The story associated with Navratri and Durga Puja is found in the

Markandeya Purana. The chapters 81 to 93 in the Markandeya Purana talks

about the slaying of demon Mahishasura or Mahisha by Durga and it is
referred as Devimahatmya and is recited during the Navaratri and Durga
Puja. It symbolized the victory of good over evil.

Devi-Mahatyma extols the greatness of Durga in 700 hymns grouped into

537 sections and therefore it is also known as Durga Sapta Sati. It details
the exploits of the goddess in her three major forms: Kali, Lakshmi and
Saraswati, representing the three fold energy: strength, wealth and
wisdom. The most famous episode is Durga killing Mahishasura.

Birth of Mahishasura

Legend has it that two sons of Danu called Rambha and Karambha
performed penances to gain more powers. Rambha performed the
austerities by standing amidst five ritual fires called Panchagni and
Karambha by standing in neck-deep in water.

Indra, the lord of the gods, felt threatened by such intense austerities and
took the form of a crocodile and killed Karambha. Rambha, who came to
know about his brother’s death, increased the intensity of his austerities
and won several boons from gods like great brilliance, beauty, invincibility
in war. Most importantly, the boon that he will not be killed by humans or
Gods or Asuras (demons).

After receiving the boon, he was roaming in the garden of Yaksha and there
he fell in love with a female-buffalo. To express his love Rambha took the
form of a male-buffalo and copulated with the she-buffalo. But soon a real
male buffalo discovered Rambha in the garden and killed him.

Rambha’s inflated ego made him not to ask the boon of invincibility from
animals. And an animal happened to be the reason for his death.

The female-buffalo, who was pregnant, decided to kill herself in the funeral
pyre of Rambha. She jumped into the pyre and from the pyre sprang up a
mighty asura (demon) with the head of a buffalo and human body. This was
Mahishasura.
Mahishasura Defeats Gods

Mahishasura defeated the gods and the demons. He attacked the heaven
and captured it and made ‘devas’ his slaves. He proclaimed that he is now
Indra – the lord of the gods. The gods led by Brahma approache
d Vishnu and Shiva and appraised them of the situation.

Birth of Goddess Durga

The actions of Mahishasura caused intense anger in the Trimur

tis. The anger emerging out of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva comb
ined to the take the shape of a terrible form and this was Durg
a.

It is said that the flames of fire that gushed out of the eyes of t
he Trimurtis – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva – formed a mountain,
brilliant like a million suns. Out of this mountain, Durga took s
hape as the goddess more powerful than all the gods.

‘samasta devanam tejo rasi samudbhavam’ Durga is t

he brilliance of all the gods.

Captivated by the awe-inspiring Durga, the gods best

owed on her their own characteristic weapons. Shiva –
the trident, Vishnu – the discus, Varuna – the conch, A
gni – the spear, Yama – the cudgel, Vayu – the bow, Su
rya – the arrows, Indra – the vajra, Kubera – the mace,
Brahma – the water pot, Kala – the sword and Vishwak
arma – the axe. Himavan gifted a mountain lion as her
vehicle.

Goddess Durga kills Mahishasura

When the goddess was seen by Mahishasura, he fell i

n love with her and sought to marry her. The goddess
promised to marry him, if he defeated her in the battl
e. A terrible combat ensued and continued for nine da
ys. Finally, Durga assumed the terrifying form of Chan
dika and pinned Mahishasura down with her foot and
pierced his neck with her spear and she cut his head o
ff with her sword.

The legend about the killing of Mahisha is found in ma

ny Puranas and therefore there are slight variations i
n the story. The story is also found in Vamana Purana,
Varaha Purana, Shiva Purana, Skanda Purana, Devi Bh
agavatam and Kalika Purana.

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