HINDU ENCYCLOPEDIA

सनातन धर्म भूमिका

Meaning of "Durga"

Word

Durga

Sanskrit

दुर्गा

IAST

durgā

In General

Ma Durga is a Mother Goddess worshiped since Vedic age. Ma Durga, the Supreme Power of the Supreme Being is the main deity of the Sakteya sect which evolved in the subsequent period. Her triumph as Mahishasura Mardini, is the central episode of the scripture Devi Mahatmya and this victory is celebrated annually in the festivals of Navaratri and Durga Puja. Mother Durga is the infinite power in itself. Her power is terrible before enemy but loving and peaceful for her devotees. The enemies are both internal and external. There are many external entities and forces which limit our potential and doom our fortune. The internal enemies are selfishness, jealousy, prejudice, hatred, laziness and a thousand other bad qualities. With her ferocious act, she cut the bad qualities and annihilates the external enemies. The sadaka thus free from the weakness will emerge strong to do any spiritual task.

As per Devibhagavata, Ma Durgadevi is the consort of Siva. Narayani, the Visnumaya, is none else than Durga. She is also perfect Brahma, the one and the only one with no second to it. She is worshipped by Devas like Brahma and by sages. She is the basis, the root and root cause of everything. She is eternal, upholder of dharma, truth itself and the giver and promoter of happiness, reputation, welfare, salvation etc. as also of sorrow, grief, pain etc. She takes great pleasure in removing the worries and sorrows of devotees who seek refuge in her. She is all-power, achievements and assets personified. All imaginable permutations and combinations of every attribute comprise in her and it is she who activates the universal soul.

Veda

Veda consider Ma Durga as the goddess who offer the power of protection to overcome the obstacles

Vajasaneyi Samhita and Taittareya Brahmana mention about Ma Durga. Tantra also have close association with mother Goddess.

There are lots of hymns in praise of mother goddess in Veda. For examples, Sri Sukta from RV (khila) and Durga sukta is from TA (4.10.2) and Narayana Upanishad

Purana

Durga Ma incarnated as the united power of all divine beings, who offered her the required physical attributes and weapons to kill the demon Mahishasur. Ma Durga have many arms and all type of weapon and ride on fearsome tiger or lion. There are many incarnations of Durga: Kali, Bhagvati, Bhavani, Ambika, Lalita, Gauri, Kandalini, Jaya, Rajeswari, etc. Her nine appellations or forms are Skondamata, Kusumanda, Shailaputri, Kaalratri, Brahmacharini, Maha Gauri, Katyayani, Chandraghanta and Siddhidatri.

Devi Mahatmya which is part of the large text Markandeya Purana tells the story of Ma Durga's triumph over Mahishasura. The chapters 81-93 of this purana narrates the story of Killing of the buffalo head Asura, which form the central episode of Devi Mahatmya. The authorship of this purana is attributed to Markandeya Maharshi. The text is also called Saptasati as it contains 700 shlokas (Sapta means seven and shata means hundred) arranged in 13 chapters. Navaratri festival is not complete with out reading this Devi Mathmya in full. Devi Bhagavatam and Many other puranas also gives stories about Ma Durga.

Related entries found !

Word Sanskrit IAST In General Veda Purana
Durga Sapthasatiदुर्गासप्तशतीdurgā saptashatī

See: DeviMahtmya

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Durga Sapthasatiदुर्गासप्तशतीdurgā saptashatī

See: DeviMahtmya

Read More