Durga
The Invincible Warrior Goddess
The invincible warrior goddess. Kanaka Durga temple in Vijayawada is one of the most important Shakti temples for Telugu people.
- Sanskrit/Telugu name: దుర్గ
- Also known as: Mahishasura Mardini, Kanaka Durga, Chandika
- Vehicle (vahana): Simham (సింహం)
- Weapons: Trishulam, Khadgam, Chakram, Dhanussu, Shankham, Gada, Padmam, Vajram
- Symbols: Eight or ten arms, Simha vahanam, Weapons from every god
Story
When Mahishasura defeated all the devas through a boon that no man or god could kill him, the devas pooled their tejas and ayudhams to create Durga Devi. She rode into battle on a simham, wielding a weapon from each god, and fought Mahishasura for nine nights (Navaratri) before slaying him on Vijayadashami. For Telugu people, Kanaka Durga temple on Indrakeeladri hill in Vijayawada is the most sacred Durga temple. During Navaratri and Dussehra, the temple and the entire city come alive with massive celebrations. The goddess is adorned in different alankaram each day. Bathukamma festival in Telangana is also a celebration of the goddess in her Durga/Gauri form.
Fun fact
Durga holds a different ayudam in each of her 8-10 hands, each given by a different deva. She carries the combined shakti of the entire pantheon. Kanaka Durga in Vijayawada draws over 10 million devotees during Dussehra.