One by one, Devi Durga killed several Asura warriors. Mahishasura’s generals, Chikasura and Tamra, were slain as well. When this news reached Mahishasura, he was drowned in sadness. A mere woman had crushed his mighty army like an anthill under the foot of an enraged elephant. As a last resort, he sent two of his wise ministers, Asiloma and Vidalakhya, to talk to her.

The two wise asuras went to meet the Goddess in treasure-laden chariots. Vidalakhya approached her and said, “Devi, we have come to pacify you. Look at the mangled bodies in pools of blood around you. What will you achieve through this mindless war on Asuras? Mahisha is ready to lay down his riches at your feet. He sends his treasure as his peace offering. We beseech you to stop killing Danavas and accept Mahishasura’s proposal.”

Her face bore an equanimous expression as she spoke, “You mistake me still. I am eternally free from desires. I have no enmity with anyone. Mahishasura’s dark reign threatens the creation itself. He abuses Lord Brahma’s blessing. If he continues to rule on Heaven and Earth, all Dharma will be erased, and I cannot let that happen. I have arrived at the request of Gods and Devas to restore Dharma and not seek your riches. So, I repeat myself yet again. Tell Mahishasura to leave Devaloka and go to Patala with his clan or die at my hands on this battlefield.”

She was unwavering in her command. Vidalakhya and Asiloma decided not to carry the same message again. Their king was arrogant, unreasonable and hellbent on meeting his death. Instead, they got prepared to fight the Goddess like loyal subjects. Both fought valiantly, but she slew them at last.

The news of their demise reached Mahishasura. Immense grief weighed him down but the thought of coming face to face with Devi raged within him. Brushing past despondence, he assumed the form of a handsome man to allure the woman who had possessed his entire being.

On seeing him approaching the battlefield, Devi Durga blew her conch. Its deafening sound pierced through his soul. She was more resplendent than the lame descriptions made him visualize her. How would he ever gather the courage to raise a weapon against such a beauteous form? He approached her gently, “Take me as your slave from this minute, O Devi. Look at your alluring body. You are the paragon of beauty itself. For you, I will give up my long-lasting enmity with Indra. Your rightful place is by my side. I beg you to be my queen.”

Devi laughed at his gross suggestion.

“Seek peace, O Danava, not pleasures. As for me, the supreme Purusha is my Lord. I am in eternal bliss. I want no other pleasures. Quit thinking about marrying me and go back to your rightful kingdom in Patala. I have exchanged the same words with you seven times. After a constant exchange of words, even enemies turn into friends. Hark my friendly advice and leave, or else I am left with no option but to kill you.” Her voice was firm and resolute. Mahishasura still tried his luck.

“Do you realise that you are talking to Mahishasura, who vanquished the divine? Be my queen or return to the land you came from. I will not want to mar your delicate body with fierce arms. As for pleasures, who can live happily alone, beautiful one? Mark, Vishnu resides with Laxmi, Shiva with Parvati, Brahma with Saraswati and Indra with Sachi. We can claim such happiness too. Together, you and I will create an indomitable progeny. You are vain today, but with time you’ll regret your haughtiness just like Mandodari.” Then, with much gusto, he narrated the tale of one unfortunate Princess Mandodari; she had spurned many lovers and then fallen in love and married a philanderer.

Mahishasura’s long-winded tale did not perturb Devi. Giving him a stern, unflinching look, she commanded, “Leave now or you’ll regret it. You are a fool to compare me to the hapless protagonist of your saga. I am Parashakti, sent here to kill you.”

At last, her words woke him up from his stupor. He furiously cast off his human body and reclaimed his half-bull-half man form. His eyes burnt like embers while his tail twitched like an enraged serpent. Bellowing with all his might, he hurled arrows at her. Calm and collected, she broke the barrage of arrows with a clean swish of her sword. With each failed attack, his temper bubbled up like molten lava. He launched several weapons her away. Every time she broke them down as if they were innocuous playthings of children.

Pawing the earth with his mighty hooves, he sprang and attacked her vahana. Her lion staggered and then sprang up and gored his chest with his claws. In a jiffy, the Asura assumed the form of a lion too. A beast-to-beast battle ensued. Their bloodcurdling roars rent through the skies. She launched a sharp arrow on Mahishsura’s head. Quickly, he morphed into an elephant — massive and murderous. Devi’s lion jumped and mauled him in the head. Instantly, he turned into a giant bird. Devi swerved around and chopped off one of its wings. Mahishasura returned to his original form, bleeding from one of his arms. Even though severely injured, with all his strength, he galloped towards her. As soon as he came near, she pierced his heart with her shimmering trident. Before he could get up again, she sent the Sudarshana chakra zipping in his direction. It landed on Mahishasura’s neck in a split second and decapitated him. His animal body shuddered and then collapsed at Devi Durga’s feet. The cosmos reverberated with the sounds of drums, cymbals and dundubhis. Gods and devas showered her with flowers. They prayed to her and raised acclamations in her glory. “Mahishasura Mardini, Devi Durga ki Jai”. Durga is not just a mystical Goddess of fantastic folklore. She is one of the many names given to the omnipresent, omniscient cosmic energy. It lives in nature; it lives within us.

The Navaratri period is an auspicious time to turn inwards and invoke our inner Durga (read energy), so that we may vanquish the asuras(our negative tendencies) that rage within us.

What better way to remember and celebrate Mother Goddess’ victory than Mahishasura Mardini Strotram. Here is a video with a Bharatnatyam Dance performance on the Strotram by Sridevi Nrityalaya.