Mahishi (Mahishasur's Sister)

Mahishi was a demoness, she was the sister of her deceased brother, the Mahishasura, who, in many legends was killed by Parvati's part incarnate, Goddess Durga. She sought revenge against her and the Gods who participated in the death of her brother. Certain legends also stated that Mahishi was the cursed wife of Dattatreya, Leela. Driven crazy by the curse, she sought to rule the three worlds using a boon from Brahma.

Mahishasur, born of a she-buffalo, undertook severe austerities to Lord Brahma, he was granted the boon of invulnerability against all men (including humans, sages, demon, Deity and God). Being given this boon, he gathered his demon forces and picked a war with Indra. Likewise, he defeated him along with his own forces and began occupying the three worlds. The defeated Gods sought the refuge of Lords Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and narrated to them about the terrors about the demon Mahishasur. Hearing about Mahishasur's cruelties, the Tridev (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) became very furious and from their fury, emerged out flames coming from their bodies. Those similar flames also came from the bodies of the Gods too, including Indra, the head chief of the Gods. Those fiery energies of the Gods transformed into a woman, the woman was none other than Goddess Durga, who had ten arms (or eighteen). The Gods seeing her become very glad that Durga will be able to kill Mahishasur. Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Indra, Surya, Chandra, Agni, Vayu, Varun, Kubera, Yamraj and other Gods gave her new red apparels, heavy ornaments, their respective energies and weapons and Himavan, the King of the Himalayas and father of Goddess Gauri gave her a lion to ride upon. As Goddess Durga was fully armed and ready for battle, she utters a ferocious bloodcurdling and deafening roar which shook all the worlds, even reaching Mahishasur and his army. He and his army went out to find the one who dared to cause havoc. Then, at the battlefield, Goddess Durga was waiting for Mahishasur. The army of Mahishasur was led by generals like Chixsur, Chamar, Durmukh, Asiloma, Ugrasen, Utpal, Vidal, Vidhan, Ugravirya, Udagrasur, Karalasur, Vashkaal, Durdhara, Mahahanu, Ugrasya, Vikataksha, Ugravaktra, Dahan, Baskalasur, Udyatarasur, Virlaxa, Vidaalnetra, Vishang, Vaayakaal, Agraayudh, Praghas, Vighas, Shakukama, Vibhavasu, Vidyunmali, Sumali, Parjanya, Krura, Vidutprabha, Virupaksha, Lomavarshak, Anjan, Nilakukshi, Udraksh, Meghavarna, Balahak, Lalataksh, Subhim, Bhayankar, Dhawnksh, Dhvasta Karna, Shanka Kukarna, Vajrakaya, Ativeerya, Rakthaksha, Bhimadamshtra, Vidyutjihva, Atikay, Mahakaya, Dirghabahu, Krithantak, Kaal, Kritanth, Raktaksha, Haran, Mitrah, Anitya, Yajaha, Goghna, Stridhan, and Parakrami. Mahishasur's army becomes terrified. Goddess Durga challenges Mahishasur for war. His hoards attack the Goddess all at once, but the infuriated Goddess Durga launched various attacks on them with the powers of the weapons of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Indra, Surya, Chandra, Agni, Vayu, Varun, Kubera, Yamraj and other Gods. A severe war started. Goddess Durga hurled various weapons like the trident, mace, sword, axe, thunderbolt etc. at the army of demons. The demon armies were killed all at once and the battlefield was covered with dead bodies of the dead demon soldiers and their blood flowing. The generals (Chixsur, Chamar, Durmukh, Asiloma, Ugrasen, Utpal, Vidal, Vidhan, Ugravirya, Udagrasur, Karalasur, Vashkaal, Durdhara, Mahahanu, Ugrasya, Vikataksha, Ugravaktra, Dahan, Baskalasur, Udyatarasur, Virlaxa, Vidaalnetra, Vishang, Vaayakaal, Agraayudh, Praghas, Vighas, Shakukama, Vibhavasu, Vidyunmali, Sumali, Parjanya, Krura, Vidutprabha, Virupaksha, Lomavarshak, Anjan, Nilakukshi, Udraksh, Meghavarna, Balahak, Lalataksh, Subhim, Bhayankar, Dhawnksh, Dhvasta Karna, Shanka Kukarna, Vajrakaya, Ativeerya, Rakthaksha, Bhimadamshtra, Vidyutjihva, Atikay, Mahakaya, Dirghabahu, Krithantak, Kaal, Kritanth, Raktaksha, Haran, Mitrah, Anitya, Yajaha, Goghna, Stridhan, and Parakrami) of Mahishasur were each killed one by one by Goddess Durga, no matter how hard they tried to face her. Seeing his army perish, Mahishasur assumed various forms of a buffalo, lion, a warrior, and elephant. As Goddess Durga destroyed his forms, Mahishasur again re-assumed the form of a buffalo and charges at Goddess Durga. Her champion mount, the lion attacks the buffalo and tramples him. Goddess Durga pressed the buffalo's back with such force that Mahishasur came out of the buffalo's mouth. In anger, she impaled him with her trident and severed his head with her sword. Seeing the fall of Mahishasur, the Gods become delighted and start eulogizing her.

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