo demon Mahishasura after a fierce battle that lasted nine nights — this is the origin of Navaratri (nine nights). Durga represents the power of the divine that protects devotees from all harm and defeats all negative forces. She is invoked for protection, for victory over enemies (external and internal), and for courage in difficult times.
The story: The demon Mahishasura (buffalo demon) had grown so powerful that the gods were helpless. They combined their divine energies and from this combined power emerged Durga — a goddess of radiant beauty and terrible power. Each god gave her their weapon — Shiva gave his trident, Vishnu gave his discus, Varuna gave a conch, Agni gave a spear, etc. Thus Durga is the combined power of all the gods (divyashakti).
The battle lasted nine nights (the origin of Navaratri). On the tenth night (Vijayadashami), Durga defeated Mahishasura. This victory represents the triumph of dharma (righteousness) over adharma (unrighteousness).
The Rig Veda (RV 8.27, 10.83) contains references to Durga as a goddess invoked for protection. The word "Durga" appears in the Vedas, though the full mythology developed later in the Puranas.
Durga's victory is celebrated during Navaratri (nine nights, typically September-October). Each night is dedicated to a different form of Durga/Mahakali, culminating in Vijayadashami (the victory day).
Durga teaches that the divine is always present to protect those who call upon it. Her very name means "inaccessible to enemies" — the devotee who surrenders to Durga becomes protected.
The buffalo demon Mahishasura represents the demon within — ego, anger, greed, attachment. Durga's victory teaches: these inner demons must be faced and defeated through spiritual practice.
Durga emerges from all the gods — she represents the unity of divine power. No single deity is sufficient; the entire divine acts through her. This teaches: spiritual progress requires the integration of all aspects of the divine.
| Text | Description |
|---|---|
| Durga Saptashati | 700 verses describing Durga's forms and victory |
| Devi Bhagavata Purana | Durga's cosmic origin and mythology |
| Markandeya Purana | Contains the Durga Saptashati |
| Rig Veda | Early references to Durga |
Durga Mantra:
Om Dum Durgaye Namah
This is the primary Durga mantra (the "Dum" seed syllable). Chant 108 times daily.
Durga Kavacha:
Durga Puja (Basic):
Navaratri Observance:
Durga Saptashati Recitation:
Fasting:
Textual Study:
Comparative Study:
Symbolic Analysis:
Navaratri is the most important Durga celebration. Regional variations:
The tenth day (Vijayadashami) marks the victory. It's considered auspicious for:
