{"id":4372,"date":"2026-04-27T10:36:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T10:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/durga\/"},"modified":"2026-06-05T14:26:27","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T14:26:27","slug":"durga","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/durga\/","title":{"rendered":"Durga"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"4372\" class=\"elementor elementor-4372 elementor-2004 elementor-bc-flex-widget\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-10fdade e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"10fdade\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-herohlft0 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"herohlft0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3ceb64 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c3ceb64\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-96ae5e1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"96ae5e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Durga, goddess of the Hindu tradition<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e45238a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e45238a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Durga is a goddess of the Hindu <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The passing on of knowledge and narratives across generations.\" tabindex=\"0\">tradition<\/span>.<\/p><p><strong>The war goddess and <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A spiritual being to which harmful or ambivalent effects are attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">demon<\/span> slayer, protector of the world.<\/strong> Durga is one of the most powerful goddesses of Hinduism, an embodiment of *Shakti*, the cosmic feminine power. She was created by the gods to defeat the demonic buffalo *Mahishasura*, whom no god could destroy alone.<\/p><p>Enthroned on a tiger, with ten arms full of weapons, Durga is the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sign that stands in place of an idea or meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">symbol<\/span> of the victory of good over evil. During Durga Puja, the largest festival of Bengal, she is welcomed anew each year.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-klsbdg01 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"klsbdg01\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-klshtm01 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"klshtm01\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"iwg-pill-row\"><span class=\"iwg-klasse-badge\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"God \/ goddess: personified supreme power in the pantheon of a culture, with clear responsibilities such as natural forces, fate, war, or fertility. Venerated through cults, offerings, and temple institutions.\">Goddess<\/span><a href=\"\/en\/hinduism\/\" class=\"iwg-kultur-badge\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"Hindu worlds of gods, asuras, and protective beings, from Vedic to Tantric.\">Hinduism<\/a><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f74855 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3f74855\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c30362 elementor-toc--minimized-on-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"1c30362\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:[],&quot;no_headings_message&quot;:&quot;Es wurden keine \\u00dcberschriften auf dieser Seite gefunden.&quot;,&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;,&quot;h3&quot;],&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;bullets&quot;,&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;fas fa-circle&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;,&quot;rendered_tag&quot;:&quot;&lt;svg class=\\&quot;e-font-icon-svg e-fas-circle\\&quot; viewBox=\\&quot;0 0 512 512\\&quot; xmlns=\\&quot;http:\\\/\\\/www.w3.org\\\/2000\\\/svg\\&quot;&gt;&lt;path d=\\&quot;M256 8C119 8 8 119 8 256s111 248 248 248 248-111 248-248S393 8 256 8z\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/path&gt;&lt;\\\/svg&gt;&quot;},&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;hierarchical_view&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\n\t\t\t\tTable of Contents\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__1c30362\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Open table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M207.029 381.476L12.686 187.132c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941l22.667-22.667c9.357-9.357 24.522-9.375 33.901-.04L224 284.505l154.745-154.021c9.379-9.335 24.544-9.317 33.901.04l22.667 22.667c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941L240.971 381.476c-9.373 9.372-24.569 9.372-33.942 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__1c30362\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Close table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M240.971 130.524l194.343 194.343c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941l-22.667 22.667c-9.357 9.357-24.522 9.375-33.901.04L224 227.495 69.255 381.516c-9.379 9.335-24.544 9.317-33.901-.04l-22.667-22.667c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941L207.03 130.525c9.372-9.373 24.568-9.373 33.941-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-toc__1c30362\" class=\"elementor-toc__body\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M500 975V858C696 858 858 696 858 500S696 142 500 142 142 304 142 500H25C25 237 238 25 500 25S975 237 975 500 763 975 500 975Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-herorght0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"herorght0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-heroimg00 iwg-hero-image elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"heroimg00\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_hinduismus_durga-683x1024.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4373\" alt=\"Durga - gods from the Hindu tradition, historical and illustrative\" srcset=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_hinduismus_durga-683x1024.webp 683w, https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_hinduismus_durga-200x300.webp 200w, https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_hinduismus_durga-768x1152.webp 768w, https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_hinduismus_durga.webp 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32917199 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"32917199\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26e916cb e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"26e916cb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-253a40d4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"253a40d4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1200c304 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1200c304\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Durga<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-159dcf9a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"159dcf9a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-48cee66f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"48cee66f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Brief Profile: Durga<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f50d82c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3f50d82c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Type:<\/strong> Major Hindu goddess, principal manifestation of the Devi (Mother), warrior goddess<br><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of the gods of a religion or culture.\" tabindex=\"0\">Pantheon<\/span>: Hinduism (especially Shaktism, venerated in all Hindu traditions)<br>Function: Destruction of <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A spiritual being to which harmful or ambivalent effect is attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">demons<\/span> (especially Mahishasura), protection of the world, cosmic mother<br>Main attributes: Eight or ten arms with the weapons of all the gods, tiger or lion as mount, Trishula<br>Main <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of religious acts of veneration for a deity or sacred figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult<\/span> sites: Kalighat (Bengal), Vaishno Devi (Jammu), Mysore (Chamundeshwari), Kamakhya<br>Aspect of: Parvati, in the Tantric hierarchy one of the ten Mahavidyas<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18613602 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"18613602\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-262b8a9f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"262b8a9f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Context<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46dcb7d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"46dcb7d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61d3ab3 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"61d3ab3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-117c166 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"117c166\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Period of the Texts<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73997a0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"73997a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Durga has been central to the Hindu tradition since the <em>Devi Mahatmyam<\/em> (5th\/6th century CE, part of the Markandeya Purana).<\/p><p>Her main <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A transmitted narrative about gods, origins and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span> is the battle against the buffalo demon <em>Mahishasura<\/em>, who can only be defeated by a woman; Durga arises from the combined energies of all the gods, and each god grants her his most important weapon (Vishnu the discus, Shiva the Trishula, Indra the Vajra, and so on).<\/p><p>The main period of Durga veneration: according to the Puranas, consistently central. Today she is celebrated especially in Bengal with the <em>Durga Puja<\/em> festival (September\/October, the largest regional festival of Bengal).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d47b156 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d47b156\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ff38c2b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ff38c2b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Area of Distribution<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e49fcc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e49fcc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Main cult sites: <strong>Kalighat<\/strong> (Kolkata, together with Kali), <strong>Vaishno Devi<\/strong> (Jammu &amp; Kashmir, one of the most visited Hindu <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A religiously motivated journey to a sacred site.\" tabindex=\"0\">pilgrimage<\/span> sites), <strong>Chamundeshwari <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A building used for the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">Temple<\/span><\/strong> (Mysore, Karnataka, with the famous Mysore Dasara festival), <strong>Kamakhya<\/strong> (Assam, one of the most important Shakti Pithas).<\/p><p>The <em>108 Shakti Pithas<\/em> are the pilgrimage sites where parts of Sati&#8217;s body are said to have fallen, many of them Durga <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A building used for the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temples<\/span>. Internationally present in every larger Indian diaspora community with a Hindu <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A building used for the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db03c39 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"db03c39\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-229a87b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"229a87b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f471fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1f471fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Source Situation<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36b1201 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"36b1201\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Central sources: <em>Devi Mahatmyam<\/em> (also called Durga Saptashati, the central source of Durga <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The scholarly study of God and of the faith of a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">theology<\/span>, 700 Sanskrit verses), <em>Devi Bhagavata Purana<\/em>, <em>Markandeya Purana<\/em>, <em>Skanda Purana<\/em>. Tantric texts: <em>Sundara-Kanda<\/em>, <em>Lalita Sahasranama<\/em> (1000 names of the Devi).<\/p><p>Secondary literature: Kinsley, <em>Hindu Goddesses<\/em>; Coburn, <em>Encountering the Goddess<\/em> (classic Devi Mahatmyam translation with commentary); Pintchman, <em>The Rise of the Goddess in the Hindu Tradition<\/em>; Erndl, <em>Victory to the Mother<\/em>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ae0637c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3ae0637c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-31d07739 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"31d07739\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Designation and Spellings<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b7642947 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b7642947\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a086266 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a086266\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Durga is a beautiful, warlike goddess who rides on a tiger or lion. She has ten arms, each armed: a sword, a discus (Sudarshana), a trident, a bow, a mace, a lance, and further weapons.<\/p><p>She wears a red garment and gleaming jewels. Her face radiates gentleness as well as unshakable determination. The animal beneath her, the tiger, <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sign that stands in place of an idea or meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">symbol<\/span>izes the wild, uncontrollable nature that stands under her rule.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-709a44a8 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"709a44a8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f585873 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2f585873\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Characteristics<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-70621c12 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"70621c12\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4296eb49 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4296eb49\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Durga is the protector against evil forces and cosmic disorder. The battle against Mahishasura symbolizes the eternal conflict between <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"In Hinduism, duty and cosmic order; in Buddhism, the teaching of the Buddha.\">Dharma<\/span> (order) and Adharma (chaos). For nine nights (Navaratri) she is venerated with fasting, meditation, and dances.<\/p><p>On the tenth day, <em>Dussehra<\/em> or <em>Vijayadashami<\/em>, the victory over Mahishasura is celebrated. At household altars, the faithful receive her <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The bestowal of well-being and protection, often in a fixed verbal form.\" tabindex=\"0\">blessings<\/span> for protection and prosperity.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44e71476 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"44e71476\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c1fc3f0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3c1fc3f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Profile: Durga<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-84f33b8e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"84f33b8e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-hqkdc67p elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"hqkdc67p\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The most important aspects of Durga at a glance. The following fields summarize origin, function, appearance, veneration, symbols, and cultural parallels.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-pemmx7c5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"pemmx7c5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-pemmx7c1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"pemmx7c1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-qh9oavvu iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"qh9oavvu\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-awzx8k2k elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"awzx8k2k\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Cultural Context<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-x6rowhv0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"x6rowhv0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Durga is the warlike principal manifestation of the Hindu <em>Devi<\/em> (mother goddess). In the <em>Devi Mahatmyam<\/em> <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A handed-down narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span>, she arises from the combined energies (<em>tejas<\/em>) of all the male gods, who are helpless against the buffalo demon Mahishasura.<\/p><p>She is more than the sum of the gods: each grants her his most important weapon, so that she has eight or ten hands full of divine power.<\/p><p>In the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The academic study of God and the doctrines of a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">theological<\/span> consolidation, she is regarded as a wrathful aspect of Parvati, and thus as the consort of Shiva. In the Tantric tradition, she stands above all other Devi aspects as Mahashakti.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8e3o4kxs iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8e3o4kxs\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-08rkdgov elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"08rkdgov\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Durga's Audience<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-uwjelx8s elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"uwjelx8s\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Destroyer of all that is demonic, protector of the cosmic order. Patron of warriors and kings (in historical India, Durga Pujas were performed before battles).<\/p><p>In the Bhakti <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of religious acts of veneration for a deity or holy figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult<\/span>, she is <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The petitioning or invoking address to a deity or power.\" tabindex=\"0\">invoked<\/span> as <em>Maa<\/em> (Mother); in Bengal she is not the warming, motherly figure (that is Kali in the Bengali tradition), but radiantly protective and motherly. In the Mysore Dasara festival she was historically invoked as the protective goddess of the kingdom.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-jm2n74ec iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"jm2n74ec\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8vufse4c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8vufse4c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Appearance<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-mwb9u015 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"mwb9u015\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A radiant, beautiful female figure with golden skin, in a golden-yellow or red sari, with rich jewelry. Eight or ten arms (in Bengal usually ten).<\/p><p>In her hands the weapons of all the gods: Trishula (from Shiva), Sudarshana <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An energy node in the subtle body according to Indian tradition; classical tantra recognizes seven main chakras along the spine.\" tabindex=\"0\">Chakra<\/span> (from Vishnu), Vajra (from Indra), bow and arrow (from Surya), sword (from Yama), skull cup, snake, bell (Damaru), lotus.<\/p><p>Mount: <em>lion<\/em> or <em>tiger<\/em> (in Bengal usually a lion, in Karnataka the tiger). She stands or kneels on the defeated Mahishasura. Third eye on the forehead. Long dark hair.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-pemmx7c2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"pemmx7c2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37ss2yr6 iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"37ss2yr6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3v0wp3wx elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3v0wp3wx\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Activity<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w3247g2m elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w3247g2m\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Sphere of effect:<\/strong> Durga is invoked in acute situations of need for protection. <em>Durga Puja<\/em> in Bengal (September\/October): a ten-day festival with elaborate clay statues (made by a lineage of <em>kumorti<\/em> craftsmen) that are <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Belonging to a fixed sequence of religious actions.\" tabindex=\"0\">ritually<\/span> immersed in water at the end of the festival.<\/p><p>Mysore Dasara in Karnataka: the same occasion, but with the Mysore Palace as the stage. <em>Navratri<\/em> (nine nights) as her universally Hindu festival, with ecstatic dance rites (<em>garba<\/em>, <em>dandiya<\/em> in Gujarat). <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A person who undertakes a religiously motivated journey to a holy place.\" tabindex=\"0\">Pilgrims<\/span> to Vaishno Devi climb about 13 km up to the cave <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sacred place dedicated to the veneration of a deity.\" tabindex=\"0\">sanctuary<\/span>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0qpjal9w iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0qpjal9w\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ndoih0o elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6ndoih0o\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Means of Protection<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6684tyh9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6684tyh9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Trishula, Sudarshana Chakra, Vajra, sword, bow and arrow, shield, bell, skull cup, lotus, snake, lion\/tiger (mount). <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Belonging to the divine and thereby withdrawn from everyday use.\" tabindex=\"0\">Sacred<\/span> plants: bilva tree, hibiscus, lotus. Sacred animals: lion, tiger. Sacred colors: red and gold.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3lfi7x32 iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3lfi7x32\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0kg99ga1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0kg99ga1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Durga's Parallels<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-n0fum6kp elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"n0fum6kp\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Kali<\/em> (Hinduism, her wrathful aspect), <em>Parvati<\/em> (gentle form), <em>Lakshmi<\/em> and <em>Sarasvati<\/em> (parallel Devi aspects), <em>Athena<\/em> (Greece, warrior and protector), <em>Sekhmet<\/em> (Egypt, blood-drunk lioness), <em>Ishtar<\/em> (Mesopotamia, love and war, lioness on lions), <em>Anahita<\/em> (Persian).<\/p><p>Functionally: all warrior goddesses who destroy demons share Durga&#8217;s aspects. In the broader context: the Madonna of Mariazell and the Black Madonna of Cz\u0119stochowa as Christian motherly protective parallels.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7533bc7a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7533bc7a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2447d18d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2447d18d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Practical Defense<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d5d0260c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d5d0260c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-341be2ac elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"341be2ac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Veneration rituals<\/strong><\/p><p>Durga is the warrior-mother aspect of the Devi\/Shakti. The main festival is <em>Navaratri<\/em> (nine nights, in the month of Ashvin, Sept.\/Oct.) with daily pujas to different Devi aspects.<\/p><p>In Bengal, Navaratri culminates in the four-day <em>Durga Puja<\/em> with artfully shaped clay statues (immersed in the Hooghly River at the conclusion on Vijayadashami; cf. McDermott, <em>Encountering Kali<\/em>). In southern India, the more prominent equivalent is the Mahishasura Mardini festival with a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A solemn religious procession.\" tabindex=\"0\">procession<\/span>.<\/p><p><strong>Mantras and invocations<\/strong><\/p><p>The <em>Devi Mahatmya<\/em> (Markandeya Purana, c. 6th century) is her central hymnic text, 700 verses, hence also called <em>Saptashati<\/em>. The seed <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sacred syllable or formula repeated in Hinduism and Buddhism.\" tabindex=\"0\">mantra<\/span> &#8220;Dum&#8221; and the longer &#8220;Om Dum Durg\u0101yai Nama\u1e25&#8221; are used in <em>japa<\/em> repetition. The Mahishasura Mardini Stotra (attributed to Adi Shankara) is a liturgical standard.<\/p><p><strong><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A worn object to which a protective, misfortune-averting effect is attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">Amulets<\/span> and protective symbols<\/strong><\/p><p>Durga&#8217;s ten arms (each with a weapon of one of the individual gods) and the lion as mount are iconic. The Trikona <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"In Hinduism and Buddhism, a geometric diagram for ritual use.\" tabindex=\"0\">Yantra<\/span> with a bindu at the center serves as a geometric protective symbol.<\/p><p>Red sindur and yellow mustard seeds (haldi) serve as protective paste in birth rituals. Copper plaques with her nine forms (Navadurga) were traditionally hung at house entrances.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a584676 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5a584676\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d0757bf elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6d0757bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Durga, Parallels in Other Cultures<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-60563f68 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"60563f68\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a93fdd6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5a93fdd6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<footer class=\"iwg-literatur\"><p>Durga resembles Athena of the Greeks; both are warlike, wise, and protectors of cities. She also shares traits with Artemis (the hunt, wilderness) and the Norse Valkyrie (warlike maidens).<\/p><p>In modern <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Collective term for teachings that claim a hidden knowledge accessible only to initiates.\" tabindex=\"0\">esoteric<\/span> circles, she is often read as an archetype of female strength and independence. Durga&#8217;s battle against Mahishasura is a timeless narrative of good against evil.<\/p><div data-nosnippet=\"true\" class=\"iwg-litliste\"><\/div><\/footer>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpd4ea101 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cpd4ea101\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpcec19ad elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cpcec19ad\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Victory over Mahishasura: The Myth in the Devi Mahatmya<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp05d5104 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cp05d5104\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp6925bef elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cp6925bef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The central <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A handed-down narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span> of Durga is her battle against the buffalo demon Mahishasura. It is told in detail in the <em>Devi M\u0101h\u0101tmya<\/em>, a text handed down as part of the <em>M\u0101rka\u1e47\u1e0deya Pur\u0101\u1e47a<\/em> and dated to roughly the 5th to 6th century.<\/p><p>This text is regarded as the most important foundation of goddess veneration in Hinduism.<\/p><p>The narrative begins with a crisis among the gods. Mahishasura, a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A spiritual being to which harmful or ambivalent effects are attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">demon<\/span> who can take the form of a buffalo, has attained invincibility against any male being through ascetic practice and has driven the gods out of heaven. Since no single <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being venerated as divine within a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">deity<\/span> can defeat him, the gods combine their wrath and their energies.<\/p><p>From this united power, Durga arises as a radiant, many-armed goddess. Each god equips her with one of his weapons: Shiva gives the trident, Vishnu the discus, and so on. Her mount, the lion, comes from the mountain deity.<\/p><p>A long battle follows against Mahishasura and his hosts. The <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A spiritual being to which harmful or ambivalent effects are attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">demon<\/span> changes form several times, but Durga sees through every transformation. Finally she kills him with her trident as he steps half out of the buffalo body.<\/p><p>From the perspective of <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The discipline that studies religions comparatively and without confessional commitment.\" tabindex=\"0\">religious studies<\/span>, the construction is significant: Durga is not one goddess among others, but the bundled divine power itself, the <em>shakti<\/em>.<\/p><p>The <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A handed-down narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span> thus provides the theological grounding for why the goddess can be venerated as the highest reality. The <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The study of pictorial content and its meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">iconography<\/span> of Mahishasuramardini, the slayer of the buffalo demon, has been among the most widespread image types in Indian art since the Gupta period.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp2202eea e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cp2202eea\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp3e0d000 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cp3e0d000\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Devi Mahatmya and the Three Episodes<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp695c6d9 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cp695c6d9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp2d62f0c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cp2d62f0c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The <em>Devi M\u0101h\u0101tmya<\/em>, also called <em>Durg\u0101 Sapta\u015bat\u012b<\/em> or <em>Ca\u1e47\u1e0d\u012b<\/em>, comprises about seven hundred verses and is divided into three large narrative sections, each of which is assigned an aspect of the goddess. This tripartite division is central to understanding Durga <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The scholarly study of God and of the faith of a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">theology<\/span>.<\/p><p>The first part tells how the goddess, as <em>Yoganidr\u0101<\/em>, the cosmic sleep, awakens Vishnu so that he can defeat two primordial demons. The second part contains the Mahishasura <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A handed-down narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span>. The third part depicts the battle against the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha as well as their generals.<\/p><p>In this third section, further goddess figures emerge: from the goddess&#8217;s wrath comes the black, terrible Kali, and the <em>Matrikas<\/em>, the mother goddesses, appear. A famous passage emphasizes that all the individual goddesses are ultimately forms of the one Devi.<\/p><p>The text is not only narrative but also <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The fixed order of the worship service of a religious community.\" tabindex=\"0\">liturgy<\/span>. It contains several great hymns in which the goddess is praised, and it is recited in its entirety as a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A regulated sequence of symbolic actions with religious or cultural meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">ritual<\/span>, especially during the autumn festival of Navaratri.<\/p><p>Scholarship, such as Thomas Coburn in his works on the <em>Devi M\u0101h\u0101tmya<\/em>, has shown that this text represents a turning point: it gathers previously scattered conceptions of the goddess into a unified <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The scholarly study of God and of the faith of a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">theology<\/span> in which the feminine appears as the highest, all-encompassing power.<\/p><p>Later texts of the Shakta tradition build upon it, but the <em>Devi M\u0101h\u0101tmya<\/em> remains their foundation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp5bffb17 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cp5bffb17\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp1687ed1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cp1687ed1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Navaratri and Durga Puja: The Festivals of the Goddess<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp38403b3 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cp38403b3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpff4d356 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cpff4d356\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The veneration of Durga centers on the festival of Navaratri, the nine nights, which is observed twice a year, most famously in autumn.<\/p><p>In large parts of India, the goddess is venerated during this time in her various forms, often with daily recitation of the <em>Devi M\u0101h\u0101tmya<\/em>, with fasting, and with the veneration of young girls who are regarded as a living manifestation of the goddess.<\/p><p>In Bengal and eastern India, the festival has taken on a particularly pronounced form as <em>Durg\u0101 P\u016bj\u0101<\/em>. Here, elaborate clay figures of Durga are made, usually depicting her with ten arms in the act of killing the buffalo demon, surrounded by her children Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha, and Kartikeya.<\/p><p>The figures stand in temporary pavilions that are artfully designed and visited by large crowds over several days. At the end of the festival, the figures are dissolved in solemn processions in rivers or other bodies of water.<\/p><p>From the perspective of religious studies, the connection of the festival with the harvest cycle and with a mythical reference to the <em>Ramayana<\/em> is of interest: according to one tradition, Rama venerated the goddess before his battle against Ravana, which provides the basis for the autumnal Durga Puja.<\/p><p>The festival has, moreover, developed a strong social and, in modern times, political and economic dimension; in Calcutta it is the defining major event of the year.<\/p><p>In 2021, UNESCO added the Durga Puja of Calcutta to the list of intangible cultural heritage. The festival thus exemplifies how a religious <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A handed-down narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span> can become a vehicle of regional identity and collective practice.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp845a913 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cp845a913\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp0b5f30d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cp0b5f30d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Many Faces of the Goddess: Durga in Shakta Theology<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpcdc3686 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cpcdc3686\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp760aa3b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cp760aa3b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Within the Shakta tradition, that is, the current that venerates the goddess as the highest reality, Durga is not an isolated figure but a nodal point in a wide network of relationships.<\/p><p>Theologically, she is regarded as a form of the one great goddess, <em>Mahadevi<\/em>, who can be both peaceful and terrible, motherly and warlike.<\/p><p>Closely connected with her is Kali, who in the <em>Devi M\u0101h\u0101tmya<\/em> arises from Durga&#8217;s wrath. While Durga embodies the ordered, victorious fighter, Kali stands for the unleashed, boundary-transgressing side of the same power.<\/p><p>In Parvati, the goddess has her form as the consort of Shiva and a loving mother; Durga and Parvati are understood in many traditions as identical or as aspects of one person.<\/p><p>Alongside these stand the groups of the <em>Matrikas<\/em>, the mother goddesses, and the series of the <em>Mahavidyas<\/em>, the ten great wisdom goddesses, among whom figures close to Durga are classified.<\/p><p>This interweaving follows a theological principle. The individual goddesses are not competing persons but aspects in which the same <em>shakti<\/em> shows itself according to task and mood.<\/p><p>Durga embodies in particular the function of protection and of victory over chaos; her name itself is traditionally associated with a fortress difficult to traverse or with overcoming difficulties, an etymology that is linguistically plausible.<\/p><p>In lived <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The lived religious attitude and practice of a person.\" tabindex=\"0\">piety<\/span>, devotees turn to Durga above all as a protective power. From the perspective of religious studies, she is an example of how a single <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being venerated as divine within a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">deity<\/span> can be at once a concrete cultic figure and a theological principle that holds an entire <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of the gods of a religion or culture.\" tabindex=\"0\">pantheon<\/span> of female powers together.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36dd7469 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"36dd7469\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13760ab4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"13760ab4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Further Links<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28c87796 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"28c87796\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d6538df elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5d6538df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/kali\/\">Kali, her wrathful aspect<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/shiva\/\">Shiva, consort in the consolidated tradition<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/ganesha\/\">Ganesha, son (co-venerated at Devi pujas)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/hinduism\/\">Hinduism, pantheon overview<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/high-deities\/\">High deities, subcategory<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/gods\/\">Gods, class overview<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-grl4kl40 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"grl4kl40\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bzsbfrmh elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bzsbfrmh\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Research Literature<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c13224a e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2c13224a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0eymh9ub elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0eymh9ub\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<footer class=\"iwg-literatur\" data-nosnippet=\"true\"><ul><li><span data-nosnippet>Coburn, Thomas B.: <em>Encountering the Goddess. A Translation of the Dev\u00ee-M\u00e2h\u00e2tmya<\/em>. Albany 1991.<\/span><\/li><li><span data-nosnippet>Kinsley, David: <em>Hindu Goddesses. Visions of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Tradition<\/em>. Berkeley 1986.<\/span><\/li><li><span data-nosnippet>Pintchman, Tracy: <em>The Rise of the Goddess in the Hindu Tradition<\/em>. Albany 1994.<\/span><\/li><li><span data-nosnippet>Erndl, Kathleen M.: <em>Victory to the Mother. The Hindu Goddess of Northwest India in Myth, <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A regulated sequence of symbolic actions with religious or cultural meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">Ritual<\/span>, and <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sign that stands in place of an idea or meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">Symbol<\/span><\/em>. Oxford 1993.<\/span><\/li><li>Devi-Mahatmyam (Durga Saptashati, numerous translations).<\/li><li>Walde, Christine (ed.): <em>Der Neue Pauly<\/em> (entry &#8220;Durg\u00e2&#8221;).<\/li><\/ul><\/footer>\n<p class=\"iwg-bib-more\"><span data-nosnippet>Further standard works in the <a href=\"\/en\/literature\/\">literature index<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b722d16 e-con-boxed e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"b722d16\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-950a962 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"950a962\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Frequently Asked Questions about Durga<\/h2><div class=\"iwg-faq-q\"><h3>Who is the goddess Durga in Hinduism?<\/h3><p>Durga (Sanskrit, the Inaccessible) is one of the most important forms of the great goddess (Mahadevi) in Hinduism, the motherly yet combative protector of creation.<\/p><p>She is typically depicted with eight or ten arms, in which she carries the weapons of all the gods (trident from Shiva, discus from Vishnu, thunderbolt from Indra, and so on).<\/p><p>She rides on a tiger or lion. In the central <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A handed-down narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span>, she defeats the buffalo <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A spiritual being to which harmful or ambivalent effects are attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">demon<\/span> Mahishasura, whom none of the male gods could defeat, hence the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A fixed epithet that characterizes a deity or figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">epithet<\/span> Mahishasuramardini.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"iwg-faq-q\"><h3>What is the Durga Puja festival?<\/h3><p>Durga Puja is the most important Hindu festival in West Bengal and eastern India, a ten-day celebration in September\/October (the month of Ashvin) that ends with Vijaya Dashami (the day of victory). In each city district, large temporary shrines (pandals) are erected with artfully formed clay statues of Durga defeating Mahishasura.<\/p><p>On the last day, the statues are carried to the river in solemn processions and released into the water, a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sign that stands in place of an idea or meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">symbol<\/span> of the goddess&#8217;s return to the cosmic primordial waters. The festival is a UNESCO World Heritage tradition.<\/p><\/div><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Who is the goddess Durga in Hinduism?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Durga (Sanskrit, the Inaccessible) is one of the most important forms of the great goddess (Mahadevi) in Hinduism, the motherly yet combative protector of creation. She is typically depicted with eight or ten arms, in which she carries the weapons of all the gods (trident from Shiva, discus from Vishnu, thunderbolt from Indra, and so on). She rides on a tiger or lion. In the central <span class=\\\"iwg-fachbegriff\\\" data-tooltip=\\\"A handed-down narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\\\" tabindex=\\\"0\\\">myth<\/span> she defeats the buffalo demon Mahishasura, whom none of the male gods could defeat, hence the epithet Mahishasuramardini.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is the Durga Puja festival?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Durga Puja is the most important Hindu festival in West Bengal and eastern India, a ten-day celebration in September\/October (the month of Ashvin) that ends with Vijaya Dashami (the day of victory). In each city district, large temporary shrines (pandals) are erected with artfully formed clay statues of Durga defeating Mahishasura. On the last day, the statues are carried to the river in solemn processions and released into the water, a <span class=\\\"iwg-fachbegriff\\\" data-tooltip=\\\"A sign that stands in place of an idea or meaning.\\\" tabindex=\\\"0\\\">symbol<\/span> of the goddess's return to the cosmic primordial waters. The festival is a UNESCO World Heritage tradition.\"}}]}<\/script>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Durga, goddess of the Hindu tradition Durga is a goddess of the Hindu tradition. The war goddess and demon slayer, protector of the world. Durga is one of the most powerful goddesses of Hinduism, an embodiment of *Shakti*, the cosmic feminine power. She was created by the gods to defeat the demonic buffalo *Mahishasura*, whom [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4373,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"Durga","_yoast_wpseo_title":"Durga: War Goddess and Demon Slayer of Hinduism","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Durga, war goddess and demon slayer of Hinduism. Victory over Mahishasura, Durga Puja, the tiger","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_angie_page":false,"gefaehrdungsstufe":"","wesen_kultur":"","wesen_klasse":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[79,86,90],"class_list":["post-4372","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cultures","category-gods","category-hinduism"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Durga: War Goddess and Demon Slayer of Hinduism<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Durga, war goddess and demon slayer of Hinduism. Victory over Mahishasura, Durga Puja, the tiger\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/durga\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Durga\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Durga, war goddess and demon slayer of Hinduism. Victory over Mahishasura, Durga Puja, the tiger\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/durga\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"iWell Guard\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-05T14:26:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_hinduismus_durga.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1536\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"13 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/en\\\/durga\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/en\\\/durga\\\/\",\"name\":\"Durga: War Goddess and Demon Slayer of Hinduism\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/en\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/en\\\/durga\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/en\\\/durga\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/04\\\/goetter_hinduismus_durga.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-27T10:36:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-05T14:26:27+00:00\",\"description\":\"Durga, war goddess and demon slayer of Hinduism. Victory over Mahishasura, Durga Puja, the tiger\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/en\\\/durga\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/en\\\/durga\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/en\\\/durga\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/04\\\/goetter_hinduismus_durga.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/04\\\/goetter_hinduismus_durga.webp\",\"width\":1024,\"height\":1536,\"caption\":\"Gods from the Hindu tradition.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/en\\\/durga\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Start\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/en\\\/home\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Durga\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/en\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/en\\\/\",\"name\":\"iWell Guard\",\"description\":\"Schutz vor dunklen Einfl\u00fcssen\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/en\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Ittermann electronic GmbH\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/en\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/Ittermann-Logo-1182x237-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/Ittermann-Logo-1182x237-1.png\",\"width\":1182,\"height\":237,\"caption\":\"Ittermann electronic GmbH\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/pantip.com\\\/profile\\\/9367242\",\"https:\\\/\\\/micro.blog\\\/iwellguard\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.diggerslist.com\\\/iwellguard\\\/about\",\"https:\\\/\\\/skitterphoto.com\\\/photographers\\\/2870314\\\/iwell-guard\",\"https:\\\/\\\/iwellguard.wordpress.com\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/06\\\/iwell-guard\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/hub.docker.com\\\/u\\\/iwellguard\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pinterest.com\\\/iwellguard\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/bit.ly\\\/m\\\/iwellguard\",\"https:\\\/\\\/entre-vos-mains.alsace.eu\\\/profiles\\\/iwellguard\\\/activity\",\"https:\\\/\\\/gravatar.com\\\/reallybeded8fd34\",\"https:\\\/\\\/naijamatta.com\\\/iwellguard\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.goodreads.com\\\/iwellguard\",\"https:\\\/\\\/profile.hatena.ne.jp\\\/iwellguard\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/experiment.com\\\/users\\\/iwellguard\",\"https:\\\/\\\/wakelet.com\\\/@iWellGuard82270\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chordie.com\\\/forum\\\/profile.php?id=2555664\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instapaper.com\\\/p\\\/17757966\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mapleprimes.com\\\/users\\\/iwellguard\",\"https:\\\/\\\/businesslistingplus.com\\\/profile\\\/iwell-guard\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/telegra.ph\\\/iWell-Guard-06-06\",\"https:\\\/\\\/pbase.com\\\/iwellguard\\\/iwellguard\",\"https:\\\/\\\/b.hatena.ne.jp\\\/iwellguard\\\/20260607#bookmark-4788405196491818882\",\"https:\\\/\\\/fliphtml5.com\\\/home\\\/iwellguard\",\"https:\\\/\\\/anyflip.com\\\/homepage\\\/cmiwl#About\",\"https:\\\/\\\/transfur.com\\\/Users\\\/iwellguard\",\"http:\\\/\\\/delphi.larsbo.org\\\/user\\\/iwellguard\",\"https:\\\/\\\/jobs.lajobsportal.org\\\/profiles\\\/8380803-iwell-guard\",\"https:\\\/\\\/md.chaosdorf.de\\\/s\\\/jfbe5SBdJD\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lingvolive.com\\\/en-us\\\/profile\\\/9ecaeaca-ce11-4e51-9e71-01d55e2bff36\\\/translations\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.fitday.com\\\/fitness\\\/forums\\\/members\\\/iwellguard.html\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mymeetbook.com\\\/iwellguard\",\"https:\\\/\\\/pxhere.com\\\/en\\\/photographer-me\\\/5040798\",\"https:\\\/\\\/disqus.com\\\/by\\\/iwellguard\\\/about\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/pastelink.net\\\/hjwciqwq\",\"https:\\\/\\\/pubhtml5.com\\\/homepage\\\/scjhn\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bitchute.com\\\/channel\\\/2O2eOKzNqujT\",\"https:\\\/\\\/audiomack.com\\\/iwellguard\"]},{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/en\\\/durga\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/en\\\/durga\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Ralf Ittermann\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/ee2a27f1cac3406c7c6fb5820cb7349f\"},\"headline\":\"Durga\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-27T10:36:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-05T14:26:27+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/en\\\/durga\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2681,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/en\\\/durga\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iwell-guard.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/04\\\/goetter_hinduismus_durga.webp\",\"articleSection\":[\"Cultures\",\"Gods\",\"Hinduism\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"description\":\"Durga, war goddess and demon slayer of Hinduism. Victory over Mahishasura, Durga Puja, the tiger\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Durga: War Goddess and Demon Slayer of Hinduism","description":"Durga, war goddess and demon slayer of Hinduism. Victory over Mahishasura, Durga Puja, the tiger","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/durga\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Durga","og_description":"Durga, war goddess and demon slayer of Hinduism. Victory over Mahishasura, Durga Puja, the tiger","og_url":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/durga\/","og_site_name":"iWell Guard","article_modified_time":"2026-06-05T14:26:27+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":1536,"url":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_hinduismus_durga.webp","type":"image\/webp"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"13 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/durga\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/durga\/"},"author":{"name":"Ralf Ittermann","@id":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/ee2a27f1cac3406c7c6fb5820cb7349f"},"headline":"Durga","datePublished":"2026-04-27T10:36:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-05T14:26:27+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/durga\/"},"wordCount":2681,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/durga\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_hinduismus_durga.webp","articleSection":["Cultures","Gods","Hinduism"],"inLanguage":"en-US","description":"Durga, war goddess and demon slayer of Hinduism. Victory over Mahishasura, Durga Puja, the tiger"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/durga\/","url":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/durga\/","name":"Durga: War Goddess and Demon Slayer of Hinduism","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/durga\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/durga\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_hinduismus_durga.webp","datePublished":"2026-04-27T10:36:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-05T14:26:27+00:00","description":"Durga, war goddess and demon slayer of Hinduism. Victory over Mahishasura, Durga Puja, the tiger","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/durga\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/durga\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/durga\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_hinduismus_durga.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_hinduismus_durga.webp","width":1024,"height":1536,"caption":"Gods from the Hindu tradition."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/durga\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Start","item":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/home\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Durga"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/","name":"iWell Guard","description":"Schutz vor dunklen Einfl\u00fcssen","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/#organization","name":"Ittermann electronic GmbH","url":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Ittermann-Logo-1182x237-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Ittermann-Logo-1182x237-1.png","width":1182,"height":237,"caption":"Ittermann electronic GmbH"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/pantip.com\/profile\/9367242","https:\/\/micro.blog\/iwellguard","https:\/\/www.diggerslist.com\/iwellguard\/about","https:\/\/skitterphoto.com\/photographers\/2870314\/iwell-guard","https:\/\/iwellguard.wordpress.com\/2026\/06\/06\/iwell-guard\/","https:\/\/hub.docker.com\/u\/iwellguard","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/iwellguard\/","https:\/\/bit.ly\/m\/iwellguard","https:\/\/entre-vos-mains.alsace.eu\/profiles\/iwellguard\/activity","https:\/\/gravatar.com\/reallybeded8fd34","https:\/\/naijamatta.com\/iwellguard","https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/iwellguard","https:\/\/profile.hatena.ne.jp\/iwellguard\/","https:\/\/experiment.com\/users\/iwellguard","https:\/\/wakelet.com\/@iWellGuard82270","https:\/\/www.chordie.com\/forum\/profile.php?id=2555664","https:\/\/www.instapaper.com\/p\/17757966","https:\/\/www.mapleprimes.com\/users\/iwellguard","https:\/\/businesslistingplus.com\/profile\/iwell-guard\/","https:\/\/telegra.ph\/iWell-Guard-06-06","https:\/\/pbase.com\/iwellguard\/iwellguard","https:\/\/b.hatena.ne.jp\/iwellguard\/20260607#bookmark-4788405196491818882","https:\/\/fliphtml5.com\/home\/iwellguard","https:\/\/anyflip.com\/homepage\/cmiwl#About","https:\/\/transfur.com\/Users\/iwellguard","http:\/\/delphi.larsbo.org\/user\/iwellguard","https:\/\/jobs.lajobsportal.org\/profiles\/8380803-iwell-guard","https:\/\/md.chaosdorf.de\/s\/jfbe5SBdJD","https:\/\/www.lingvolive.com\/en-us\/profile\/9ecaeaca-ce11-4e51-9e71-01d55e2bff36\/translations","https:\/\/www.fitday.com\/fitness\/forums\/members\/iwellguard.html","https:\/\/www.mymeetbook.com\/iwellguard","https:\/\/pxhere.com\/en\/photographer-me\/5040798","https:\/\/disqus.com\/by\/iwellguard\/about\/","https:\/\/pastelink.net\/hjwciqwq","https:\/\/pubhtml5.com\/homepage\/scjhn\/","https:\/\/www.bitchute.com\/channel\/2O2eOKzNqujT","https:\/\/audiomack.com\/iwellguard"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/ee2a27f1cac3406c7c6fb5820cb7349f","name":"Ralf Ittermann","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/073c0153e350a5005b68eb752b445fea71f6b24a26da9449ad7e155e6b446c9d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/073c0153e350a5005b68eb752b445fea71f6b24a26da9449ad7e155e6b446c9d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/073c0153e350a5005b68eb752b445fea71f6b24a26da9449ad7e155e6b446c9d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Ralf Ittermann"},"givenName":"Ralf","familyName":"Ittermann","jobTitle":"Gesch\u00e4ftsf\u00fchrer und redaktioneller Verantwortlicher","url":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/author\/claude\/","description":"Ralf Ittermann ist Gesch\u00e4ftsf\u00fchrer der Ittermann electronic GmbH und redaktioneller Verantwortlicher des iWell-Guard-Lexikons. Er verbindet langj\u00e4hrige Erfahrung in der Pr\u00e4zisionsfertigung mit medialer Praxis und religionsgeschichtlicher Quellenarbeit.","worksFor":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Ittermann electronic GmbH","url":"https:\/\/ittermann.de\/","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"K\u00f6hlergasse 16-18","postalCode":"99842","addressLocality":"Ruhla","addressCountry":"DE"}},"knowsAbout":["Religionsgeschichte","Mythologie","Mediale Praxis","Energetische Diagnostik","Schutzpraxis","Volksglauben","Westliche Esoterik"]},{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/durga\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/durga\/"},"author":{"name":"Ralf Ittermann","@id":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/ee2a27f1cac3406c7c6fb5820cb7349f"},"headline":"Durga","datePublished":"2026-04-27T10:36:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-05T14:26:27+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/durga\/"},"wordCount":2681,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/durga\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_hinduismus_durga.webp","articleSection":["Cultures","Gods","Hinduism"],"inLanguage":"en-US","description":"Durga, war goddess and demon slayer of Hinduism. Victory over Mahishasura, Durga Puja, the tiger"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4372","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4372"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4372\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6855,"href":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4372\/revisions\/6855"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4373"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4372"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4372"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}