Aswyuja suddha ashtami is the penultimate day of Dasara celebrations this year as navami and dasami fell on same day. The goddess is adorned as Sri Mahishasura Mardhini Devi, considered to be the most ‘ugra avataram’ (fiery form) of Devi. As she killed mahisha on Navami it is known as Maharnavami.
In ‘chandi saptasati’, it is stated Sri Mahalakshmi Devi with ‘ashthadasa bhujas’ (eighteen hands) killed Mahishasura, and manifested in the same form at Indrakeeladri. And over a period of time, she popularly became as Kanaka Durga. She holds a trisula, a trident, in her hand, and rides lion. Mahishasura Mardhini, in this appearance, has the powers of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara and armed with different kinds of weapons fought fiercely for nine days.
The legend says, Mahishasura, the king of ‘rakshasas’(demons), defeated Indra, and began torturing everyone. All devatas went to Siva and Kesava along with Brahma urging them to relieve them from tortures of Mahishasura. An enormous beam of light emerged out of all the angry devas and took the form of a woman. The Devas were very pleased and presented her the energies of their powerful godly weapons. Siva gave his trisulam (trident), Varuna gave his Sankham (conch), Yama gave his khadgam (sword), Surya installed all his powerful rays of light in her hair. Thus every Deva gave his power to her. Collecting all those powers, goddess Durga killed Mahishasura’s warriors Chikshurudu, Chamarudu, Udrudu, Bhashkuludu, Bidaludu and others.
The devatas who were hilarious at the success of Durga praised her immensely and the goddess became pleasant looking once again. She showers her benevolent and pleasant looks on her worshippers.
