दुर्गा
Durga
The fort that cannot be breached — gathered power with a calm face
Who is this?
Trimurti
Devi
Family of Shiva
Avatara
Vedic
Regional & planetary
Darshan
Vahana · vehicle
Lion / tigerसिंह
She sits on what would eat anyone else. Tradition reads it as anger and appetite carrying her rather than driving her.
Ayudha · weapons & attributes
Trishulaत्रिशूल
From Shiva — the weapon that finishes the demon.
Chakraचक्र
From Vishnu; each deva gave her his own weapon, which is the point of the story.
Dhanush and Banaधनुष बाण
The bow of Vayu, with an inexhaustible quiver.
Khadgaखड्ग
The sword — decisive cut, the discrimination that ends a doubt.
Forms · रूप
Mahishasuramardiniमहिषासुरमर्दिनी
The form that ends Mahishasura; the Navratri image.
Navadurgaनवदुर्गा
Nine forms for nine nights, from Shailaputri to Siddhidatri.
Katyayaniकात्यायनी
Born of the sage Katyayana's fire; the sixth Navratri form.
What the tradition does
- Temples
- Vaishno Devi · Kamakhya · Chamundeshwari, Mysore · Dakshineswar
- Festivals
- Navratri · Durga Puja · Vijayadashami
- Mantra
- ॐ दुं दुर्गायै नमः — Om Dum Durgayai Namah
- Scriptures
- Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati) · Devi Bhagavata Purana · Markandeya Purana
The reasoning
Every weapon she carries was given by another deity. The story's argument is that concentrated, delegated power succeeds where scattered power failed.
Bengal's Durga Puja, Gujarat's Navratri and the southern Golu are one festival kept in three very different ways.
Related
The symbol opens a question
You have seen Durga's forms. But why are these symbols used in worship?
Follow the thread from sacred image to tradition, scripture, reasoning and living practice.