Durga is the Hindu goddess of divine power, protection, and righteousness. Depicted as a warrior riding a lion or tiger and carrying many weapons, she symbolizes strength and the victory of good over evil. A central form of the Divine Mother (Mahadevi), she embodies Shakti, the sacred energy that creates, sustains, and transforms the universe. According to Hindu tradition, Durga was created from the combined powers of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva to defeat the buffalo demon Mahishasura, who could not be conquered by any male warrior. Her stories, celebrated in the Devi Mahatmyam, teach lessons of courage, compassion, devotion, and the overcoming of ego on the path to spiritual awakening.