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A goddess asked Brahma, the creator, to give her son, Mahisa, immortality. Citing that all life must eventually die, Brahma refused. The evil god Mahisa argued, "Grant me that a woman alone can kill me", and Brahma granted him his wish. Mahisa marched a great demon army on Amarapur, home of the gods, sure that he could not be defeated (as traditionally women did not fight). After a thousand year battle, the gods were defeated and fled. Hearing of the news, the Holy Trinity (Brahma, Visnhu, Shiva) grow hot with anger and created a single mass of light formed by their divine energy, and Durga emerged from it. The gods gave her weapons

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Durga is "the one who eliminates suffering", known for combating the forces of evil in the world. She was initially created by the Holy Trinity (Bramha, Vishnu, and Shiva) to protect the world from the buffalo demon, Mahishasura, and went on to defend all good and harmonious in the world.

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Weapon, from God - Represents...
Trident, from Shiva - Satwa/inactivity, Rajas/activity, Tamas/non-activity

Discus, from Vishnu - the world at her fingertips

Noose, from Varun -

Thunderbolt, from Indra - Firmness in one's decisions

Arrows, from Vayu - Energy

Lion & Clothes, from Himavant -

Conch Shells - Om

Almost-Bloomed Lotus - Certainty but not finality of Success, staying true to spiritual quest

Sword/Axe/Mace - knowledge

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Navratri celebrates Durga's victory over the buffalo demon, Mahishasura. Its celebrated across India, but Gujarat holds a 9-night dance festival.
Durga Puja is a 4-day celebration in the Fall, most famous in Bangladesh, Nepal, & the Indian state Kolkatta. Statues are built and paraded down streets, prayers are offered, and temples and houses alike are decorated. Festivals showcase dance, dramas, and food special to the occasion.
This year, both fall between Sept 21-30!

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Durga is multi-limbed, portrayed with 8 to 18 hands, each holding a symbolic weapon provided by the main deities. Durga also has 3 eyes, the left symbolized as the moon to show desire, the right as a sun to illustrate action, and the middle as fire for knowledge.  She always rides a lion or tiger, illustrating her power and determination.

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Although she has many different reincarnations, the most notable are Kali, Parvati, Devi, Bhavani, and Shakti.

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Durga was created by Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva's combined power.
Although she is another form of Parvati, Shiva's wife, the goddess of fertility, as Durga she is unmarried and not seen as a submissive diety or one that lends her power to any male god.