![[parvati - daughter of parvataraja]](artwork/parvati.jpg) |
| PARVATI - DAUGHTER OF PARVATARAJA |
In her second appearance Durga came to the world as Parvati,
the daughter of Himalaya. As she was Satee, the daughter of Daksha married to Shiva in her previous
birth, in the second life too she wanted to be the consort of Shiva. But after
the sacrifice of his first wife Shiva had lost all interest in marriage. Parvati
now realized that there was only one way of attracting his attention and winning
his affection. She undertook ascetic rites and recited praying hymns for one
thousand years to please god Shiva. Only then Shiva was convinced that Parvati
was worthy of being accepted as a wife. The wedding
of Shiva and Parvati is described
in a very colorful manner in Puranic literature and so many songs have been composed
how the marriage procession of Shiva is composed of beggars, mendicants and wanderers.
![[durga]](artwork/durga.jpg) |
| DURGA |
How Parvati came to have the name of Durga is an interesting
narration. On one
occasion the sage AGASTYA asked Kartikeya why Parvati, his mother was called
Durga. Kartikeya replied that once there was a demon, named
DURGA, the son of RURU. He with his austerities pleased Brahma and by his blessings became very
powerful. He conquered the three worlds and even dethroned lNDRA, the king of
gods. He abolished all religious ceremonies so that Brahmans were terrified and
stopped reading Vedas. All the gods assembled and prayed to god Shiva to protect
them from the tyranny of this demon. Shiva took pity on them and asked Parvati
to go and destroy the evil demon. She calmed the gods and agreed to rescue them
from the evil Durga. There was long and fierce battle. As soon as the giant came
near with his evil followers Parvati assumed 1000 arms and also brought out a
number of weapons out of her body.
![[mahishamardinee - slayer of mahishasura]](artwork/mahishamardinee.jpg) |
| MAHISHAMARDINEE - SLAYER OF MAHISHASURA |
She repelled every attack and in the end the
demon assumed the shape of a fearful buffalo and with his horns cast trees, rocks
and mountains on the goddess, who cut everything into pieces. The goddess Parvati
pierced him with her trident and subdued him. The gods with this deliverance
praised the goddess and honored PARVATI with the name of DURGA.
Another legend connected with Durga is that Mahishasura
a king of the demons,
at a certain period overcame all the gods and reduced them all to the state of
incompetence. Indra together with all gods approached Shiva and Vishnu. These
two great gods became very angry at the misdeeds of this demon and at the request
of the suffering gods produced from their energy a goddess named Mahamaya or
Durga. Streams of glory emanated from all gods and entered Mahamaya, who now
resembled a mountain of fire and strength. This goddess
killed the demon Mahishasura and delivered the gods from the distress. Hence
she is also called as Mahisamardinee (Slayer of Mahisha).
According to Markendaya Purana the goddess Durga has assumed
ten different forms in order to destroy two great demons, Shambhu and Nishambhu. It is said that
at the close of the Tretayuga, these two giants by their austerities had obtained
great powers. Being exalted above the gods they began to fight against them.
They achieved many victories and gods were reduced to the deplorable state of
helplessness. They solicited the help of Brahma and Vishnu, who referred them
to go to Shiva. Shiva advised them to pray to Durga, who could be able to defeat
the two demons. Finally when gods appealed to Durga for ending their troubles,
she agreed.
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