Durga

The name Durga has a number of meanings, including "the one who is difficult to reach." Durga is the Divine Mother who is only attained through pure devotion. She also represents self-knowledge, which is most difficult to attain. Mother Durga may have six, eight or ten arms and she rides on a lion or a tiger. As she is the consort of Lord Shiva, she also holds his attributes - the trisula, bow, sword and sometimes a snake.

Hindu scriptures say that she is also the sister of Vishnu and that he lent her his weapons to destroy the evil buffalo demon, Mahisha. That is why she also holds a discus, whip and the conch shell. Mahisha represents the tireless ego, the enemy of the spiritual aspirant. Durga is the powerful and purifying divine energy that resists the ego and turns us onto the correct path. She turns the mind away from material desires and brings it to the path of goodness. Worshipping Mother Durga establishes the mind on the correct path. It is also stated that she gives courage and fearlessness. She is also called Durga the Deliverer, after she removed the fear of Indra, the King of the Gods and the other Devas, the heavenly beings. She is the Mother who helps us cross over the material world to the spiritual plane of being.