In Hindu mythology, Mahishasura was the chief of the demons who discomfited all the gods and expelled them from paradise. The gods were thus forced to wander like mortals on the face of the earth. They had recourse to Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, and these were filled with the greatest indignation at the audacity of the demon. A fiery light issued from their faces when in this state of fury. A similar light or energy simultaneously proceeded from all the other divinities. This unprecedented energy emanating from the bodies of all the gods were produced by concentration, a female, filling the three worlds with her brilliance. The female goddess was Durga or Devi. The gods furnished her with weapons. Thus produced and equipped, riding on a lion she attacked the demon. He advanced furious with rage, assuming different forms, now an elephant, now a buffalo. The goddess fought him with the aid of her lion, and after a short struggle cut off his head. His struggle of the goddess with Mahishasura is celebrated every year in Bengal at the festival called the Durga-puja.

This article is a stub. You can enrich by adding more information to it. Send your Write Up to content@indianetzone.com