Devi Bhagwat Purana – Chapter 2: Battle with Mahishasura

The Battle with Mahishasura

In the previous chapter, we saw how the gods invoked Mother Durga with their powers, a goddess who could end the atrocities of Mahishasura. With the creation of this divine power, a new hope spread throughout the three worlds, but this battle was yet to begin. Durga, born from a brilliant light like the Milky Way, was now ready to face Mahishasura, whose tyranny made the earth tremble. This chapter describes the fierce battle that took place between them, a battle that symbolizes the eternal struggle between righteousness and unrighteousness.

Declaration of War

Riding a lion on the peaks of the Himalayas, Mother Durga let out a thunderous roar that echoed through the three worlds. This sound was a declaration of war for Mahishasura's demonic empire. Durga's divine form shone brightly, her ten arms holding divine weapons, each weapon bestowed upon her by a specific deity. Her anger was like a blazing fire, ready to consume Mahishasura and his demons. The gods and sages showered flowers from the sky, praising the divine mother. Their hearts were filled with hope and devotion, for they knew that only Durga could save them now.

Durga resolved in her heart, "Today, I will free this earth from the sins of Mahishasura. This unrighteous demon has been tormenting gods and humans for a long time. Now is the time for its end." Her voice was a mixture of compassion and anger, symbolizing her just heart.

Annihilation of the Demons

Mahishasura, in his terrifying form, came with his vast army to battle Durga. The demons began uprooting mountains and trees and throwing them at the goddess. Durga destroyed them all with her divine power. She shattered the demons' chariots with her arrows, severed their heads with her swords, and pierced their hearts with her trident. The battlefield turned red with blood, and the sky was filled with the screams of the demons. Terrible demon commanders like Chanda, Munda, and Dhumralochana fell victim to Durga's wrath and perished in an instant. Durga beheaded Chanda and crushed Munda under her feet. She incinerated Dhumralochana with her roar alone.

As the number of demons dwindled, the enthusiasm of the gods and sages grew. The sky resounded with shouts of "Victory to Mother Durga! Victory to Mother Bhavani!" By the grace of Mother Durga, smiles returned to the faces of the gods, and the end of the demons' tyranny was near.

Durga's Fearsome Form

Mahishasura became enraged when his commanders were killed. He assumed the form of a terrifying buffalo and attacked Durga. Durga also assumed her fearsome form. Her eyes turned red with anger, and fire emanated from her mouth. She began to strike Mahishasura with her weapons, but Mahishasura escaped each time by changing his form. Sometimes he became a lion, sometimes an elephant, and sometimes a human. Durga realized that defeating Mahishasura would not be so easy. Nevertheless, she did not lose her patience and continued to attack him.

"O wicked Mahishasura! You will not escape my power now!" Durga roared. Seeing her fearsome form, the soldiers of the demon army trembled with fear. Durga severed the head of Mahishasura's buffalo form with her discus, but then a warrior emerged from that severed head.

Next Chapter

Durga continued to strike Mahishasura relentlessly, destroying every form he took. The gods and sages cheered. But Mahishasura's end was yet to come. In the next chapter, we will see how Durga destroyed Mahishasura's final form and sent him to the mortal world, establishing peace in the three worlds.