Durga

Durga is another manifestation of Parvati, emboyding her strength and power as both a warrior and mother goddess. Her name means fortress, emphasizing her formidable and protective role. She is a devi of protection, victory over evil and strength, revered by warriors who ask her to bless their weapons but also by academics to bless their pens. She bestows abundance, auspiciousness, prosperity and well being onto her followers, capable of being both destructive and nurturing, of being both a warrior and mother.

Durga's greatest strengths are her self-discipline, selfless service to others, self-consciousness, devotion and cheerfulness. Much like Kali, legends about Durga revolve around her fighting asura which threaten the peace and prosperity. However, she doesn't fight out of malice or anger but for the sake of protection, love and thel iberation of the weak. She is even known as one who eliminates suffering and as the undefeatable goddess, visiting divine wrath onto evildoers and liberating the oppressed! For these qualities as well as for her insurmountable strength, Durga is associated with Gokrilvek, the aspect of strength and gravity!

Durga's most famous battle was with Mahishasura. This asura had received a boon that he could only be killed by a woman and began tormenting innocent people, feeling invulnerble as he believed woman to be powerless and weak. He even kidnapped the goddess Svarga, prompting the Devas to seek aid from the Trimurti. By combining their power, these three deities created Durga, a female warrior goddess! Astride a lion gifted to her by the embodiment of Kunlun Shan, Himavan, Durga challenged Mahishasura. He continued to take on different forms amid their battle but she slew every one. In the end, Durga slew Mahishasura with her trident as he took the shape of a buffalo!

Durga rides her vahana, a lion, serenely into battle, her face calm and serene amid the carnage. She has anywhere between eight and eighteen arms, each carrying a different weapon given to her by the Vedas to defeat Mahishasura. These include Shiva's trishula trident, Vishnu's Vaishnavastra, the Panchajanya conch shell, a scimitar, a bow, a javelin, a shield, a mace, a noose and a pink lotus flower.