KarmaVaani
Shakta tradition
दुर्गाDurga
Devi · Shakti · Amba · Mahishasuramardini
The Divine Mother; invincible power that protects and upholds the cosmos.
- Abode
- The Vindhya and Himalaya mountains; Manidvipa
- Consort
- Shiva
- Vahana
- Lion (or tiger)
- Colour
- Golden, in a red sari
- Arms
- 8
Durga is the supreme goddess of the Shakta tradition, the fierce and compassionate Divine Mother who embodies shakti, the dynamic power behind all creation. Riding a lion and bearing the weapons of all the gods, she slays the buffalo demon Mahishasura, restoring balance to the world. She is worshipped in her nine forms during Navaratri.
Mantra
ॐ दुं दुर्गायै नमः
Om Dum Durgayei Namaha
Salutations to Durga, with her seed syllable Dum: a prayer for protection.
How Durga is shown
A radiant warrior goddess riding a lion, calm-faced even in battle, piercing the buffalo demon Mahishasura with a trident.
- Trident
- Given by Shiva: the power to end the three kinds of suffering.
- Discus
- Given by Vishnu: righteousness turning the world.
- Conch
- Given by Varuna: the sound of the divine announcing victory.
- Sword and shield
- Discernment that cuts ignorance, and protection for devotees.
- Bow and arrow
- Potential and kinetic energy held in her hands.
- Lotus
- The purity that survives every battle.
Stories
Mahishasuramardini
The buffalo demon Mahishasura had a boon that no man or god could kill him. The gods' anger became a single blaze of light that took form as Durga, armed with each god's weapon. After nine nights of battle she slew him on the tenth: Vijayadashami.
