Durga
Demon-slaying deity
Durga is a Hindu goddess, a fierce warrior form of the divine feminine who rides a lion or tiger and wields weapons in her many arms.
She embodies protective maternal energy and the destruction of evil—most famously slaying the buffalo demon Mahishasura.
The festival Durga Puja celebrates her victory and is one of the most important Hindu festivals, especially in Bengal: The city transforms during Durga Puja.
Three-pronged fishing spear
- lionManed African feline
- tigerLarge striped Asian feline
- conchSpiral-shelled marine gastropod
- chakraSpiritual node in body
lotus · saffron · sword · bow · arrow · mudra · vermillion · crown
Sacred archetypal female spirit
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- protectionGuarding against harm
- strengthPower to exert force
- courageFortitude facing danger
resilience · fortitude · fierce · invincible · warrior · guardian · champion · defender
Sanskrit war epic
- RamayanaSanskrit heroic verse narrative
- Devi MahatmyaSanskrit hymn cycle venerating Durga
- SanskritAncient Indo-Aryan language
- HimalayaAsia's tallest mountain range
cosmic battle · celestial · Shiva · Brahma · Vishnu · creation · victory · righteousness
Mahishasuramardini
trident
Three-pronged fishing spear
chakra · lotus · saffron · sword · bow · arrow · mudra · vermillion · crown · third eye
divine feminine
Sacred archetypal female spirit
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- protectionGuarding against harm
- strengthPower to exert force
courage · resilience · fortitude · fierce · invincible · warrior · guardian · champion · defender · liberation
Mahabharata
Sanskrit war epic
- RamayanaSanskrit heroic verse narrative
- Devi MahatmyaSanskrit hymn cycle venerating Durga
- SanskritAncient Indo-Aryan language
Himalaya · cosmic battle · celestial · Shiva · Brahma · Vishnu · creation · victory · righteousness · dharma
puja
Hindu worship ritual
temple · shrine · idol · fasting · pilgrimage · incense · offering · chanting · consecration