Mahisashura Mardini

Goddess Durga is the goddess of power. When all the gods failed to kill the mighty demon Mahishasura, they united all their powers and created a goddess and endowed her with all their weapons. With ten weapons in ten hands goddess Durga fought and killed Mahishasura.

Durga Stuti is a hymn describing the goddess. The dancer bows to goddess Durga whose matted hair is adorned by the half moon. Her face is as bright as the full moon and she has three beautiful eyes (one on the forehead). Her complexion is as bright as that of the Atasi flower and she has beautiful teeth. She stands in the tribhanga posture and has ten hands. In her ten hands she holds ten weapons. In her right hands she holds the Trishula (spear), the Kharga (salchion), the Chakra (wheel), the Vana (arrow) and the Shakti (club). In her left hands she holds the Khetaka (shield), the Chapa (bow), the Pasha (lasso), the Ankusha and the Ghanta (bell) or the Parashu (axe). With these ten weapons she fought and killed the demon Mahishasura and after this act she was reffered to as godess Mahisashura mardini.