Durga

Durga fighting Mahishasura, the buffalo-demon (early 18th century)

Shiva’s consort Durga is called the Goddess Beyond Reach, or the Unfathomable One. Terrible and menacing to her enemies, she rides on the back of a tiger, which represents the demon of the lower self. One Hindu text describes the creation of the goddess in a manner that dramatically depicts the way the shakti activates the power of her consort:

At one time in the past, the gods were in a predicament. They could not subdue the great buffalo demon Mahisha. Because of his victory over the gods, Mahisha triumphantly claimed a place in heaven. The gods assembled together to resolve the situation.

Each one emitted fiery energies. The collective outpouring of their energies formed the body of a beautiful woman. This great being of light was Durga. Her splendor spread throughout the universe. She easily vanquished the demon.

Hindus believe that Durga manifests herself again and again in order to protect the world and all God’s children. In a dictation given on New Year’s Eve 1991, beloved Durga said:

How very close to you and this messenger is Padma Sambhava. Therefore, do not neglect his mantra,... Om Ah Hum Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hum. It is your key at this level of service for the entering in to the hearts of all those Buddhas and Bodhisattvas whose lineage goes back to the Great Central Sun, back to the heart of the Godhead....

Blessed ones, the eye of Shiva is upon you! And I have come this day that you might no longer fear me. For in the fierceness that I AM and the fearsome qualities that I demonstrate, I can assure you that those who have no fear within them should not fear myself. For I AM the greatest defender of your being ever was and I come with a mighty fury of the power of the Spirit of God.

I come, beloved, more therefore than the image of a Hindu goddess. I AM a goddess in the true sense of the word of the incarnation of the Divine Mother unto the specific role. I AM also Parvati: I AM also the devoted wife. I AM all things, beloved, and the Divine Mother takes many forms, as you know.

But I would tell you that those who fear to invoke me, to call to me, are surely deprived of the greatest possibility of exorcism, which I engage in along with the Mighty Astrea, with the mighty Kali and even Sarasvati, Lakshmi and all those who are manifestations, in some form, of the Divine Mother, including yourselves.

Know this, therefore, beloved—that to embrace me and my fierceness is to be free forever from all demons and discarnates. And that embracing must take place every day of your life, beloved, yes, every day of your life. For there are billions upon billions upon billions of discarnates and demons of all manifestation that torment the youth....

I AM also in the heart of every ascended master and Cosmic Being. I AM there, for the Mother Flame is in every heart and I AM in the heart of the Mother Flame. Shiva is in the heart of every ascended and Cosmic Being and I AM in the heart of Shiva. Therefore, you see, there is nowhere you can run and hide from me; for I AM within you, I AM without you and I AM everywhere!

Therefore, let the whirling of the dance of the mighty legions who have come with me begin, for the whirling of the mighty fire of Shiva and Durga and all hosts of the LORD does commence. And therefore, these false hierarchies are being routed!

And this is the greatest, most joyous battle that I can ever tell you of, beloved ones. Happy are ye that ye do engage in it, beloved.

Durga’s seed syllable, or bija mantra, is Dum (pronounced doom). Another mantra honoring Durga is Om Dum Durgaye Namaha.

See also

Shiva

Parvati

Kali

Sources

Mark L. Prophet and Elizabeth Clare Prophet, The Masters and Their Retreats, s.v. “Shiva, Parvati, Durga and Kali.”