The Spiritual Globetrotter
Goddess Durga
As a goddess, Durga's feminine
power contains the combined
energies of all the gods. Each of her weapons was given to her by various gods: Rudra's trident, Vishnu's discus, Indra's
thunderbolt, Brahma's kamandalu, Kuber's Ratnahar, etc.
According to a narrative in the Devi Mahatmya story of the Markandeya Purana text, Durga was created as a warrior goddess to fight an asura (an
inhuman force/demon) named Mahishasura. He had unleashed a reign of terror on earth, heaven and the nether worlds, and he could not be defeated by any man or god, anywhere.
Durga slew Mahishasur, thus is
the power of the fierce compassion of Durga. Hence, Mata Durga is also known as
Mahishasurmardhini—the slayer of Mahishasur.
Goddess Durga
As a goddess, Durga's feminine
power contains the combined
energies of all the gods. Each of her weapons was given to her by various gods: Rudra's trident, Vishnu's discus, Indra's
thunderbolt, Brahma's kamandalu, Kuber's Ratnahar, etc.
According to a narrative in the Devi Mahatmya story of the Markandeya Purana text, Durga was created as a warrior goddess to fight an asura (an
inhuman force/demon) named Mahishasura. He had unleashed a reign of terror on earth, heaven and the nether worlds, and he could not be defeated by any man or god, anywhere.
Durga slew Mahishasur, thus is
the power of the fierce compassion of Durga. Hence, Mata Durga is also known as
Mahishasurmardhini—the slayer of Mahishasur.