The Legend of Goddess Durga and the Buffalo-Demon
The Birth of the Buffalo-Demon
A demon called Rambh was married to a she-buffalo. When Rambh died, his pregnant wife immolated herself in his funeral pyre, but their unborn son emerged unscathed from the fire. Since he was half-buffalo and half-demon, he was called Buffalo-Demon. Rambh also emerged from the fire as Raktbeej, Buffalo-Demon's brother. Buffalo-Demon was soon crowned Demon King, and Raktbeej became his mentor. Immensely strong and possessing the power of shapeshifting, Buffalo-Demon aspired to conquer all three worlds: Earth, Heaven, and Hell.
The Buffalo-Demon's Fatal Wish
Buffalo-Demon prayed to Brahma, the Creator of the universe, for several years. The four-headed Brahma, seated on his vehicle—a swan—finally appeared before Buffalo-Demon and asked him to make a wish. Like several demons before him, the Demon King wished for immortality. Brahma said it wasn't in his power to bestow immortality upon anyone because of a universal rule that anyone who was born must die. Then, Buffalo-Demon, who foolishly assumed that women were weak, wished that a woman would kill him. Brahma granted this wish and returned to his abode, Brahmalok.
The Rise of Buffalo-Demon: A Celestial Conquest
Buffalo-Demon and his army began marching toward heaven. Frightened, Indra and the other gods approached Lord Vishnu (the Preserver) and Lord Shiv (the Destroyer) for help. But both of them refused to help the gods in deference to Brahma's boon, which said that Buffalo-Demon would be killed only by a woman. A celestial war ensued between the armies of Indra and Buffalo-Demon. The demons vanquished the gods, and Buffalo-Demon was crowned the ruler of heaven.
The Birth of Adi Shakti: The Divine Feminine Power
The Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiv) combined their individual powers to create a supreme feminine form called Adi Shakti. Adi Shakti was incarnated as the many-armed Goddess Durga, unparalleled in beauty and power, seated on a lion as her mount (vehicle). Vishnu and Shiv gave her their Sudarshan Chakra and Trident, respectively.
Durga's Defiance: The Buffalo-Demon's Failed Courtship
Buffalo-Demon got wind of the creation of Goddess Durga and wished to marry her. So, he sent his minions to bring her to him. When Durga declined Buffalo-Demon's marriage proposal, the demons decided to use force against her. But Durga effortlessly finished them off.
Buffalo-Demon's Fateful Encounter with Vishnu
When Buffalo-Demon heard that Durga had killed his minions, he decided to meet her in person. He used his shapeshifting power to transform into a handsome young man and sped off on his chariot to meet Durga. But on the way, Vishnu intercepted and challenged him to a duel. The two adversaries fought a fierce battle. Vishnu gravely wounded Buffalo-Demon but stopped short of killing him because of Brahma's boon. Vishnu just wanted to show him that he was not unbeatable.
The Nine-Day Battle: Durga's Triumph Over Buffalo-Demon
Buffalo-Demon confronted Goddess Durga and expressed his desire to marry her. Durga agreed to marry him if he could defeat her. An intense battle ensued between Goddess Durga and Buffalo-Demon; it lasted nine days and nine nights. Finally, Durga impaled Buffalo-Demon with her Trident and killed him, after which she became known as 'Slayer of the Buffalo-Demon'. Durga's victory over Buffalo-Demon is commemorated in the Hindu festival of Navratri (meaning 'Nine Nights').