Maa Durga, the supreme goddess of Hinduism, embodies Shakti, the cosmic energy behind creation, preservation, and transformation. Celebrated across India and globally during Navaratri, she manifests in diverse forms such as Mahishasuramardini, Mariamman, Jagaddhatri, Pratyangira, and Juntei Kanon, reflecting her dual nature as nurturer and warrior. Each form symbolizes protection, victory, and divine power, connecting regional, folk, and Tantric traditions under one universal devotion. Durga’s omnipresence highlights the boundless energy and supreme authority of the feminine divine.
Who is Maa Durga? Revered as the supreme mother and cosmic warrior, A benevolent Maa or mother to some and the mighty, omnipresent Jagadjanani, the birther of the Universe to others, the Hindu goddesses have as many forms, powers, and names as the number of her devotees across the world.
Celebrated most joyously during the time of the Navaratri festivals, both Shardiya Navratri and Chaitra Navaratri, the goddess Durga is a popular deity, worshipped in the Indian subcontinent, also in many other countries and cultures. Around the prominent goddess, there is an army of regional, folk, and Tantric goddesses, who are related to Durga, worshiped as her aspects or members of her militia in the wars against evil.
This Shardiya Navratri, which is being celebrated from 11th अक्टूबर 2026, Sunday / रविवार to 20th अक्टूबर 2026, Tuesday / मंगलवार, we will bow in front of the unsurpassable Shakti- the divine female in Hinduism, by describing the 10 forms of the goddess in various regions, temples, and artistic cultures of India and beyond.
These ten forms of the Goddess are not a formal list from the sacred texts, but a description of goddesses from different regions, nations, and cultures, to underline the omnipresence of Ancient Hindu ideal of Shakti.
While many of them have local/folk origin and a small number of dedicated followers, these forms of the goddess are often addressed as “Durga”, which remains the most beloved and powerful name all over the world when one begins to talk about the divine feminine.
Mahishasuramardini Durga, often celebrated as the victorious goddess who vanquished the demon Mahishasura, is one of the most iconic manifestations of Maa Durga. Her story symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, a theme central to Hindu worship. During Durga Puja in Eastern India, devotees marvel at towering statues of Mahishasuramardini, piercing the chest of the demon Mahishasura, instill devotion and awe in the heart of the devotees.
Artistic traditions depiction of this form of Durga is found in the classic Chola bronzes sculptures, where she stands gracefully, as a youthful and feminine deity, with her pedestal adorned with the head of buffalo, symbolizing her victory over the demon, which is why this icon is labled as “Mahishasura Vijaya Durga” or simply “Vijaya Durga”, where the goddess symbolizes victory and perfection in battlefields.
Mariamman is a South Indian mother goddess revered for her powers over rain, health, protection, family, and lives of her devotees, Mariamman is also worshipped as an aspect of Kali, Durga, or Parvati. In her temples in Tamil Nadu and Deccan, Mariamman is an all-powerful mother goddess, who is a blend of the wrath of Kali and the maternal nature of Uma.
Though not a popular deity all over India, Mariamman has been taken by her devotees to foreign countries such as Sri Lanka, Vietnam, South Africa, Malaysia, and Pakistan. Wherever the devotees migrate to, it seems they take their mother or Amman with them!
Umiya Mata, a regional form of Goddess Uma (Parvati), is the clan deity of the Kadva Patidars in Gujarat. Her unique aspect is her cow mount, on which the goddess sits while holding weapons similar to Devi Durga, symbolizing both her maternal protection and guardian role over her devotees.
Just like the goddess Uma-Parvati, Umiya Mata is worshipped as the wife of Shiva. Her vahana as a cow links her with the cattle wealth of the farming and trading communities of Gujarat, for whom animal folk are an important source of wealth, while her divine weapons highlight her connection with the supreme goddess and her role as the guardian of the people.
Jagaddhatri, meaning “Mother of the Universe”, she is an aspect of the supreme goddess popular mainly in West Bengal. She appears as Simhavahini, a form of Uma-Parvati, with her lion standing on an elephant’s head, which symbolizing courage, pride, and divine authority.
According to the legends of Jagaddhatri, when Durga had vanquished Mahishasura, the gods during a conversation insisted on the superiority of their power, using whose weapons Durga was able to defeat the demon. To teach them the true nature of Shakti, Devi appeared as Jagaddhatri, the embodiment of the energy and potency of all gods, the mother of creation, and the ultimate cosmic force (Param Brahman), highlighting her central role in Hindu belief and worship.
Goddess Pratyangira, the lion-faced Tantric deity, is revered as a powerful aspect of Shakti, often associated with Narasimha and also called Atharvana Bhadrakali. Pratyangira or Narasimhi (the lion-faced goddess) in Devi Mahatmya is one of the Saptamatrika (seven mother goddesses) who accompany goddess Durga during her battle with the demons, symbolizing the fierce, protective energy of the divine feminine.
Seated on a lion, with her four arms and weapons and a roaring lion face, Pratyangira is also linked with Tripurasundari and Kali, and though there are many sacred legends around her, she is worshipped as a form of Shakti, the feminine energy, in its potent and fierce element.
Jaya represents Durga as the eternal divine warrior, continuously battling forces of evil to maintain cosmic balance and auspiciousness, who is in eternal battles with the forces of evil to ensure a balance and auspiciousness in the world, the goddess Durga in some of visual and devotional cultures is referred to as “Jaya”- victory. Her depictions can be seen in Rajput paintings of the medieval period, commissioned by kings and ruling families, for whom victory was the supreme virtue and fruit.
Goddess Durga can be seen riding her lion, with her weapons, dressed in heavenly attire, with the conch clearly visible in her hand. Blowing the Shankha or conch is considered sacred as well as a declaration of one’s victory or announcement of the battle. Though not worshiped separately as a goddess, Durga as Jaya is a distinctive presence in the sacred art of India.
Vishnu-Durga is a unique aspect of Maa Durga, depicted holding weapons of Vishnu Shankha (conch) and Chakra (discus), in between her fingers making a scissors-like gesture, similar to Vishnu’s hand poses, Vishnu Durga is a unique aspect of the goddess, Prominent in Panchaloha bronze sculptures inspired by Chola art, icons of Vishnu Durga represent the goddess as the sister of Vishnu as well as Maya, the potency of Vishnu, through whom God sustains the Universe.
This form highlights the interconnectedness of divine energies in Hinduism, showing how Durga embodies Shakti in her own right, also in relation to other gods, reinforcing her supreme cosmic power and protective role.
Ugra-Chandi is a fierce Tantric form of Maa Durga worshipped primarily by the Newari Hindus of Nepal. She has an iconography similar to Mahishasuramardini, with a lion mount, vanquishing the buffalo demon, and carrying multiple divine weapons.
Her distinctive characteristics are the Mundamala (garland of skulls), eighteen-armed form, the Pratyalidha or warrior’s stance, fierce expressions, and the Bindu mudra and skull cup, signifying offerings and the transformative power of Shakti. Ugra-Chandi embodies the intense, protective, and wrathful energy of the goddess, central to Tantric worship and Newari devotional practices.
Juntei Kanon, also known as Chandi, Chunda, or Kanon, revered as “Lhamo”, the goddess is worshipped in Japan and East Asia as a form of Durga worshipped by followers of Mahayana Buddhism. Often called the “Japanese Durga,” she is a multi-armed divinity, seated on an ornate lotus, with a blooming flower forming an umbrella on the top with her hands joined in front holding the wish-fulfilling jewel (Cintamani).
Known as the mother of many Buddhas, Juntei Kanon is revered to remove the ill effects of one’s action or Karma, evoked through the “Chandi Dharani”- a ritual practice devoted to her. Her worship highlights the cross-cultural influence of Shakti, blending Hindu and Buddhist traditions in East Asia.
Bathari Durga, also known as Loro or Roro Longrang or Sang Hayan Bathari Durga, is a revered form of Maa Durga worshipped in Java, where a considerable number of Hindus practice their culture, is a unique yet universal depiction and form of the supreme goddess. The icons of Bathari Durga are similar to Indian Durga images, with a few distinctive features added, to highlight her presence in Javanese culture.
The goddess Bathari Durga stands on a bull with Bhairava by her side. Bathari Durga’s ornaments, attire and facial expressions are similar to Buddhist icons of goddesses, attesting to her connections with the South East Asian culture. She represents the universal power of Shakti, adapted to local culture while maintaining her role as a protective and maternal deity.
Shakti, the divine energy that runs the entire Universe is at the core of the creation, nourishment, and destruction of the world. Her role in the cosmos is so multivalent, that it is natural to envision her in thousands and thousands of divine forms, to make sense of her omnipresence and seemingly dual nature as the mother and destroyer of all things.
However, as one turns towards the beautiful Hindu tradition all over the globe, and finds the thread of devotion that connects the innumerable forms of the goddess, we are left with one name- “Durga”. In every village, region, and country that practices Shakti worship, there is a rare and beloved form of Durga. She is maternal in some places and wrathful in others, but everywhere we go, Durga is supreme!
🔸Maa Durga is Shakti: The ultimate energy governing creation, preservation, and destruction.
🔸Mahishasuramardini symbolizes victory: Triumph over evil and supreme power in battle.
🔸Mariamman protects health and harvest: A South Indian mother goddess revered worldwide.
🔸Jagaddhatri and Pratyangira: Represent cosmic motherhood and fierce Tantric energy.
🔸Global presence: Forms like Juntei Kanon and Bathari Durga show cross-cultural worship.
🔸Local variations matter: Umiya Mata and Vishnu-Durga reflect regional traditions and symbolism.
🔸Dual nature: Durga is both maternal and warrior-like, uniting devotees under one supreme divine name.
Maa Durga is the supreme goddess representing Shakti, the divine energy behind creation, protection, and destruction.
Mahishasuramardini Durga is celebrated for defeating the demon Mahishasura, symbolizing victory of good over evil.
Mariamman and Umiya Mata are prominent in South India, worshipped for health, protection, and prosperity.
Jagaddhatri, the “Mother of the Universe,” is revered with lion and elephant symbolism and festive rituals celebrating cosmic energy.
Pratyangira is a lion-faced Tantric goddess, embodying protective and transformative Shakti in her fierce form.
Yes, forms like Juntei Kanon in Japan and Bathari Durga in Java show Durga’s influence in East and Southeast Asia.
Durga embodies Shakti, the universal energy that sustains the cosmos, appearing in maternal, protective, and warrior forms.
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