Durga+Research

Type in the content of your page here. “Durga beheading the bull and exposing the deamon Mahishasura. Online Image. IndiaDivine. 9 September 2009. []

Summary Hinduism believes in one supreme creator, Brahman. Hinduism is accepted as the world’s oldest religion. The Hindu’s believe that at various times in the history of mankind the Supreme Being came to earth in various forms depending on the needs of that time. Durga is one such manifestation of the Supreme Being; she is one of the “destroyer” forms of the Supreme Being. It is believed that Durga came to earth at a time of great anarchy and chaos to bring about stability and destroy the evil on earth. To show her strength she is depicted as having ten arms (In some regional variations, she is shown with twenty arms). Each arm has a weapon that was given to her by the Gods to help her in her fight over the demon “Mahishasura” “the water buffalo bull”. Mahishasura was invincible; he would change his form to elude being destroyed. Durga with all her strength was able to finally destroy him. For this reason she is often shown in pictures with her spear in Mahishasura’s chest, and he is shown rising from the beheaded body of the buffalo to fight her. Durga is credited with destroying the demon (hidden in the body of the buffalo) and restoring peace and prosperity in earth and liberating all from tyranny. To celebrate the victory of good over evil (Durga Puja) or the festival to celebrate goddess Durga is observed every year in autumn. The exact date varies every year, as it is based on the lunar calendar. The Indian community in St. Louis observes Durga puja each year with three days of festivities at the Mahatma Gandhi Center in Ballwin.

Bibligraphy 1. "Goddess Durga as Slayer of the Buffalo-Demon Mahisha (Mahishasuramardini).” Helibrunn Timeline of Art History. 9 September 2009. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ho/08/ssh/ho_1986.498.htm. 2. “The essentials of Durga Puja.” __Durga Puja.__ 8 September, 2009. []. 3. Wickersham. John. “Devi.” __Myth’s and Legends of the World.__ Gale Student Resource Center. McCulloch Library, Saint Louis, Missouri. 9 September 2009. []. 4. “Durga beheading the bull and exposing the deamon Mahishasura. Online Image. IndiaDivine. 9 September 2009. [].