दुर्गा और महिषासुर

The buffalo-demon Mahishasura had won a boon that no man and no god could slay him, and grown drunk with power. He drove the devas from the heavens and spread cruelty across the worlds, certain that nothing could stand against him.

Unable to defeat him alone, the gods gathered together, and from their combined radiance a brilliant light took form — the Goddess Durga, mounted upon a lion, bearing in her many hands the strength and weapons of all the devas at once.

Mahishasura, ever shifting his shape — now buffalo, now lion, now man — fought a long and terrible battle against her. But the Mother was steady and unafraid, meeting each form with calm power, until at last she overcame him and freed the worlds from his tyranny.

Her victory is celebrated each year during Navratri and Dussehra, remembered as the triumph of righteousness over arrogance, and of unity over the pride that believes itself untouchable.