Durga

Durga
The Invincible One Goddess of Motherhood Victory of Good over Evil
Durga Mahishasura-mardini, the slayer of the buffalo demon
Devanagari	दुर्गा
Sanskrit transliteration	Durgā
Affiliation	Renuka, Adi Parashakti, Shakti, Devi, Gauri, Bhagwati, Kali, Parvati, Tara, Tripura Sundari, Bhavani
Abode	Chinta Mani (Mani Dweep) (Sarv Lok)
Mantra	ॐ दुं दुर्गायै नमः oṁ duṁ durgāyai namaḥ / ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे oṁ aiṁ hrīṁ klīṁ cāmuṇḍāyai vicce
Weapon	Chakra, Conch Shell, Mace, Bow, Long Sword, Thunderbolt
Consort	Shiva
Children	Ganesha, Kartikeya, Ashokasundari
Mount	Tiger or Lion
Region	Whole India
Festivals	Durga Puja, Navratri

ॐ दुं दुर्गायै नमः oṁ duṁ durgāyai namaḥ /

Durga is the form of mother goddess in Shaktism. She is also called Renu or Renuga, which means "wife of lord Shiva (or) mother of universe". There are many incarnations of Durga in Shaktism and nine appellations: Skandamata, Kushmanda, Shailaputri, Kaalratri, Brahmacharini, Katyayani, Chandraghanta and Siddhidatri. A list of 108 names that are used to describe her is very popularly in use by eastern Hindus and is called "Ashtottara Shatanamavali of Goddess Durga".

The historian Ramaprasad Chanda wrote the following treatise in 1916 about the ideological development of Goddess Durga from primitive goddess to her current form:

"...it is possible to distinguish two different strata – one primitive and the other advanced. The primitive form of Durga (Parvati) is the result of syncretism of a mountain-goddess worshiped by the dwellers of the Himalaya and the Vindhyas, a goddess worshiped by the Abhiras, a vegetation spirit conceived as female and a war-goddess. As her votaries advanced in civilization the primitive war-goddess was transformed into the personification of the all-destroying time (Kali), the vegetation spirit into the primordial energy (Adya Sakti) and the saviouress from samsara (cycle of rebirths) and gradually brought into line with the Brahmanic mythology and philosophy...."

The Devi Puranas state that Durga is the warrior manifestation of Goddess Adishakti. Durga means the Invincible One. Therefore, Goddess Adishakti is the Divine Mother of the Universe who had taken birth on Earth as Parvati to win and woo Shiva. Lalita Sahasranamam bestows Durga as a name of her indicating that Lalita is none other than a form of Maa Adishakti Parvati.

Durga is the supreme soul, otherwise called Shakti (primordial cosmic energy). As such, she is the original cause of all the present or past worldly occurrences. From Durga, all phenomena of creation, existence and destruction are generated through the emergence of two triads of supreme powers: