Durga is called the goddess of war. She is identified as a popular form of the Hindu Goddess, called the Adi Parashakti. Her mythology revolves around tackling the demonic and evil forces that pose a threat to Dharma, prosperity, peace and the power of good over evil. She is depicted as a protective mother goddess who uses her divine anger on the wicked for liberation of the persecuted. She empowers creation to entail destruction.
The goddess is depicted as riding a tiger or lion. She carries a weapon in each of her arms, and is seen defeating the buffalo demon – Mahishasura. Aparajita, Chandika and Maha Durga are the 3 main forms Goddess Durga is worshipped. Chamunda and Chandi are the two forms of Chandika. Chandi is the form and combined power of Parvati, Lakshmi and Saraswati, while Chamunda is the form of the Goddess Kali who Durga created to kill 2 demons named Munda and Chanda. The 3 forms of Maha Durga are Katyayani, Bhadrakali and Ugrachanda. Navdurga are the 9 epithet forms in which Goddess Bhadrakali Durga is worshipped.
Chandi Patha, an important Shaktism text declares Durga as creator of the universe and a supreme being. She is deeply admired and worshipped especially during the Navratri festival and after the autumn and spring harvests in India. The word Durga means unassailable, invincible and impassable. Durg means something that is difficult to pass, defeat like a ‘fortress’ and ‘beyond defeat’. The Goddess understands with calm and destroys evil in the process of attaining her majestic and ceremonial goals.
