Shakti – The Goddess: Durga

Mythology- a rich ocean of stories. The Hindu mythology offers a panoply of stories about Indian Gods and Goddesses. These stories have been passed on from generation to generation and even from countries to continents. What makes many people so interested in them? Could it be that we identify ourselves with the characters, the situations and the emotions? The stories form part of our family; a mother protecting her children, a father’s duty towards his family, or even the love and respect in a husband and wife relationship…

Now, what is the connection with Bharata Natyam? A Bharata Natyam dancer is often taught about the various Hindu mythological stories so that these can be portrayed in expressional dance items known as padam, shabdam or varnam.

This Indian Classical Dance shapes the dancer not only in the art, but also in the good values of everyday life

Shakti

Shakti is a divine energy which is personified as the Mother Goddess. She can take different forms where each portrays different traits that a woman can take.

Durga

She is the golden- faced woman, with ten arms sitting on a lion. According to the Markandaya Purana, she has 1008 names. And the reason she is named Durga, is because she slayed down a demon called Durga.

This story is about her name Mahishasuramardini. Many of us are very much acquainted with that beautiful song Aigiri Nandini, which narrates the greatness of Goddess Durga. Let us peek into its myth…

Battles, killing and torture…War was ongoing for hundreds of years between the Gods and demons. Powerful in his endeavor, the king demon Mahishasur defeated Lord Indra (King of heaven). There he walked victorious with arrogance and pride after conquering the lands of the Gods of Heaven, Sun, Moon, Water amongst others.

Weary and stranded, the Gods ran to Lord Vishnu- The Preserver, to seek for shelter. On seeing their state, Lord Vishnu became so angry that his face burned with anger and a fierce light shot from his eyes.  Lord Shiva and Lord Bramha also were so enraged, that light burned from their eyes with intense anger. Light from the body of all the Gods joined the Trinity (Bramha, Vishnu, Shiva) to create a blazing mountain of light which gathered into a female form – The Goddess.

She was sculpted into life by each God’s power. Lord Shiva gave the Devi a trident. Lord Vishnu gave her a discus, Lord Indra brought her a thunderbolt, and like that, each God decorated her with their unique forces. Armed with beauty, confidence and her weapons, she sat on her lion, ready to attack the buffalo demon Mahishasura.

A war to righteousness had just began which shook the whole earth.

The path was not easy, as wrongdoers are often stubborn. Mahishasura was drowning with confidence with the boon gifted by Lord Bramha; that he could be killed by any man or God. But little did he know that it was a tricked boon.

On a first trial of the Goddess killing the buffalo demon, he changed into a lion, thus missing her noose. On a second trial Mahishasura changed into a man with a sword missing her spear and on the third trial he changed into a giant elephant again being spared. But mighty in nature, and taking advantage of her ingenuity, the Goddess seized Mahishasura. Determined to devastate its arrogance, and to end unfairness, she impaled the demon, forcing it to take back its half demon and half buffalo form, and in one blow, she cut off its head. Mahishasura was killed!

All the Gods and sages were in awe. They bowed to her singing praises- the Goddess Mahishasuramardini was born. The destroyer of evils and protector of  virtue.

If we look deep into the story, we can see a reflection of its principles in many households. And by looking even deeper, in the shadow of every mother we can see a Mahishasurmardini, who adorns herself with the strength of her family to establish peace and stability in her home by facing any challenge in life. Hail the Mother!

Reference: Devi Mahatmya

Photo: Jegatharsan