![\"Durga](\"https:\/\/vedicsources.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Durga-Maa-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\nIn Hinduism, Durga Maa is known as the Goddess of Strength and Justice. Her name means \u2018invincible\u2019 in Sanskrit. Therefore, she is considered to be the force that brings about order to the chaos and destruction we face in life. Goddess Durga also provides compassion, peace and appeases the mind of people filled with chaos.<\/p>\n
Durga is a form of Shakti, embodying freedom from injustice, hatred, cruelty, ego, and all the sufferings of the world. She takes on the role of the Protector to her followers and is one of the most powerful gods in the Hindu religion.<\/p>\n
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The origin of Goddess Durga begins in the Shiva Purna<\/a>, where she is mentioned as divine female energy created by Brahman, Vishnu, and Shiva to fight Mahishasura<\/a>.<\/p>\n Mahishasura, son of Rambha, is a demon who caused immense destruction to the Earth, by endangering the lives of men and God alike. He was considered undefeatable because he had defeated all the gods of heaven.<\/p>\n All these calamities prompted Lord Vishnu to create Durga, who would in turn defeat Mahishasura. Lord Vishnu dispelled a huge mass of light from his mouth which merged with the rays emitted from other gods. This mass of light morphed into what we now know as Goddess Durga.<\/p>\n She defeated Mahishasura and came to be known as a symbol for the destruction of evil, ridding the world from the tyranny of evil. Accordingly, she has been heavily associated with Justice and Protection.<\/p>\n She is often depicted wearing red clothes and having eight or ten hands. The red clothes are a symbol of the fierceness with which she fights evil. And the multiple hands represent the eight quadrants or the ten directions from which she protects her followers.<\/p>\n She holds multiple weapons in her hands gifted by the different gods. They are an indication of the large power she holds with which she defeats evil. Some of the weapons are the\u00a0Trishul or\u00a0Shiva\u2019s trident,\u00a0Sudarshana chakra\u00a0of Vishnu\u2019s discus,\u00a0Brahma\u2019s\u00a0Kamandula,\u00a0and Indra\u2019s\u00a0thunderbolt\u00a0among others.<\/p>\n The lotus she holds is one of the most symbolic nature of Goddess Durga; it is called\u00a0Pankaja. It symbolizes the evolution of spirituality among the evils in the world.<\/p>\n She also holds a conch in her hand which is said to produce the sound of \u2018Om\u2019, which is the sound of God in Hinduism. And she stands on top of the lion, or sometimes tiger which represents the immense power and determination with which she maintains these virtues in defeating evil. This bold pose of hers is called the Abhaymudra<\/a>, meaning \u201cfreedom from fear.\u201d<\/p>\n Durga Maa is a divine form of Shakti and is called by many names, among which is the word \u2018Triyambake\u2019 which means the three-eyed goddess. The left eye represents desire; symbolized by the moon, her right eye represents an action; symbolized by the sun, and her middle eye represents knowledge; symbolized by fire.<\/p>\n Durga Puja is a festival in which she is worshipped as the mother of Lakshmi<\/a>, Saraswati, Ganesha<\/a>, and Kartikeya. This festival is especially popular in Nepal and certain parts of India like West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar. She has been an integral part of the Vedas and as such has been worshipped since the beginning of times.<\/p>\n According to the Vedas, Durga Maa is worshipped in nine different forms; all these are different manifestations of her. On the festival of Navaratri, all the nine forms of hers are worshipped by her followers. The nine forms are as follows:<\/p>\n 1. Sailaputri<\/strong> \u2013 Daughter of the Himalayas Goddess Durga is said to have many forms; she appears as\u00a0Goddess Saraswati\u00a0to grant wisdom to the sages, thereby ensuring the safety and welfare of the sages.<\/p>\n In addition, she was Mother Amba who accompanied Lord Vishnu as his female energy when he was in his divine form of Narasimha. Together, they saved Mahraja Prahlaad from the evil hands of the demon Hiranyakashyap. As Lord Vishnu defeated him by taking the personified form of death along with Goddess Durga, the followers of Hinduism, chant several\u00a0mantras\u00a0throughout the year, to awaken Durga Maa who is the personification of the active side of \u201cShakti.\u201d However, this chanting of mantra is most prevalent during the festival of Navratri.<\/p>\nPhysical Depiction of Goddess Durga<\/h3>\n
The Symbolic Representation of Goddess Durga<\/h3>\n
The Nine Forms of Goddess Durga<\/h3>\n
\n2. Brahmacharini<\/strong> \u2013 Following Celibacy
\n3. Chandraghanta<\/strong> \u2013 Having the moon on her necklace
\n4. Kushmanda<\/strong> \u2013 Being the creator of the universe
\n5. Skanda-Mata<\/strong> \u2013 The mother of Skanda, Karttikeya, born out of her powers
\n6. Katyayani<\/strong> \u2013 The daughter of sage Katyayana
\n7. Kalaratri<\/strong> \u2013 Destroyer of Kali
\n8. Mahagauri<\/strong> \u2013 The wife of Lord Shiva
\n9. Siddhidatri<\/strong> \u2013 Blessing Siddhis and mystic powers<\/p>\n![\"Durga](\"https:\/\/vedicsources.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Durga-Maa-1.jpg\")
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