Reposing Gracefully upon your vehicle of Lion. It is you, who redeem the world, appearing in the form of Shree Bhairavi, Tradevi and Chhinamasta Devi, and end its sorrows. It is you who appear as Bhuvenshwari and Bagalamukhi Devi to bestow happiness to all. You are yourself Matangi and Dhoomavati Mata. Illimitable is your glory, defying description. O Bhavani, the famous goddess of Hingalaja is no one else but you yourself. In the form of Goddess Lakshmi, O Mother, you appear in this world and repose by the side of Shree-Narayan.ĭwelling on the Sea of milk, O Goddess,with Lord Vishnu, please fulfil my desires. Thus, you saved Prahlaad and Hiranyakashyap also went to Heaven as he was killed by your hands. O Mother Amba, it was you who appeared in the form of Narismha, sundering the pillar. You also appear in the form of Goddess Saraswati to grant wisdom to the sages and thus ensure their welfare. Lord Shiva and all yogis always chant your praise, Brahma, Vishnu and all other Gods ever meditate on you. You are the beloved consort of Lord Shiva, Gauri (Parvathi) Like the feeding mother Annapurna you nurture the whole universe and you are the one who appear like the timeless Bala Sundari (young girl of extreme beauty).Īt the time of Dissolution it is you, O Mother, who destroys everything. O Mother! Your view is enchanting, the very sight of which ensures welfare of the devout.Īll the powers of the world repose in thee and it is you who provide food and money for the world’s survival. Your eyes are bedight with a red glow with the frightening frown. Your Visage is like the moon and your mouth very huge. The radiance of your light is limitless and pervading and all the three realms (Earth, Heaven and the Nether World) are enlightened by thee. I bow to you O Goddess Durga, the bestower of all happiness! I bow to you O Goddess Amba! Who ends all miseries. Below is the complete Durga Chalisa in English The real worship period, however, can take place during the nine days before Navaratri (Northern India) or the five days (Bengal and Orissa). In Kashmir it is worshiped as shaarika (the main temple is located in Hari Parbat, Srinagar). The day of the killing of Mahishasura by Durga is celebrated as Vijaya Dashami (in Eastern and Southern India), Dashain (Nepal) or Dussehra (Northern India): all these terms mean “tenth day”. There are ten different forms of this goddess representing ten of her exploits, among which the long war against the Asura stands out. In her other incarnations, like Annapurna or Parvati, she appears more maternal, and like Karunamayi (karuna, “kindness”) she looks sweeter.
But she is also remarkably beautiful and initially Mahishasur tried to marry her. The word Shakti, which means “strength”, reflects the goddess’ warrior aspect, embodying a traditionally male role. Each god also gave her his most powerful weapon: Śiva the trident, Viṣṇu the disc, Indra the vajra from which the lightning bolt, etc. Her shape was of blinding beauty, with her face sculpted by Śiva, her bust by Indra, her breasts by Chandra (the Moon), her teeth by Brahma, her buttocks by Earth, her thighs and knees by Varuṇa (the wind), and her three eyes by Agni (the fire), her golden body and ten arms. Finally, since only one woman could have killed him, the gods and the triad created a dazzling ray of energy from which Durga was born. He unleashed a reign of terror on earth, in heaven and in hell. By reason of this power, he attacked the Deva who came to help the Trimurti (Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva), but Mahishasur defeated all the gods including the Triad itself. Thanks to intense prayers in Brahmā, Mahishasura had the grace that he could not be defeated by any man or celestial being. A special image of the Divinity is worshiped with unique ceremonies for nine days, and then immersed after being carried in procession by the Brahmins followed by the population.Īccording to the Devi Mahatmyam story of Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa, Durga’s form was created as a warrior goddess to fight and destroy the demon Mahishasura. The Durga-puja is one of the most important religious holidays held in Northern India, between September and October. She is depicted riding a lion or sometimes a tiger, with eight or ten arms each carrying one of the weapons the other gods gave to her for the battle against the buffalo-demon. She was born already adult and beautiful, although to her enemies she presents herself with a terrible shape. According to the myth, Durga was created for this very purpose with the flames coming out of the mouths of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and other minor gods. It is well known the battle in which she defeated the demon Mahishasura, in the form of a buffalo. Durga (in Sanskrit: “the Inaccessible”), in Hindu mythology, is one of the many forms of Shakti, often identified as Shiva’s wife.