As per Hindu mythology, there was a demon named Mahishasura, who performed severe penance to please Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva was impressed by Mahishasura’s devotion and blessed him with a boon that he would not be killed by a man or deity, but only by a woman. Highly pleased with this boon and with a thought that a woman could never defeat him, Mahishasur started his supremacy by killing people mercilessly and spreading terror over the Universe. With the power of his boon, he attacked and defeated gods and became their master.
Defeat of Gods:
Defeated and humiliated by Mahishasura, the gods sought the help of Lord Brahma, who took them to Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. There was only one solution left and it was to create a powerful woman who could fight and kill the demon. Then with the confluence of pure divine energy from the trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva at one point, Goddess Durga was formed.
Culmination of Energies:
Goddess Durga had a face that replicated the light of Shiva. Her ten arms were from Lord Vishnu, feet from Lord Brahma, hair formed from the light of the god of death, Yama; the two breasts from the light of the Moon God, Somanath; waist from the light of the king of gods, Indra; legs and thighs from the light of the god of oceans, Varun; hips from the light of Bhoodev (Earth); toes from the light of Sun God; and fingers of hand from the light of the Vasus, the children of Goddess river Ganga. Her nose was formed from the light of Kuber, the keeper of wealth for the Gods; and teeth were formed from the light of the lord of creatures, Prajapati. The Triad of her eyes was formed from the light of the Fire God Agni; eyebrows from the two Sandhyas, the sunrise and sunset; and the ears from the light of Vayu, the god of Wind. Thus formed the goddess Durga from the divine energy of the trinity and also from the power of many other gods.
Power of Weapons:
The gods then gifted goddess Durga with several weapons and divine objects that would help her to fight against Mahishasura. Lord Shiva gifted her a trident and Lord Vishnu gave her a disc. Indra gave her a thunderbolt and his white-skinned elephant Airavata gave her a bell. Agni gave her a spear and Varuna a conch and noose. From Vayu she received arrows and from Yama, a sword and shield. Vishwakarma, the god of Architecture, gifted her with an axe and armor. Himavat, the god of mountains, gave her jewels and a lion to ride on. The goddess also received many other amazing gifts, clothing, and a garland of immortal lotuses to adorn her head and breasts.
The beautiful and bejeweled Durga, adorned with golden armor and armed with the tremendous weaponry of the gods, was ready for a battle with the Demon Mahishasura. Finally, after a blazing battle the goddess killed Mahishasura, thus saving the world from evil and cruelty.
