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The Supreme power and the mother of all Gods and Goddesses, Maa Durga is the ultimate primordial being and the demon slayer. This Devi with lush black hair, beautiful eyes and ten hands dawned on earth to establish the supremacy of goodness over evil. In a battle fought over a span of ten days, Maa Durga wins the ceaseless battle between Gods and demons. Durga pujo is a way to celebrate this eternal manifestation of truth and purity. Devi Durga, the daughter of Himalaya, is an epitomy of graceful beauty, motherliness, and the strong and valor warrior.
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The legend of Maa Durga has several renditions and so does the story behind Durga Puja. According to the most prevalent tale, the male gods of heaven created Devi Durga, the wrathful goddess, an incarnation of Ma Sati (Lord Shiva’s wife). A powerful demon named, Mahishasur (born out of the union of Rambha, the demon king and a water buffalo), who could easily change his form from human to buffalo dethroned Indra, the king of Heavens. This demon was bestowed by a unique boon from Brahmadev, whereby neither Man nor God could defeat him. Utter chaos and dismay prevailed through the entire heaven. All the Gods were shunned out of their golden seats. Defeated and disheartened the Gods request the Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh) to save them from annihilation.
The Trinity then comes together and creates a radiantly beautiful woman, Durga. A manifestation of the Supreme Power Adishakti herself, Devi Durga is the embodiment of the three flowing channels of primordial energy (and the subsequent kundalini powers) – Maha Lakshmi (Central Energy Channe), Maha Saraswati (Right Energy Channel) and Maha Kali (Left Energy Channel). These energies mould together to generate the ultimate source of energy as Ma Durga.
All other gods bestow their powers and energies on this beautiful, gracious and eloquent lady. King Himalaya adopts the Devi as his daughter and presents her with the magnificent White Lion that becomes her carrier. Armed with weapons in ten hands and mounted on the lion, Mother Durga descends on earth and there ensues a fierce battle between the Devi and demon Mahishasur. This ferocious battle continues for a span of ten days. Finally on the tenth day, Devi Durga kills Mahishahur with her trident (and hence the day is known as Vijay Dashami).
The festival is a celebration of this ultimate victory of Good over evil. It is said, every year Goddess Durga comes back to her father, Himalaya, along with her four children (Ganesh, Kartik, Lakshmi and Saraswati) during those eternal days of victory. It is an occasion of joy and happiness all over as we celebrate the return of the daughter through Durga Puja.
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