Durga

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Durga, Rajasthani miniature of the Mewar school, mid-17th century; in a private collection—Pramod Chandra

In Hinduism, one of the forms of the goddess Devi or Shakti (see shakti), and the wife of Shiva. She was born fully grown, created out of flames that issued from the mouths of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and other gods and embodying their collective energy (shakti). They created her to slay the buffalo-demon Mahisasura, whom they were unable to overcome. She is usually depicted riding a lion or tiger, each of her multiple arms bearing a weapon. See also Durga-puja.

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