For me since childhood, Goddess Durga was a power symbol who scared me from all fours. It must have been because of her powerful look, aura, or the stories I heard. I remember seeing her standing victoriously on Mahishasur, and the various references that surrounded it whenever crimes against women took place, it felt like home and it felt that she was one force protecting us women and we could take her form. To realize much later that this divine form of Durga had origins that meant more than just being powerful. In a society where even standing up for themselves is a huge feat for women, the entire existence of Durga was a symbol of divine femininity that was there to shut mouths that restricted women. My particular interest in Durga stems from the fact that she is never shown beside a male deity, like all Sarasvati, Parvati, etc. who are mostly looked at as mere consorts. But the fact that Durga stood all alone on that pyre, killed the buffalo demon, and still wasn’t satisfied goes a long way for the believers in her eternal strength. Sometimes referred to as the goddess of war and strength, Durga brings great respite when feeling downtrodden, not just for women without support, but for everyone who draws strength from the fact that a goddess exists who did everything on her own, for the sole purpose of the protection of this land and stood bleeding among spectators who worship her for her effrontery.
According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Durga was created by the combined energies and divine powers of the trinity of Hindu gods: Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer). The name Durga in Sanskrit means ‘a fort’, signifying a place difficult to penetrate or tame. This points to her nature as an unbeatable, invincible, and inimitable goddess who is never afraid. In most of her depictions, Durga appears riding a lion or a tiger. She has between eight and eighteen hands, with each one of them carrying a different weapon. Some depictions show Durga as a three-eyed goddess or Triyambake, in concordance with her consort, Shiva, signifying equal strength as a man. Each one of the eyes represents a different level. One reason why Durga is so celebrated is the fact that unlike other goddesses, who are feminine and gentle in their appearance and exude a sense of calm, she is seen as a menace, a threat to the forces of evil, and hence someone to be afraid of. The Navadurga are the nine epithets of Durga, also celebrated during Navratri and the auspicious Durga puja. They are different goddesses that derive from Durga, and that represent her in several stories/forms. There are nine deities in total, and each one of them has a separate celebration day in Hinduism. They are Skondamata, Kusumanda, Shailaputri, Kaalratri, Brahmacharini, Maha Gauri, Katyayani, Chandraghanta, and Siddhidatri.
Very apt to her role as guardian mother protector, Durga is multi-limbed so she is always ready to fight evil from all directions. Her bold pose is called Abhay Mudra, which symbolizes “freedom from fear.” Her left eye represents desire, symbolized by the moon; her right eye represents action, symbolized by the sun; and her middle eye stands for knowledge, symbolized by fire.
Symbolical representation of Durga:
- The conch shell iconizes the Pranava or the mystic word Om, which indicates her feeling the divine sound.
- The bow and arrows represent energy. By holding the bow and arrows both in one hand, Durga establishes her control over both the potential and kinetic aspects of energy.
- The thunderbolt signifies strength in conviction. Like a strong bolt of lightning, Durga teaches us to take on any challenge without fear.
- The lotus in Durga’s hand, not yet fully bloomed, represents the certainty of success but not its finality. In Sanskrit, the lotus is called Pankaj, which means “borne of mud,” reminding us not to forget our real and spiritual roots in this material world of lust and other enchantments.
- The Sudarshan-Chakra, which spins around the index finger of the Goddess, signifies that the entire world is submissive to the will of Durga and at her command. This is her way of saying that ‘right always rules’.
- The sword that Durga holds in one hand symbolizes knowledge, which has the sharpness of a sword. The sword is shining, telling that knowledge is free from all doubts.
- The trident or Trishul is a symbol of three qualities: Satwa (inactivity), Rajas (activity), and Tamas (nonactivity). Durga uses these to alleviate physical, mental, and spiritual suffering.
The above observations tell us how Durga is the OG goddess of all times and also answer why Navratri and Durga puja stir positivity in the entire atmosphere, one of the reasons October is so loved as a month! The most well-known narrative featuring Goddess Durga is found in the text called the Devi Mahatmya, also known as the Durga Saptashati or Chandi Patha. This text is part of the Markandeya Purana and is dedicated to the glorification of the goddess and her victory against Mahishasura, it is a recommendation for the audience to read it once!
Author’s Note
Guncha
Shandilya
She is a 19-year-old History student with a ceaseless love for ancient architecture, International relations, and Japanese literature. Through research and writing, she wishes to share her interests with students of her age and aims to be a diplomat in the future. Being a voiceover intern at ILF, she enjoys giving voice to our golden heritage and is on a constant quest for inspiration and projects! She is also a climate advocate and has worked with several international organizations in this regard. Writing is her survival sauce!
