Durga
Durga (Sanskrit: दुर्गा, IAST: Durgā) is a major Hindu goddess, worshipped as a principal aspect of the mother goddess Mahadevi. She is associated with protection, strength, motherhood, destruction, and wars.
| Durga | |
|---|---|
Mother Goddess; Goddess of Power, Strength and Protection | |
18th-century painting of Durga slaying the buffalo demon Mahishasura | |
| Other names | Adi Shakti, Mahishasura Mardini, Bhagavati, Bhavani, Jagadamba |
| Devanagari | दुर्गा |
| Affiliation | Devi, Kali, Mahadevi, Shaktism, Navadurga |
| Abode | Manidvipa, Mount Kailash |
| Mantra |
|
| Weapon | Chakra (discus), Shankha (conch shell), Trishula (trident), Gada (mace), Bow and Arrow, Khanda (sword), Padma (Lotus) |
| Day | Tuesday and Friday |
| Mount | Lion; Tiger |
| Texts | Devi-Bhagavata Purana, Devi Mahatmya, Kalika Purana, Shakta Upanishads, Tantras |
| Festivals | Durga Puja, Durga Ashtami, Navaratri, Vijayadashami, Bathukamma, Teej, Kali Puja |
| Equivalents | |
| Manipuri equivalent | Panthoibi |
| Translations of दुर्गा (Durgā) | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit | दुर्गा (Durgā) |
| Assamese | দুর্গা (Durgā) |
| Bengali | দুর্গা (Durgā) |
| Bhojpuri | 𑂠𑂴𑂩𑂳𑂏𑂰 (Durugā) |
| Hindi | दुर्गा (Durgā) |
| Kannada | ದುರ್ಗಾ (Durgā) |
| Malayalam | ദുർഗ (Durgā) |
| Marathi | दुर्गा (Durgā) |
| Nepali | दुर्गा (Durgā) |
| Odia | ଦୁର୍ଗା (Durgā) |
| Punjabi | ਦੁਰਗਾ (Durgā) |
| Tamil | துர்க்கை (Durkai) |
| Telugu | దుర్గ (Durgā) |
| Gujarati | દુર્ગા (Durgā) |
| Glossary of Hinduism terms | |
Durga's legend centres around combating evils and demonic forces that threaten peace, prosperity, and dharma, representing the power of good over evil. Durga is believed to unleash her divine wrath against the wicked for the liberation of the oppressed, and entails destruction to empower creation. Durga is seen as a motherly figure and often depicted as a beautiful woman, riding a lion or tiger, with many arms each carrying a weapon and often defeating demons. She is widely worshipped by the followers of the goddess-centric sect, Shaktism, and has importance in other denominations like Shaivism and Vaishnavism.
The most important texts of Shaktism, Devi Mahatmya and Devi Bhagavata Purana, revere Devi (the Goddess) as the primordial creator of the universe and the Brahman (ultimate truth and reality). She is one of the five equivalent deities in Panchayatana puja of the Smarta tradition of Hinduism. She is also considered as the younger sister of Vishnu as per Bhagavata purana.
Durga has a significant following all over India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and many other countries. She is mostly worshipped after spring and autumn harvests, especially during the festivals of Durga Puja, Durga Ashtami, Vijayadashami, Deepavali, and Navaratri.