According to the Indian Mythology, Mahishasura, the King of Asuras, through years of austerities, was once granted a bon by Lord Bramha, that no man or deity would be able to kill him. The immense power filled in him the urge to rull over the world. He started to terrorize heaven and the inhibitants. He pervaded the world with his battalion of Asuras and plundered and ruthlessly killed the people. Chaos and anarchy reigned. Gods were driven from heaven and Mahishasura usurped the throne.
The Gods, scared and unable to combat him, requested Lord Shiva, Lord Bramha, Lord Visnu to stop Mahishasura's tyranny. In answer, the thre Gods combined their divine energy and summoned up a feminine form so brilliantly glaring that it illuminated the heavens. From the glow, emerged Devi Durga, a beautiful yellow woman with ten arms riding a lion. Despite his grace she bore a menacing expression, for Durga was born to kill. Fully grown and beautifl Durga was immediately armed by the Gods and sent forth against Mahishasura, bearing in each of her ten hands, symbols of their divine power. Vishnu's discus; Shiva's trident; Varuna's conchshell; Agni's flaming dart; Vayu's bow; Surya's quiver and arrow; Yama's iron rod; Indra's thunderbolt; Kubera's club and garland of snakes from Shesha and a lion as a charger from Himalayas. A fierce battle took place. Finally when Mahishasura in the guise of a buffalo charged against Durga, the Devi beheaded the buffalo and from it emerged Mahishasura in his original form.Durga pierced his chest with the trident and relieved the world from the evil power. That is why she is called 'Durgatinashini Durga', our mother Goddess who destroys the evil, protects her devotees and establishes peace on earth.
We worship Durga as the Mother Goddess, the epitome of 'Shakti' (Divine Power), to protect us from the evil and bring peace and prosperity in our lives. But the most interesting part of Durga Puja is that, instead of placing Durga on a high alter adn worshipping her from a distance the Bengalis' embrace her in their heart and make her an inseparable member of he family. We welcome Durga to the earth as our daughter who comes to her parents' home for her annual vists. Durga stays for four days-Shasthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Nabami, along with her children, Ganesha, Laxmi, Karthik and Saraswati and sets for her husbands abode on Vijaya Dashami.
