सनातन पुस्तकालय Sanatan Cultural Library

Durga — “the fortress, she who is impassable” — is the Devi as protector: the Mother who takes up arms. The Devi Mahatmya declares her the supreme reality who abides in all beings as consciousness, power, memory, forgiveness, hunger and peace (“yā devī sarva-bhūteṣu...”). She is not a consort-goddess derived from a god; the gods rather pour their powers into her when they are helpless. Rider of the lion — mastered instinct — she carries a weapon of every god in her ten arms yet her face is serene: fierce compassion, never rage. For her devotees she is simply Ma — Sherawali of the northern hills, Jagdamba, mother of the universe.

The buffalo demon Mahishasura, having won a boon that no man or god could kill him, conquered the three worlds. From the gathered anger of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and all the devas streamed a mass of light that took the form of a woman — each limb from a different god's radiance, each hand armed with a god's own weapon, Himavan giving the lion. For nine days and nights she battled the shape-shifting demon; on the tenth she pinned the buffalo beneath her foot and slew him as he emerged from its body — the victory kept as Navratri and Vijayadashami. The Saptashati also tells her other great deeds: as Kali she destroyed Raktabija, whose every drop of blood spawned a new demon, by drinking the drops before they fell; and she slew the arrogant brothers Shumbha and Nishumbha who had demanded her hand as spoils.

Durga's great seasons are the two Navratris — Chaitra in spring and Sharad in autumn — nine nights honouring her nine forms from Shailaputri to Siddhidatri, opened by Ghatasthapana and crowned by Ashtami-Navami havan, kanya pujan (honouring young girls as the Devi) and Vijayadashami. In Bengal, Durga Puja from Shashthi to Dashami welcomes the Mother home with her children, ending in visarjan and sindoor khela. The Durga Saptashati path, recited whole or as selected chapters, is her central liturgy; the akhand jyoti burns through the nine nights; and red — chunri, hibiscus, sindoor — is her colour everywhere.