Durga is the Supreme Lord’s Active Energy. She represents purity, wisdom, truth, and self-realization. She is also known as Shakti or Devi as a warrior goddess. The term ‘Durg’ in Sanskrit signifies a Fort, or a secure fortified location. In addition, ‘Durga’ denotes “invincible.” ‘Dur’ also means ‘jail,’ while ‘Ga’ means ‘to go or approach.’ It refers to the person who sends or forces miscreants to jail. She is the Active Principle in the affairs of the Universe. She punishes the obnoxious parts. She is in control of this material world, which is referred to as ‘Dukhalaya,’ or the place full of sufferings (‘Dukha’ means pains and ‘Alaya’ means place, as in ‘Vachnalaya,’ which is a library, and ‘Bhojnalaya,’ which is a location where food is provided). She is one of the five principal forms of Goddess Bhuvaneshvari, according to the Devi-Bhagavata Purana. Her tale revolves on the battle against evils and demonic powers that threaten peace, prosperity, and Dharma, or the power of good over evil. Durga is said to unleash her divine wrath on the wicked in order to liberate the downtrodden, and this includes destruction in order to empower creation.
Religion and art historians generally link the first depictions of Durga to the seals of the Indus Valley Civilization. There are various clues to her in the early Vedic literature, and she appears as an autonomous divinity by the time of the epics. Durga is regarded as a motherly deity, and is often shown as a beautiful lady riding a lion or tiger, with many arms, each bearing a weapon, and frequently fighting demons. She is revered by members of the goddess-centric cult Shaktism and is significant in other religions like as Shaivism and Vaishnavism. Durga is connected and affiliated with various deities in different cultures. Many Goddess Durga followers chant Saptashloki Durga Saptashati to seek her blessings.
She is a multidimensional goddess with many divine aspects, titles, and avatars. Shakti, or Mahishasuramardini, is the remover of evil with ten strong arms, each bearing its unique weapon. Durga is also Sati, the object of death who surrenders Her realm, and Kali, who is dark as the night in Her anger and fury and wears a garland of skulls around Her neck. She is the peaceful Parvati, Lord Shiva’s spouse, as well as Bhavani, the emblem of life. Amba, Basanti, Annapurna, Tara, Ambika, and Jagadhatri are some of her other names. Durga is recognized as the most powerful of the Goddesses in India. She appears as Santoshi Mata, standing with Her tiger. However, in Her serene incarnation, She is also worshiped as Shanta Durga. In all of her incarnations, embodies the concept of redemption and sacrifice. She is the epicenter of celestial wisdom, riches, power, richness, and beauty, and Her daughters are Saraswati and Lakshmi. Goddess Durga is the divine life-force and intrinsic dynamic energy through which the highest awareness reveals itself.