Durga

Durga is a principal goddess in Hinduism, revered as a fierce and protective form of the Mother Goddess. She embodies Shakti, the divine feminine energy, and is regarded as the supreme goddess in the tradition of Shaktism. In many versions of the myth she is considered a manifestation of Parvati and, by extension, connected with Lakshmi and Saraswati as aspects of the same ultimate goddess.

Iconography commonly depicts Durga with multiple arms—typically eight or ten—each bearing weapons offered by various gods. She rides a lion or tiger and is shown slaying the buffalo demon Mahishasura, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. Her numerous attributes and armor reflect the collective power of the gods.

In Hindu mythology, the Devi Mahatmya (part of the Markandeya Purana) describes how the gods, unable to defeat Mahishasura alone, create Durga from their energies to fight the buffalo demon. After a battle that lasts nine nights, she defeats Mahishasura and restores cosmic order.

Durga is central to several festivals. Durga Puja marks her annual homecoming and is especially prominent in West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, and parts of northern and eastern India as well as in Bangladesh and Nepal. Navaratri, a nine-night festival, venerates the nine forms of Durga, called Navadurga, culminating on Vijayadashami or Dussehra.

She is worshipped as a protective mother and a symbol of courage, power, and righteous victory. Durga’s worship encompasses temples, family homes, and public processions with music, dance, and elaborate iconography. The figure remains a widely recognized emblem of feminine authority in Hindu culture.