the-feminine-divine:

Durga Puja

With Indra’s city still under siege, the gods arrange the marriage of Siva and Tripura-sundari. After some time the goddess, with her female associates (saktis), goes off to battle Bhanda and his army. Tripura-sundari produces many weapons from the noose and goad that she carries in her hands. Bhanda is amused by the army of females and predicts that they will be as ineffective in battle as the name of their leader, Lalita (soft and delicate), suggests. Tripura-sundari and her army, however, turn out to be superior to Bhanda and his army. In the course of the battle the two chief protagonists, Tripura-sundari and Bhanda, produce various beings from their bodies. Bhanda creates a number of demons that are well known in Hindu mythology, and Tripura-sundari counters by bringing forth a corresponding deity or avatara to defeat the demon. Bhanda, for example, creates Hiranyakasipu. Lalita in turn produces Prahlada, who in the well-known Vaisnava myth defeats Hiranyakasipu. Bhanda brings forth Ravana, and Tripura-sundari creates Rama from one of her fingernails. In the course of the battle Bhanda also creates Mahisasura. The goddess responds by producing Durga, who is ornamented with jewelry given to her by many male gods. Durga then slays Mahisasura, as she does in the famous Devi-mahatmya. Finally, the goddess defeats Bhanda himself. After the battle, the gods, led by Kama-deva’s wife, Rati, implore Tripura-sundari to restore the god of love, whom Siva had destroyed. She does so, and desire is restored to the world. The gods praise her in unison.

centuriespast:

Durgā Mahishasuramardini.

Kalighat Style

Circa 1860

The British Museum

101michellem:

ॐ ᴊᴀɪ ᴍᴀᴀ ᴅᴜʀɢᴀ ॐ

centuriespast:

Woodcut, print depicting Durgā

Late 19th century

The British Museum

instakrishna:

durga/the inaccessible/the invincible #durga #hindu #hinduism #religion #brooklyn #nyc by rumcupcake http://instagr.am/p/UPqciNuGuT/. Posted on January 08, 2013 at 05:34PM

shatkona:

Durga, Kali, and Shiva

Although those who are ignorant of her story and her symbolism may think her a demon, the Goddess Kali is a mighty vanquisher of demons. She was created by the Goddess Durga to destroy the demons Shimbhu and Nishimbhu. In her fervor to destroy evil, Kali lost control. God Shiva cast himself down under her feet like a corpse, which shocked Kali back to her senses. In shame, she bit her own tongue, which is why we see her depicted with blood-red tongue sticking out.

The image of Kali standing on Shiva also represents the fact that God is inert without his Shakti or power. Shiva and Kali (male and female, passive and active) together here represent the Absolute. Shiva lays passive while Kali, his Shakti, is active.

bahuthidur:

 Jai Maa Durga!

jai-harihara:

Surajkund Crafts Mela 2012 by Essency Gallery on Flickr.

Jewelry, clothing, sculpture and painting at Surajkund’s annual arts and crafts fair, 2012.

organicbody:

Durga Puja (Festival of Durga)

(source: durgapujaonline.com)