Durga
Durga : The Unconquerable One; The Invincible; The One Who Eliminates Suffering
Durga is one of the most beloved and powerful goddesses in Hindu tradition, revered as a supreme embodiment of divine feminine strength (Shakti). While her origins may trace back to fierce tribal and local protective spirits, Durga was gradually incorporated into the Hindu pantheon as the warrior aspect of Parvati, the consort of Shiva. In this form, she represents righteous power unleashed for the protection of cosmic order (dharma).
Durga is a relentless destroyer of evil and a fierce guardian of the vulnerable. She is said to remove physical, mental, and spiritual suffering, confronting malevolent forces without fear. Demons and hostile spirits flee at the sound of her laughter; those that resist are swiftly defeated. When destructive forces cannot be subdued by Durga alone, her darker and more fearsome manifestation, Kali, emerges to complete the work of dissolution and transformation.
Despite her martial nature, Durga is also a goddess of fertility, protection, and prosperity. She grants wealth, removes obstacles, neutralises enemies, and assists devotees in attaining their rightful desires. Her protective power extends beyond the battlefield into everyday life, guarding homes, families, and communities.
Durga’s presence is celebrated annually during Durga Puja, a major festival marked by devotion, ritual, and communal gatherings. In places such as Mahuadham in Bihar, a nine-day festival and fair is held where individuals afflicted by malevolent spirits, obsessive energies, or supernatural disturbances seek healing, protection, and exorcism. Through ritual, prayer, and devotion, Durga is invoked as both healer and protector, reaffirming her role as a guardian who stands unwavering between humanity and chaos.
ORIGIN:
India
MANIFESTATION:
She is blindingly beautiful with three flashing eyes and usually ten arms (occasionally she has eighteen).
ICONOGRAPHY:
A beautiful, bejeweled woman rides a lion or tiger into battle. She is often depicted slaughtering a buffalo Demon, her most famous myth.
ATTRIBUTES:
Trident, thunderbolt, discus, conch shell, bow and arrows, lotus, and sword
Emblem:
Durga’s yantra, a magical geometric figure, is engraved onto metal (gold, silver, copper) and worn as an amulet for a multitude of purposes.
Mount:
Lion or tiger
ELEMENT
Earth
Number:
18
Plants:
Turmeric; pink lotus and marigolds (Tagetes spp.)
Sacred spaces:
Forest groves
Sacred days:
Her nine-day festival, the Durga Puja, is among the most important and widely celebrated throughout India.
ALTAR:
Durga’s shrines are decorated with elaborate flower arrangements.
OFFERINGS:
Flowers; fruit, especially mangoes; sweets and incense; adorn her image with marigold garlands.
SEE ALSO:
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses– Written by :Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.
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