Durga is the beautiful warrior goddess, whose name in Sanskrit means ‘invincible’. The battles she wages are against one’s own negative mindsets.

Understanding the Durga symbols
Learn about the meaning behind the symbols

She is also described as the strength of wisdom conquering ignorance or unawareness that can make us susceptible to external dangers and hinder progress. She embodies the triumphant victory of good over bad, positive over negative.

Durga is the combined energy of all the gods. According to a popular sixth-century myth, ignorance takes the form of a Buffalo demon and threatens world order. The influence of ignorance is so strong that even the most powerful gods are unable to defeat him. The gods then join forces and create a goddess and call her Durga. With her exceeding beauty and grace, Durga successfully attracts the ignorant demon and with the extraordinary strength she possesses, deals him a crushing defeat.

Above: Durga slaying the buffalo demon Mahisha (Mahishasuramardini) India, Rajasthan, Bundi, c1725–1750 Museum Rietberg Zurich. Alice Boner Collection.