Hindus hold Durga (दुर्गा, "the inaccessible" or "the invincible") or Maa Durga (Mother Durga) as the "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress". Durga is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having ten arms, riding a lion or a tiger, carrying weapons and a lotus flower, maintaining a meditative smile, and practicing mudras, or symbolic hand gestures.
An embodiment of creative feminine force (Shakti), Durga exists in a state of svātantrya (independence from the universe and anything/anybody else, i.e., self-sufficiency) and fierce compassion. Kali is considered by Hindus to be an aspect of Durga. Durga in Her Gauri incarnation is also the mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya. She is thus considered the fiercer, demon-fighting form of Shiva's wife, goddess Parvati. Durga manifests fearlessness and patience, and never loses her sense of humor, even during spiritual battles of epic proportion.
The word Shakti means divine feminine force, and Durga is the warrior aspect of the Divine Mother. Other incarnations include Annapurna and Karunamayi (karuna = kindness). Durga's darker aspect Kali is represented as the consort of the god Shiva, on whose body she is often seen standing.
As a goddess, Durga's feminine power contains the energies of the gods. Each of her weapons was gifted to her by various gods: Shiva's Trishool (trident), Vishnu's Chakra (discus), Indra's Vajra (thunderbolt) etc.
According to the Devi Mahatmya story of the Markandeya Purana text, Durga was created as a warrior goddess to fight an asura (an inhumane force/demon) named Mahishasur. He had unleashed a reign of terror on earth, heaven and the nether worlds, and he could not be defeated by any man or god, anywhere. The gods went to Brahma, who had given Mahishasura the power to be the invincible conqueror of the universe. Brahma could do nothing. They made Brahma their leader and went to Vaikuntha — the place where Vishnu lay on Ananta Naag. They found both Vishnu and Shiva, and Brahma eloquently related the reign of terror Mahishasur had unleashed on the three worlds. Hearing this Vishnu, Shiva and all of the Gods became very angry and beams of fierce light emerged from their bodies. The blinding sea of light met at the Ashram of a priest named Katyan. The goddess Durga took the name Katyani from the priest and emerged from the sea of light. She introduced herself in the language of the Rig-Veda, saying she was the form of the supreme Brahman who had created all the gods. Now she had come to fight the demon to save the gods. They did not create her; it was her lila that she emerged from their combined energy. The Gods were blessed with her compassion.
Durga Chalisa is a 40 couplet invocation to Durga:
दुर्गा चालीसा
नमो नमो दुर्गे सुख करनी,
नमो नमो अम्बे दुःख हरनी.
निराकार है ज्योति तुम्हारी,
तिहूँ लोक फेली उज्यारी.
शशि ललाट मुख महाविशाला,
नेत्र लाल भृकुटी विकराला.
रूप मातु को अधिक सुहावे,
दरस करत जन अति सुख पावे.
तुम संसार शक्ति लय कीना,
पालन हेतु अन्न धन दीना.
अन्नपूर्ण हुई जग पाला,
तुम्ही आदी सुंदरी बाला.
प्रलय काल सब नाशन हारी,
तुम गौरी शिवशंकर प्यारी.
शिव योगी तुम्हरे गुण गावें,
ब्रह्मा विष्णु तुम्हें नित ध्यावें.
रूप सरस्वती को तुम धारा,
दे सुबुद्धि ऋषि मुनिन उबारा.
धर्यो रूप नरसिम्हा को अम्बा,
प्रगट भई फाढ़ कर खम्बा.
रक्षा कर प्रहलाद बचायो,
हिरनाकुश को स्वर्ग पठायो.
लक्ष्मी रूप धरो जग माहीं,
श्री नारायण अंग समाहीं.
क्षीर सिन्धु में करत विलासा,
दया सिन्धु दीजे मन आसा.
हिंगलाज में तुम्हीं भवानी,
महिमा अमित ना जात बखानी.
मातंगी धूमावती माता,
भुवनेश्वरी बगला सुखदाता.
श्री भैरव तारा जग तारिणी,
छिन्न भाल भव दुःख निवारिणी.
केहरी वाहन सोह भवानी,
लंगूर वीर चलत अगवानी.
कर में खप्पर खड़ग विराजे,
जाको देख काल डर भाजे.
सोहे अस्त्र और त्रिशूला,
जाते उठत शत्रु हिय शूला.
नगरकोट में तुम्ही विराजत,
तिहूँ लोक में डंका बाजत.
शुम्भ निशुम्भ दानव तुम मारे,
रक्तबीज शंखन संहारे.
महिषासुर नृप अति अभिमानी,
जेहि अघ भार मही अकुलानी.
रूप कराल कालिका धारा,
सेना सहित तुम तिही संहारा.
पढ़ी गाढ़ संतन पर जब जब,
भई सहाय मातु तुम तब तब.
अमरपुरी अरु बासव लोका,
तब महिमा सब रहें अशोका.
ज्वाला में है ज्योति तुम्हारी,
तुम्हें सदा पूजें नर नारी.
प्रेम भक्ति से जो यश गावे,
दुःख दरिद्र निकट नहीं आवे.
ध्यावे तुम्हें जो नर मन लाई,
जनम मरण ताको छुटी जाई.
जोगी सुर-मुनि कहत पुकारी,
जोग ना हो बिन शक्ति तुम्हारी.
शंकर अचरज तप कीन्हों,
काम, क्रोध जीत सब लीन्हों.
निसिदिन ध्यान धरो शंकर को,
काहू कल नहीं सुमिरो तुम को.
शक्ति रूप को मर्म ना पायो,
शक्ति गयी तब मन पछितायो.
शरणागत हुई कीर्ति बखानी,
जय जय जय जगदम्ब भवानी.
भई प्रसन्न आदि जगदम्बा,
दई शक्ति नहीं कीन विलम्बा.
मोको मातु कष्ट अति घेरो,
तुम बिन कौन हरे दुःख मेरो.
आशा तृष्णा निपट सतावें,
मोह मदादिक सब बिन्सावें.
शत्रु नाश कीजे महारानी,
सुमिरों इकचित तुम्हें भवानी.
करो कृपा हे मातु दयाला,
रिद्धि-सिद्धि दे करहु निहाला.
जब लगि जिअयूं दया फल पाऊँ,
तुम्हरो यश मैं सदा सुनाऊँ.
दुर्गा चालीसा जो गावे,
सब सुख भोग परमपद पावे.
And, ॐ श्री दुर्गाय नमः - Om Sri Durgaya Namah - is the simplest of Durga mantras.
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