And Her Victory Over the Demon Mahishasur
This is an article from The Last Nautch Girl, 2nd Edition, written by C Phillip.
Mahishasur Mardini (Slayer of Mahishasur)
In Hinduism, Goddess Durga is revered as one of the fiercest forms of Adi Parashakti, which literally means the First Supreme Female Entity, also known as Mahadevi or Great Goddess. Mahadevi is considered as the primordial cosmic energy that existed before creation and is attributed to creating the three Supreme Gods – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
The origin of the legend of Goddess Durga, like most stories in Hindu mythology, is unclear. It begins with the shape-shifting, buffalo demon, Mahishasur, who became the King of the demons or asuras. For years, he prayed to Lord Brahma until he was granted the boon that no man could kill him. Believing that no woman would ever challenge him, he declared himself as immortal. Then, he set out to conquer the three worlds – Heaven, Earth and the Netherworld. He defeated all the Devas, the elemental gods, and forced them into hiding.
Mahishasur’s tyrannical reign left the three worlds in utter chaos. Unable to bear the brutality, the Devas, together with Mother Earth, prayed to the three Supreme Gods for succour. When they finally heard the pleas, the three Supreme Gods held council. It was obvious that they could not defeat the demon singlehandedly due to Brahma’s boon. Thus, they combined all their energies together and invoked Mahadevi. She manifested in warrior form, brandishing every known weapon in her thousand arms and sitting astride a lion. They named her Durga, the Inaccessible, since she was now the most powerful being in the universe. She was also extremely beautiful. When Mahishasur saw her riding into battle, he was mesmerized. At first, he wanted to marry her and ordered his armies to capture her. Single-handedly, Durga destroyed his armies in five days.
On the sixth day, Mahishasur challenged her to single combat. Being a shape-shifter, he disguised himself in different forms during the battle to attack Durga. On the eighth day, known as Mahashtami, he realised that he was losing the duel. So, he transformed into a buffalo and tried to escape the battlefield. Durga’s lion spotted the fleeing buffalo and pounced on it. Durga beheaded the buffalo at the transition period between the eighth day and the ninth day. Finally, Mahishasur emerged from the dead buffalo in his true form. The lion pinned him to the ground as Durga struck the final killing blow, driving her trident into his chest. The Gods proclaimed her as Mahishasur Mardini, the Slayer of Mahishasur. This iconic last day of the battle is also known as Vijayadashami, the Victorious Tenth Day.
The entire ten-day battle is celebrated throughout India as Navratri, or literally the Nine Nights, also called Durga Puja in the North-eastern part of the country. It is an autumn festival, based on the lunar calendar, so every year the period of celebration varies between eight to ten days, depending on the transition of the waxing moon. Each night of the festival is dedicated to one of the divine feminine manifestations of Mahadevi. The tenth day of the festival coincides with Dussehra, the day on which Lord Rama slayed the demon-king Ravana, as described in the great Indian epic – the Ramayana.
I am the Queen, the gatherer-up of treasures, most thoughtful, first of those who merit worship. Thus, gods have established me in many places with many homes to enter and abide in. Through me alone all eat the food that feeds them, – each man who sees, breathes, hears the word outspoken. They know it not, yet I reside in the essence of the Universe. Hear, one and all, the truth as I declare it.
I, verily, myself announce and utter the word that gods and men alike shall welcome. I make the man I love exceedingly mighty, make him nourished, a sage, and one who knows Brahman [the Ultimate Reality of all phenomena]. I bend the bow for Rudra [Shiva], that his arrow may strike, and slay the hater of devotion. I rouse and order battle for the people, I created Earth and Heaven and reside as their Inner Controller.
On the world’s summit I bring forth sky, the Father; my home is in the waters, in the ocean as Mother. Thence I pervade all existing creatures, as their Inner Supreme Self, and manifest them with my body. I created all worlds at my will, without any higher being, and permeate and dwell within them.
The eternal and infinite consciousness is I, it is my greatness dwelling in everything.
– Devi Sukta, Rigveda 10.125.3 – 10.125.8
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