 Goddess Durga is the mother of the universe and is the power behind the creation, preservation, and destruction of the universe. Since time immemorial she has been worshipped as the supreme power of the Supreme Being. She is said to have incarnated in different forms. In one incarnation, she became the daughter of Daksha Prajapatiand was known as Sati; in another, she became the daughter of the Himalaya Mountains and was known as Haimavati Uma. She is the daughter of Hemavata and has been mentioned in the Kenopanishad. In both these incarnations, she became the consort of Lord Shiva to serve special purposes. In all the forms the goddess has the creative, protective and destructive energies combined in herself. She is immanent and co-extensive with the universe and represents all these energies. Chandiis a form of the Divine Mother. Usha and Uma are other forms of the goddess. Goddess Kalirepresents a different form of the goddess. The Haimavati Uma, another incarnation of the goddess is surrounded in a golden haze. Some of the other forms in which the goddess are worshipped by the Hindus are Bhagwati, Bhavani, Ambika, Lalita, Gauri, Kandalini, Java, Rajeswari and others. The goddess is also conceived as Rudramsa Durga, Vana Durga, Agni Durga, Jaya Durga and Vindhyavasini Durga besides Nava Durga which include Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri. Some of her general forms are given as under:
Hara Siddhi This form of the goddess carries in her hands a damaru, the kamandalu, the khadga and the drinking vase. It is said that devotees who worship her are blessed by her and their wishes are fulfilled. Rudramsa Durga The goddess is dark complexioned and has two eyes. She is adorned with red garments. Her head is decorated with kirlta-mukuta and she is decked with gold ornaments studded with rubies. She has four hands with which she holds a trident, a khadga, a conch shell and a chakra. The lion is her vehicle. The sun and the moon are lodged on the either side of the Goddess.  Vana Durga
She is conceived with eight arms, in the seven of which, she is required to hold the conch shell, chakra, khadga, khetaka, an arrow, a bow and sula. The remaining hand project the tarjani posture. She possesses the green complexion like the grass. In the Vedic literature, she has been conceived as Aranyani or Vanaspati representing the plants and greenery. In the Atharva Veda these two goddesses play an important role influencing the indigenous systems of medicines. Agni Durga The goddess has eight hands, six of which hold a chakra, a khadga, a khetaka, an arrow, a noose and an ankusa. The remaining two hands depict the varada mudra and the other in tarjani mudra. She has three eyes and has a beautiful complexion brilliantly lighted up. A crescent appears over her crown. The lion is her vehicle. Two celestial damsels can be seen on either side of the goddess each holding a sword and a shield. Jaya Durga The goddess has three eyes and four hands. She carries a conch shell, chakra, a khadga and a trident. Her head has been adorned with a crescent moon. The goddess is dark complexion. The lion is her vehicle. Vindhyavasini Durga This form of the goddess retains much of her ethnic character. She is the presiding goddess of the Vindhya Mountain Range or Saptasri Devi of Sagaragadh in the Kolaba region of Maharashtra. In Punjab and Himachal Pradesh she is manifested as a young girl. She is known to perform mimetic magic to foster the growth of crops. Vindhyavasini Durga has a bright complexion. She is seated over the golden lotus, having three eyes and four arms. With her two hands she holds a conch shell and a chakra while with the remaining two hands she holds the varada mudra and abhaya mudra. Her head is adorned with the crescent moon and is decked with gorgeous ornaments. The lion is her vehicle.  Ripumari Durga
The goddess is red complexioned and bears a terrific look. She holds in one of her hands a trident while with the other she holds the tarjani mudra. Her mantra bestows success to the devotees. The goddess is at times projected with a Vaisnavite background. Mother Earth Mother Earth is a popular form of Durga, Kali, or Mariyamona. The Vedas have also mentioned about the Prithvi as a kindly guardian deity. The Badami Cave Temples in Karnataka houses the idol of Mother Earth identified with Bhumidevi or Bhudevi. She is regarded as the Earth Mother of non-Aryans and the goddess of patience or endurance. In one of the South Indian temples, the goddess appears in the form of a female in stone. The head of the goddess is visible while the body is masked in earth. In her benevolent manifestation the earth goddess is reflected as Gauri. Her annual marriage with Lord Shiva is ceremoniously performed. |
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Incarnations Of Goddess Durga
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