Goddess Durga Mantras

The buffalo-demon Mahishasura, by fierce penance, had won the boon that no man and no god could slay him, and grew so mighty that he conquered the heavens and cast out the gods. Helpless, the devas went to the Trimurti — Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva — and from the combined radiance and righteous anger of all the gods there arose a dazzling Goddess: Durga, the invincible Mother, beautiful and terrible, with many arms.

Each god gave her his own weapon — Shiva's trident, Vishnu's discus, Indra's thunderbolt and the rest — and the mountain-god gave her a lion to ride. Armed and resplendent, Durga laughed a laugh that shook the worlds and strode forth to challenge Mahishasura.

For nine days and nights the Goddess fought the shape-shifting demon, who became now a buffalo, now a lion, now a giant. At last, on the tenth day, she pinned him beneath her foot and pierced him with her trident, slaying the demon that no man or god could kill — for she was Shakti herself, the power beyond them all. This is the victory celebrated at Navratri and Vijayadashami: the triumph of the Divine Mother, Mahishasura-mardini, and of good over evil.