Hi there!!! Today's story is about the buffalo-demon Mahishasura and how he was killed by Goddess Durga, an avatar of Shakti, the cosmic energy. This story is known as Mahishasura Mardini or the Slaying of Mahishasura. This story is famous because it is part of the Dusshera festival. In West Bengal, people celebrate Durga Pooja, whereas some people celebrate the death of Ravana at the hands of Rama. Both signify the win of good over evil. Let's go…
Ages ago, when animals used to talk just as the humans did and the gods bestowed magnificent boons on common men, there lived a tyrant asura called Mahishasura. He was the ruler of a small kingdom called Mahishuru. Maishasura terrorized his subjects terribly. He slaughtered men, women and children alike. The residents of Mahishuru hated their king. They hated him a lot. Like, a LOT!!! They prayed to all of the gods, but to no avail. No one showed up to defeat the demon. He just kept on killing and killing and killing.
Soon, Mahishasura became arrogant of his rule. He was drunk with power. He began to boil an unearthly desire for immortality and ever-lasting strength. He wanted to conquer the heavens and become the ruler of the universe.
So, Mahishasura walked to the top of a HUGE hill on the outskirts of Mahishuru. He stood on one leg and clasped his hands above his head. He did penance for the creator of the universe, Lord Bramha.
Standing on one leg for thousands of years, Mahishasura continued his penance, in the hope that Bramha would grant him his wish.
Many, many, many, MANY, MANY, MANY years passed. The people of Mahishuru rejoiced, for they thought that Mahishasura had died or had gone missing. The population slowly grew. And grew. And grew. And grew!!! Soon, the citizens of Mahishuru had grown ten-fold!!! There was no one there to stop the growth.
Years later, Bramha finally arrived in front of Mahishasura and asked him, "You have pleased me, my child, What would you like?" Immediately, Mahishasura blurted, "I want immortality!!" Bramha sniggered, "You know I can't do that, little one. All that is born must die. Ask me for anything else," Mahishasura pondered for some time, then said, "I wish for a boon that will not let me be killed by any man or god!!!!" Bramha lifted his hand and proclaimed, "Thatha Astu!!!" With that, Bramha vanished to the heavens, floating away on a bed of clouds.
Mahishasura was ecstatic!! He soon thought that no woman could challenge him, so he was as good as immortal!!!
He pillaged several kingdoms, including his own, and brought them under his rule. He made everyone toil tirelessly, working wand working every day!!! Everyone feared Mahishasura, for he could not be vanquished!!
Soon, Mahishasura commanded his army to the heavens, where he fought the Devas. The Devas fought valiantly, but they were no match for the strength of Mahishasura.
After the fight, Mahishasura proclaimed himself as the Ruler of the Heavens, and made the Devas his slaves. The Devas, who were once kings, were now made to slog for Mahishasura.
Vayu was to blow a calm breeze wherever Mahishasura went, Varuna was to supply water whenever Mahishasura needed it. Surya, the Sun God, had to keep Mahishasura warm in the winter, and Indra, the former King of Gods, had to demolish small parts of the Earth with his thunderbolts. Mahishasura loved his new life, and proclaimed himself the everlasting king.
A long time passed. The Devas, who were dead on their feet, couldn't take it anymore. They ran to the Holy Trinity - Bramha, Vishnu and Shiva - and persuaded them to save the Earth and themselves, or else Mahishasura would imprison them forever.
The Holy Trinity discussed the issue for some time. They huddled together and presented many conclusions for the tyrant, "gusbusgusbusgusbusgusbus, " Soon, they thought of the ultimate answer to the impossible question. Who will defeat Mahishasura?
The three deities stepped back and lifted their right palms. They each shone a blinding light into the air. The three converged and forced Indra and the other gods to cover their eyes.
From the light came a beautiful woman, wearing a red sari with ten hands emerging from it. She rode on a roaring lion, which bore shining, needle-sharp, white teeth. She was bowed down to the Holy Trinity and said, "Namaskara, O Devas. My name is Durga. I have only one mission, of which I have been informed. I must go and kill Mahishasura." The Devas and the Holy Trinity gave her the most ultimate and amazing set of weapons ever.
Vishnu gave her the Sudarshan Chakra, the celestial discus. Bramha gave her a kamandalu, a pot full of amrut. Varuna gave her a bow and a quiver of infinite arrows. DharmaRaya Yama, the God of Justice and Death, gave her a mean-looking sceptre. Indra gave her a thunderbolt which was capable of shattering the Earth. Vishwakarma, the architect of the heavens, gave her a menacing axe. Kali, the Goddess of Time and Power, gave her a fear-striking, needle-sharp sword. Airavata, the eight-tusked, milk-white elephant of Indra, gave Durga a bell. Whenever she needed help, she could ring the bell and Airavata would come to her rescue. Shiva gave her the famed Trishula, the three-pronged trident.
Armed with ten dangerous weapons (including the lion), Durga set off for the same hill that Mahishasura meditated on.
Durga arrived on the hill and saw Mahishasura sitting with his eyes closed and with his hands on his knees. He was chanting, "Om… Om… Om…" Durga saw him meditating and climbed off her mount. She walked in front of Mahishasura and started dancing. She tried to distract him by dancing. She danced in front of Mahishasura, who stirred and saw a beautiful maiden in front of him. He exclaimed, "Wow!!! I have never seen such beauty before!! Will you marry me?!" (BBBBBBBBLLLLEEEEEEEEHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DISGUSTING!!!!!!!!)
Durga nodded her head. But, she then shook it in disagreement. She said, "Mahishasura, I shall not marry you. Only if you can defeat me in a fight, I shall marry you," Mahishasura roared with laughter. But, seeing his soon-to-be wife's earnest request, he agreed.
The two fought for nine days. Mahishasura used his buffalo-like strength and gave Durga a hard fight. But, Durga started beating Mahishasura really hard. She used her ten amazing weapons and belted Mahishasura into pulp!!
On the tenth day of the bout, Durga fatally wounded Mahishasura, who fell in pain. She swiped off his head with the Trishula, and brought the reign of Mahishasura to an end.
Thus, Durga killed Mahishasura and brought peace to the world.
Fun Fact Nº 1: In West Bengal, people celebrate a ten-day festival in place of Dusshera.
Fun Fact Nº 2: After Mahishasura died, his kingdom was renamed as Mahisuru. When the British invaded India, they couldn't pronounce Mahisuru, so they called it Maisuru, or Mysore.
Fun Fact Nº 3: The hill where Durga killed Mahishasura is in Mysore. It is called Chamundi Hill. There is a statue of Mahishasura over there. It looks like this ↓
Fun Fact Nº 4: Durga is also called Chamundi or Chamundeshwari, because she killed Mahishasura on the Chamundi Hill
Thanks for reading Durga and Mahishasura!! Please type your email in the box above the followers and click the button to receive emails about my posts!!!!!! Happy Reading!!!!!
Ages ago, when animals used to talk just as the humans did and the gods bestowed magnificent boons on common men, there lived a tyrant asura called Mahishasura. He was the ruler of a small kingdom called Mahishuru. Maishasura terrorized his subjects terribly. He slaughtered men, women and children alike. The residents of Mahishuru hated their king. They hated him a lot. Like, a LOT!!! They prayed to all of the gods, but to no avail. No one showed up to defeat the demon. He just kept on killing and killing and killing.
Soon, Mahishasura became arrogant of his rule. He was drunk with power. He began to boil an unearthly desire for immortality and ever-lasting strength. He wanted to conquer the heavens and become the ruler of the universe.
So, Mahishasura walked to the top of a HUGE hill on the outskirts of Mahishuru. He stood on one leg and clasped his hands above his head. He did penance for the creator of the universe, Lord Bramha.
Standing on one leg for thousands of years, Mahishasura continued his penance, in the hope that Bramha would grant him his wish.
Many, many, many, MANY, MANY, MANY years passed. The people of Mahishuru rejoiced, for they thought that Mahishasura had died or had gone missing. The population slowly grew. And grew. And grew. And grew!!! Soon, the citizens of Mahishuru had grown ten-fold!!! There was no one there to stop the growth.
Years later, Bramha finally arrived in front of Mahishasura and asked him, "You have pleased me, my child, What would you like?" Immediately, Mahishasura blurted, "I want immortality!!" Bramha sniggered, "You know I can't do that, little one. All that is born must die. Ask me for anything else," Mahishasura pondered for some time, then said, "I wish for a boon that will not let me be killed by any man or god!!!!" Bramha lifted his hand and proclaimed, "Thatha Astu!!!" With that, Bramha vanished to the heavens, floating away on a bed of clouds.
Mahishasura was ecstatic!! He soon thought that no woman could challenge him, so he was as good as immortal!!!
He pillaged several kingdoms, including his own, and brought them under his rule. He made everyone toil tirelessly, working wand working every day!!! Everyone feared Mahishasura, for he could not be vanquished!!
Soon, Mahishasura commanded his army to the heavens, where he fought the Devas. The Devas fought valiantly, but they were no match for the strength of Mahishasura.
After the fight, Mahishasura proclaimed himself as the Ruler of the Heavens, and made the Devas his slaves. The Devas, who were once kings, were now made to slog for Mahishasura.
Vayu was to blow a calm breeze wherever Mahishasura went, Varuna was to supply water whenever Mahishasura needed it. Surya, the Sun God, had to keep Mahishasura warm in the winter, and Indra, the former King of Gods, had to demolish small parts of the Earth with his thunderbolts. Mahishasura loved his new life, and proclaimed himself the everlasting king.
A long time passed. The Devas, who were dead on their feet, couldn't take it anymore. They ran to the Holy Trinity - Bramha, Vishnu and Shiva - and persuaded them to save the Earth and themselves, or else Mahishasura would imprison them forever.
The Holy Trinity discussed the issue for some time. They huddled together and presented many conclusions for the tyrant, "gusbusgusbusgusbusgusbus, " Soon, they thought of the ultimate answer to the impossible question. Who will defeat Mahishasura?
The three deities stepped back and lifted their right palms. They each shone a blinding light into the air. The three converged and forced Indra and the other gods to cover their eyes.
From the light came a beautiful woman, wearing a red sari with ten hands emerging from it. She rode on a roaring lion, which bore shining, needle-sharp, white teeth. She was bowed down to the Holy Trinity and said, "Namaskara, O Devas. My name is Durga. I have only one mission, of which I have been informed. I must go and kill Mahishasura." The Devas and the Holy Trinity gave her the most ultimate and amazing set of weapons ever.
Vishnu gave her the Sudarshan Chakra, the celestial discus. Bramha gave her a kamandalu, a pot full of amrut. Varuna gave her a bow and a quiver of infinite arrows. DharmaRaya Yama, the God of Justice and Death, gave her a mean-looking sceptre. Indra gave her a thunderbolt which was capable of shattering the Earth. Vishwakarma, the architect of the heavens, gave her a menacing axe. Kali, the Goddess of Time and Power, gave her a fear-striking, needle-sharp sword. Airavata, the eight-tusked, milk-white elephant of Indra, gave Durga a bell. Whenever she needed help, she could ring the bell and Airavata would come to her rescue. Shiva gave her the famed Trishula, the three-pronged trident.
Armed with ten dangerous weapons (including the lion), Durga set off for the same hill that Mahishasura meditated on.
Durga arrived on the hill and saw Mahishasura sitting with his eyes closed and with his hands on his knees. He was chanting, "Om… Om… Om…" Durga saw him meditating and climbed off her mount. She walked in front of Mahishasura and started dancing. She tried to distract him by dancing. She danced in front of Mahishasura, who stirred and saw a beautiful maiden in front of him. He exclaimed, "Wow!!! I have never seen such beauty before!! Will you marry me?!" (BBBBBBBBLLLLEEEEEEEEHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DISGUSTING!!!!!!!!)
Durga nodded her head. But, she then shook it in disagreement. She said, "Mahishasura, I shall not marry you. Only if you can defeat me in a fight, I shall marry you," Mahishasura roared with laughter. But, seeing his soon-to-be wife's earnest request, he agreed.
The two fought for nine days. Mahishasura used his buffalo-like strength and gave Durga a hard fight. But, Durga started beating Mahishasura really hard. She used her ten amazing weapons and belted Mahishasura into pulp!!
On the tenth day of the bout, Durga fatally wounded Mahishasura, who fell in pain. She swiped off his head with the Trishula, and brought the reign of Mahishasura to an end.
Thus, Durga killed Mahishasura and brought peace to the world.
Fun Fact Nº 1: In West Bengal, people celebrate a ten-day festival in place of Dusshera.
Fun Fact Nº 2: After Mahishasura died, his kingdom was renamed as Mahisuru. When the British invaded India, they couldn't pronounce Mahisuru, so they called it Maisuru, or Mysore.
Fun Fact Nº 3: The hill where Durga killed Mahishasura is in Mysore. It is called Chamundi Hill. There is a statue of Mahishasura over there. It looks like this ↓
Fun Fact Nº 4: Durga is also called Chamundi or Chamundeshwari, because she killed Mahishasura on the Chamundi Hill
Thanks for reading Durga and Mahishasura!! Please type your email in the box above the followers and click the button to receive emails about my posts!!!!!! Happy Reading!!!!!
Very nice writing Pradyun. I looove visiting mysore and my grandma always use to tell me this story about Mahishasura. Remembered my childhood days with this story keep more coming 😀
ReplyDeleteThanks Kruthika!!!!
ReplyDelete