Goddess Durga

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One of the most invoked forms of the great Goddess Durga is her manifestation as the youthful, multi-armed deity who is not only a slayer of demons but also a restorer of cosmic harmony and balance. Since she was created by the combined lustre and energies of the gods, she is powerful. The gods also bestowed on her their own characteristic weapons, some of the weapons gifted to her were: Shiva, the trident, Vishnu gave the discus, Varuna the conch, Agni bestowed her with the spear, Yama the cudgel, Vayu, the bow, Surya gave the arrow, Indra the vajra, Kuber gave the mace, Kala, the sword and the axe was given by Parshurama.

In this painting of an eight-armed Durga, she is shown carrying a multitude of weapons. Elegant and poised, she is lithely seated on her lion. She wears a crown and abundant jewelry. Not only her, but her lion too wears ornaments and the weapons are also jewel encrusted. Durga, as shown here, has a peaceful face, delineated limbs, exceptionally beautiful oval eyes, including the third eye on the forehead. Her fingers are long and supple, yet the hands convey an energetic movement.

Durga is seen here in a procession with a retinue of eight attendant divinities viz. Jyeshtha, Bhumi, Moti, Mohini, Prakriti, Vikriti, Niyati and Nivrtti, all of whom are richly attired and bedecked with jewels. They carry with them swords and spears, and an unspoken battle-cry in their expressions and movements.

Goddess Durga plays a pivotal role as a battle queen and a regulator of the cosmos. She presents a perfect picture of a gentle, young, yet determined and fiercely independent warrior cum goddess.

This description by Renu Rana.