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The Name “Durga” Means invincible in Sanskrit. With the “du” being synonymous with the 4 evils, poverty, sufferings, famine and evil habits. Durga is appropriated as a destroyer of sins, injustice, irreligion, cruelty and laziness. To worship the warrior Goddess is to ask for her aid in destroying our ignorance and indifference to consciousness growth. Also called the Divine Mother, she protects mankind from evil and misery by destroying evil forces such as selfishness, jealousy, prejudice, hatred, anger, and blind habits of the ego.
Goddess Durga is considered by some Hindus to be the mother of Ganesha, Kartikeya as well of Saraswati and Lakshmi. Ma Durga (Mother Durga ) is depicted as a warrior aspect of Devi Parvati who rides a lion or a tiger, carries weapons and assumes mudras or symbolic hand gestures.
n her images, Goddess Durga is shown in a female form, wearing red clothes. The red color symbolizes action and the red clothes signify that She is always busy destroying evil and protecting mankind from pain and suffering caused by evil forces.
Images often see her carrying a Trishula (trident), Chakram, Scimitar, Snake, Conch shell, Mace, Bow, Talwar (long sword), Lotus, Thunderbolt These multiple weapons convey the idea that one weapon cannot destroy all different kinds of enemies. Different weapons must be used to fight enemies depending upon the circumstances. For example, selfishness must be destroyed by detachment, jealousy by desirelessness, prejudice by self-knowledge, and ego by discrimination. The word Shakti, meaning sacred feminine force, and Durga reflects the warrior aspect of the Goddess, embodying a traditional male role. She is also strikingly beautiful.
Her Consort is Lord Shiva and she is the mother of Her two sons, Ganesha and Karttikeya, and daughter Jyoti. There are many temples dedicated to Durga's worship in India. Her abode is Kailash.
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