Durga
Goddess Durga is a principal form of Shakti described as a warrior goddess and a protective mother. Her name means “invincible and unassailable”. According to the legend, she was created by male gods with their power to slay the buffalo demon Mahisasura to restore peace. Durga is depicted riding on a lion and killing the buffalo demon by cutting off its head. She represents the collective energy (shakti) of several gods and hence shown with multiple arms holding the specific weapons of different gods. Durga is a predominant and the most beloved goddess in Hinduism and also considered as the supreme mother.
Iconography and forms
Durga is one of the most popular deities, and her iconography is flexible in different Hindu traditions. There are three main forms and several manifestations and depictions of the goddess. Following are the iconographies of the goddesses divided into different categories:
1. Simhavahini
The most mainstream depiction of Durga is Simhavahini, which means the one who rides the lion. She is shown seated on a lion (sometimes on a tiger) with two to twenty arms, carrying various attributes.
1.1 Ambika
Ambika is a popular form of Durga or Shakti, depicted as the nurturing mother. In Skanda Puran, she is emerged from the body of Parvati to slay the demons Shumbh and Nishumbh. She is shown with eight arms, holding multiple weapons and riding a tiger. She is popularly venerated as a household form of Durga throughout India.
2. Mahishamardini
The second and the most common depiction is Mahishamardini, where she is shown killing the demon, Mahishasura. She is usually shown with two to eighteen arms, with ten or eight-armed iconography being the most common. She holds various attributes such as a chakra, a conch shell, a bow, an arrow, a lotus, a sword, a spear, a trident, a shield, and a noose. Four armed figures of Mahishamardini became common from the late Kushana period onwards, where she is shown holding the snout, hind legs, or tail of the buffalo demon with one hand while the other three hands hold a trident, sword, and conch shell.
2.1 Mahishamardini Across Kalpas
In several Kalpas, Mahishamardini takes various forms to defeat Mahishasura, including Ugrachanda, Bhadrakali, Mahalakshmi, and Katyayani, as mentioned in books such as the Kalika Purana, and Mahakala Samhita. In Rambhakalpa, she portrays the 18-handed Ugrachanda, holding a śvetakhaḍga. In Nilalohitakalpa, she appears as the 16-handed Bhadrakali, wielding a śvetabāṇa. In Savarni Manvantar of Svetvarahakalpa, an 18-armed Mahalakshmi kills Mahishasura, while an eight-armed Mahishamardini comes in Swayambhu Mānavantar of Svetvarahakalpa. Finally, in the Vaivast Mānavatar of Shvetavarahakalpa, Mahishasura is slayed by calm 10-handed form as Katyayani.
1. Ugrachanda: Shown with eighteen arms, is accompanied by one crore Yoginis. Her hair is matted, and she has a serpent, a golden garland, and a mundamala around her neck. With large teeth, she wields a trident, sword, conch, discus, arrow, spear, thunderbolt, rod, shield, bow, noose, goad, bell, axe, and club. In her lower hands, she clutches a mace and a drinking bowl. Her complexion resembles crushed collyrium.
2. Bhadrakali: With a flax flower-like complexion, she wears molten gold ear earrings and three crescent-adorned crowns atop matted hair. Her outfit contained serpent and gold garlands. She carried a trident, sword, conch, discus, arrow, spear, thunderbolt, and rod on her right side, as well as shields, bow, noose, goad, bell, axe, and club on her left.
3. Mahalakshmi: In Devi Mahatmya, Mahalakshmi took the avatar of Durga to slay Mahishasura. She is described as having eighteen arms, holding a battle-axe, maze, arrow, thunderbolt, lotus, bow, water-pot, cudgel, lance, sword, shield, conch, bell, wine-cup, trident, noose and discus. She is often portrayed slaying Mahisaura.
4. Katyayani: Katyayani is one of the nine avatars of Durga. She is represented independently as a Mahisasuramardini with a golden complexion, an elegant countenance, and ten hands, whereas in the group with the other Nava Durga goddesses, she is shown with four arms and seated on a lion.
These three forms are venerated in the Sri Krama Tantra and Kalikula traditions. While these represent the prominent forms detailed in these revered texts, it's essential to acknowledge the vast array of Mahishamardini's incarnations recorded across various Kalpas.
3. Vishnu Durga
Also called Narayani, she is shown in a dark complexion with four to eight arms, standing on a lotus pedestal or on the severed head of a buffalo. Such iconography is more common in South India and exhibits her Vaishnava connection. She is shown with four arms, carrying the conch shell and chakra in her upper arms. Her other right hand is in the Abhaya mudra and the corresponding left-hand rests on her left thigh in the Katyavalambhita mudra. The Suprabhedagama and the Purvakaranagma, describe her with eight arms holding chakra, conch shell, trident, bow, khadga, pasha, khetaka, and arrow.
4. Ganesh Janani Durga
Ganesh Janani Durga is one of the five goddesses called Pancha Prakriti Devis mentioned in Devi Bhagavatam and Bramhavaivartha Purana. She is the representation of Durga as the mother of Ganesha to show the supremacy of motherhood and femininity as divinity.
5. Gunatrayivi Bhavani
Gunatrayivi Bhavani is a form of Durga with an uncommon description in the Bhrigu Samhita. The goddess has four arms holding the conch shell and chakra in her upper hands while her other hands are held in the Anjali mudra. She is the personification of the three Gunas; sattva, rajas, and tamas.
Navadurga
Durga appears in Hindu texts and folklore in numerous forms and names. Navadurga is a group of nine manifestations of the goddess Durga who are worshipped collectively. The names of goddesses vary in different texts.
According to Devi Mahatmyam and the Varaha Purana, the Navadurgas are as follows in sequence:
Shailaputri
She is the manifestation of Durga as the daughter of the mountain. She is depicted with a crescent moon on her forehead and two hands holding a trident and a lotus. Her mount is Nandi. She represents Durga's affiliation with Goddess Parvati.
Kushmanda
She is the goddess who produced the cosmic egg with her smile, bringing light to the universe. She is depicted with eight hands holding a discus, lotus, mace, bow, arrow, rosary, and two pots containing honey and blood. Her mount is a tiger.
Kalaratri
She is the violent form of Durga. She is depicted in dark skin with four hands, riding on a donkey. She carries a sword and iron hook in her left hands and her right hands are in Abhaya mudra and Varada mudra.
Brahmacharini
She is the one who seeks sacred knowledge. She is depicted wearing a white garment and with two hands holding a rosary and Kamandal in her right and left hand respectively.
Skandamata
She is the mother of Skanda (Kartikeya). She is depicted with four hands carrying lotuses in her upper two hands and child Kartikeya in the lower right hand and the remaining left hand in Abhaya mudra. Her mount is a lion.
Mahagauri
She is the form of Durga with a fair complexion and is considered the goddess of forgiveness. She has four arms, holding a Trident and a tambourine (Damaru) in one of her right and left hands respectively, and the remaining two hands in Abhaya mudra and Varada mudra. Her mount is a bull.
Chandraghanta
She is a fierce manifestation depicted with a crescent moon on her forehead. She is depicted with a golden complexion. She has ten hands holding a trident, mace, bow-arrow, sword, lotus, bell, and kamandal, while one of her remaining hands is in Abhaya mudra. Her mount is a tiger.
Katyayani
She is a fierce manifestation who slew Mahishasura. She is depicted with four hands carrying a lotus flower and sword in her left hands and her right hands in Abhaya mudra and Varada mudras. Her mount is a lion.
Siddhidhatri
She is the ninth form of the Goddess Durga, who provides Siddhi (spiritual power) to all her devotees. She is depicted seated on a lotus, with four hands holding a mace, chakram, a lotus flower, and a conch shell.
Images source: bharatiyajyotishmantrasaadhana. blogspot.com/2010/08/nava-durga-stuti-mantra-for- kundalini.html
Navadurga in Agni Purana
According to the Agni Purana, the Navadurga goddesses are Ugrachanda, Prachanda, Chandogra, Chandanayika, Chanda, Chandavathi, Chandarupa, Atichanda, and Rudrachanda. They are all regarded to be among Chandi's forms in Rambhākalpa.
The goddess Ugrachanda is represented with 18 arms. In her right hand, she carries a head, shield, mirror, index finger posture, bow, flag, drum, one sort of shield, and a rope/noose. In her left hand, she carries a spear, hammer, trident, thunderbolt, sword, goad, arrow, discus, and śalāka.
The other eight forms are Rudrachanda, Prachanda, Chandogra, Chandanayika, Chanda, Chandavati, Chandarupa, and Atichandika. They are 16-armed Durga, holding everything but the drum and the index position. These goddesses have a variety of skin tones: yellow like cow urine, red like the sun, black, blue, white, smoke-colored, yellow, and proper white.
Nava Gauri of Varanasi
There are also nine different manifestations of Goddess Gauri (Parvati) who are enshrined in Varanasi. These local forms of the goddesses are worshiped together at Navratri, similar to the Navadurga. They are Mukhnirmalika Gauri, Jyeshta Gauri, Saubhagya Gauri, Shringar Gauri, Vishalakshi Gauri, Lalita Gauri, Bhavani Gauri, Mangla Gauri, and Mahalaxmi Gauri. Their temples are situated at different locations across Varanasi. (Read: Regional Goddesses)
Navadurga in Brahmanda Purana
1. Nilakanthi: She is the bestower of wealth. She is depicted with four arms, holding a trident, khetaka (a sword), panapatra (a drinking vessel), and one hand in Varada Mudra.
2. Kshemankari: She is the bestower of health. She is depicted with four or ten arms, holding attributes of a trident, sword, a lotus, chakra, mace, khetaka, battle axe, bow-arrow, a drinking vessel, and one hand in Varada Mudra or Abhaya Mudra.
3. Harasiddhi: She is who assures fulfillment. She is depicted with four arms, holding a damaru (a small two-headed drum), panapatra, kamandalu, and khadga (a type of sword).
4. Rudramsha: She is the dark-complexioned form of Durga shown seated on a lion. She has four arms, holding a trident, khadga, conch shell, and chakra. She is who represses the anger of Rudra (a storm deity).
5. Vana Durga: She is the goddess of the forest. She has a green complexion and is eight-armed, holding a conch shell, chakra, khadga, khetka (a kind of sword), bow, arrow, and trident.
6. Agni Durga: She is the form of Durga associated with fire. She is depicted with eight arms, carrying chakra, khetaka, fire, ankusha (elephant goad), bow, and arrow.
7. Jaya Durga: She is the goddess of victory depicted in a dark complexion riding a lion and adorned with a crescent moon on her forehead. He has four arms, carrying a conch shell, chakra, khadga and a trident.
8. Vindyavasini Durga: She is the goddess who resides atop the mountains of the Vindhya region. She is often associated with the form of Yogmaya who was born as the daughter of Yashoda (Read: Adi). As one of the nine forms of Durga, she is depicted with four arms carrying chakra and a conch shell and the remaining one right hand in Abhaya, and the left hand holding a lotus with a bird
9. Ripumari Durga: She is a fierce form of Durga, shown with two arms, holding a trident and the other hand in Tarjani mudra.
Navadurga in Aparajita Stotram
1. Mahalakshmi: When part of the Navadurga group, she is depicted with six arms, holding a trident, khadga, panapatra, and naga (snake), and the remaining two hands in Abhaya and Varada mudra.
2. Nanda: She is depicted with four arms, holding rosary, khadga, khetaka, and panapatra.
3. Ksheemankari: When part of this group of goddesses, she is depicted with four arms, holding a trident, lotus, panapatra, and one hand in the Varada mudra.
4. Shivadhuti: She is the one who sent Shiva as a messenger to demons, Nishumbha, and Shumbha, giving them a chance to change their path. She is shown in a horrific manner, screaming like a hundred jackals.
5. Mahachandi: When part of the Navadurga, she is depicted with four arms, carrying khadga, khetaka, trident and ghanta (bell).
6. Bhramari: She is the manifestation of Durga associated with bees, hornets, and wasps. She is depicted with bees clung onto her body and holding a trident, mace, sword, and shield in her four hands.
7. Sarvamangala: She is depicted with four arms, carrying a vajra (a type of club with a ribbed spherical head), rosary, panapatra, and ghanta.
8. Revati: She is also depicted with four arms, carrying a danda (stick), trident, panapatra, and khatvanga (a long club).
9. Harasiddhi: She is who assures fulfillment. She is depicted with four arms, holding a damaru (a small two-headed drum), panapatra, kamandalu, and khadga (a type of sword).
Others forms of Durga
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Shabari Durga: A huntress form of Durga, associated with the Shivir tribe, who live in forests.
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Deepa Durga: She is associated with deepa, a lamp that is considered auspicious. She represents the single light that lights up the entire world.
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Shoolini Durga: She who resides in the Trishula (trident) of Shiva.
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Jatavedasi Durga: She is the goddess of fire ritual herself. She is depicted with a green complexion and four arms.
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Shantha Durga: She is the goddess of peace and bliss, and the one who mediates between Vishnu and Shiva. She has four hands, holding snakes in the upper two and the remaining two hands in Abhaya and Varada mudra.
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Asuri Durga: She is the goddess who wards off evil. She is depicted in a white complexion.
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Lavana Durga: She is the goddess of grace and beauty and she also recites in salt. She was worshipped by Shatrughan, brother of Lord Rama.
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Jwala Durga: She is the goddess of ritualistic fire and volcanic magma.
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Raktadanti: She means the one whose teeth are stained with blood, as mentioned in Devi Mahatmyam. She killed the descendants of Viprachitti, an asura. She is depicted with a red complexion and four hands carrying a plough, mace, sacrificial sword, and a skull bowl.
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Bheemadevi: She was a manifestation of the goddess who protected sages, mentioned in Devi Mahatmyam.
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Aparajita: She is a destroyer form of Durga, who can’t be defeated, as mentioned in Devi Mahatmyam.
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Shakambari: In Devi Mahatmyam, Durga manifested in a form with countless eyes on her body. This gave her the name Satakshi. Tears rolled down from her eyes for nine continuous days. Goddess Satakshi then took the form of Shakambari and yielded fruits and vegetables to nourish all. Shakambari is depicted in many Hindu literature as the goddess of vegetables.
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Chandika/ Chandi: "Chandika" widely popular in the eastern part of India, is an umbrella term for various forms of goddesses. Chandika, as a fierce aspect of Durga, is also referred to as the Supremely goddess in Devi Mahatmya. She is portrayed with a red complexion and eighteen or four arms holding rudraksha, battle axe, mace, arrow, thunderbolt, lotus, bow, Kamandalu, cudgel, lance, sword, shield, conch shell, bell, wine-cup, trident, noose, and the discus. She is shown over a beheaded demon buffalo with the asura emerging from the neck. The lion mauls him while the goddess kills him with a trident.
Some notable forms of Chandi are: -
Mangal Chandi: She is also known as Mangala Chandika or Mangalchand and is a form of the goddess Chandi widely revered throughout Bengal. She has an elegant appearance and she is depicted with two hands in the Vardan and Abhaya mudras. She is seated on a vibrant red lotus, wearing red attire.
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Swarna Godhika Chandi: She is a manifestation of the goddess who appears as a golden monitor lizard in front of Nilambar, a Shiva disciple, born as Kalketu.
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Kamalekamini: Another form of the goddess Chandika mentioned in Bengali folklore is Kamalekamini. She is shown sitting on lotus flowers and holding two elephants in her hands. She is occasionally depicted swallowing the elephant alive.
Durga in Durga Puja/ Navaratri
The Festival of Durga is extremely popular in various parts of India as a ten days festival called Navratri or Durga Puja. In the eastern States, Durga Puja is celebrated with life-size clay idols of the goddess. The iconography of Durga is distinctive as she is depicted as killing Mahisasura yet she has a beautiful motherly face. She is shown with Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha, and Karttikeya as their children, depicting her as the primeval mother goddess. In some places, Durga idols are shown in stylized forms or with Navadurgas or a group of various other deities.
Durga with various other goddesses, Patna
Photo by Manidvipa
Forms of Durga in Gosani Jatra
Gosani Jatra is the indigenous and distinctive form of Durga Puja celebrated in Puri, Odisha. Goddess is addressed as Gosani, which means aristocratic lady. Gosanis idols represent various local forms of Mahisamardini worshipped during Durga Puja. Some popular Gosani goddesses are mentioned below:
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Barabati: She has eight arms and carries a snake, conch, dagger, bow, arrow, sword, and trident. Mahisasura is represented as a buffalo.
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Kakudikhai: Her name means "cucumber eater." She is ten-armed, holding a shield, conch, bow, snake, and Mahisasura's hair in her left hand and a trident, sword, wheel, arrow, and goad in her right. Her left foot is shown on Mahisasura's shoulder, while her right foot is shown on a lion. She is also known as Vimala.
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Janhikhai: Her name means "she who eats ridge gourd." She has ten hands and is holding a shield, conch, bow, snake, trident, sword, goad, wheel, and arrow. Mahisasura is shown in human form.
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Kantakadhi: She appears standing on one foot while Lord Vishnu pulls a thorn from her bent foot. Shiva is portrayed standing on the other side.
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Sunya: The goddess is shown in the sky slaying Mahisasura. She has eight arms and carries a snake, a conch, a dagger, a bow, an arrow, a sword, and a trident.
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Bhogajaga: She is depicted as eight-armed, wielding a snake, a conch, a dagger, a bow, an arrow, a sword, and a trident. Mahisasura is represented as a buffalo.
Hadabai, Gelhabai, Belabai, Harapriya, Chakrakota, Chameda or Tripura Sundari, Harachandi, Mahateswari, Moda Mahisha, Janhimundia, Sitala, Pana Priya, and other forms of the goddess worshipped during the festival along with Naga, Ravana, Rakshas, and Ghouls.
Durga in Mumbai Navaratri Pandal
During Navaratri in Mumbai, the Devi idol is often made using an amalgamation of traditional and contemporary artistic methods. The idols are frequently represented in a variety of forms, each representing a distinct element of the Goddess, such as Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. The Devi is dressed in unique traditional garb and magnificent jewels on each day of Navaratri.
