durga
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the divine feminine powerful and radiant
dancing her dance, flowing in her trance
durga
Goddess Durga represents the united energy of all divinities against evil and wickedness and is a stunning blend of bravery and strength
creation
In Hinduism Goddess Durga is considered to be the greatest goddess and was created by the gods to defeat the demon Mahishasur and his army who were ravaging the world; the gods being powerless to fight the demon, as Mahishasur had been granted his powers by the gods themselves.
battle
Goddess Durga rode into battle and challenged the demons. Mahishasura's entire army, of demons attacked Durga all at once and with fight and might Durga slew all of them with unparalleled cruelty. An enraged Mahishasura attacked Durga in the guise of a buffalo. Durga bound it with ropes. The buffalo morphed into a lion and leapt onto Durga, and Durga beheaded it with her sword. Mahishasura began to fight in form of a swordsman. Durga pinned him down with a torrent of arrows. Mahishasura then assumed the form of a giant elephant and tugged at Durga's lion. Durga lopped off its trunk with her sword and freed her lion. The elephant turned into a buffalo and charged at Durga. Sipping from her wine cup, Durga flung her trident and beheaded Mahishasura . This day of victory became the celebration of Vijaydashmi
strength
The stride and strength, the swagger and the boldness, of this mighty figure straddles the world and seeks out, battles, in a fierce fury against evil and injustice, this Goddess of manic menace, plunges and lunges and is covered in blood and gore from the dirty fighting. Her grand task to destroy or be destroyed. This is the divine feminine, powerful and radiant, resplendent in her figure and form and all conquering in her fight and her might.
dance
It is easy to appreciate that Garba and Raas, the greatest of dances, the most powerful forms of devotion, are for the supreme goddess Durga and it is right and proper that she be worshipped in a magnificent manner, in dancing and movement like no other, offering praise for her benediction, dancing her dance and flowing in her trance.
shakti
Goddess Durga is the mother of the universe and is believed to be the power behind the work of creation, preservation, and destruction of the world. Since time immemorial she has been worshipped as the supreme power of the Supreme Being
incarnations
In certain parts of India, Lakshmi plays a special role as the mediator between her husband Vishnu and his worldly devotees. When asking Vishnu for grace or forgiveness, the devotees often approach Him through the intermediary presence of Lakshmi.
multilimbed
Goddess Durga is depicted as having eight or ten or eighteen hands. These represent eight quadrants or ten directions in Hinduism. This suggests that she protects the devotees from all directions. Goddess Durga is also referred to as "Triyambake" meaning the three eyed Goddess. The left eye represents desire (the moon), the right eye represents action (the sun), and the central eye knowledge (fire)..
weapons
The conch shell in Durga's hand symbolises the 'Pranava' or the mystic word 'Om.
The bow and arrows represents energy.
The thunderbolt signifies firmness.
The lotus in Durga's hand is not fully bloomed, symbolising certainty of success but not finality. The lotus also represents the spiritual quality of her devotees amidst a world of greed and evil.
The Sudarshan-Chakra or beautiful discus, which spins around the index finger of the Goddess, while not touching it, signifies that the entire world is subservient to the will of Durga and is at her command.
The sword that Durga holds in one of her hands symbolizes knowledge, which has the sharpness of a sword.
The trident or "trishul" is symbolic of Durga as the remover of the three major obstacles- physical, mental and spiritual.
vehicle
The lion represents power, will and determination. Mother Durga riding the lion symbolises her mastery over all these qualities. This suggests to the devotee that one has to possess all these qualities to get over the demon of the ego
independence
Goddess Durga was regarded by some factions of Indian nationalist reformers and freedom fighters as an icon for the indian independence movement, instillling pride and fight and might for the battle ahead, against foreign rule.