Masik Durgashtami Vrat Katha | Legends of Masik Durgashtami

Masik Durga Ashtami Vrat Katha

According to Shrimad Devi Bhagavata Purana, in ancient times, the demon Dambha was blessed with a son named Mahishasura, who had harbored a strong desire for immortality since childhood. To fulfil this ambition, he undertook severe penance to please Lord Brahma and obtain the boon of immortality. Pleased with Mahishasura's rigorous austerities, Lord Brahma appeared before him and asked him to seek a boon of his choice. Since Mahishasura desired nothing but immortality, he requested Lord Brahma to grant him eternal life.

However, Lord Brahma declined his request, explaining that birth is inevitably followed by death, and death is followed by rebirth. Therefore, granting immortality was not possible. Upon hearing this, Mahishasura requested another boon and said - "O Lord! If death is inevitable, then grant me the boon that I may be slain only by a woman. Apart from a woman, let no demon, human being, or deity be capable of killing me."

Thereafter, Lord Brahma granted this boon to Mahishasura. As soon as he received the boon, Mahishasura became blinded by arrogance, and his tyranny began to increase relentlessly. Freed from the fear of death, he attacked the earthly realm with his vast army. His atrocities brought widespread destruction upon the Earth, and all living beings bowed before his immense strength and valor. After subjugating the earthly realm and the netherworld, the arrogant Mahishasura attacked Indraloka, defeated Lord Indra, and seized control of Heaven as well.

Afflicted by the oppression of Mahishasura, all the gods approached the Trimurti, i.e., Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva, for protection. Lord Vishnu then proposed the manifestation of the Goddess Shakti to destroy the demon. Following His guidance, all the gods united and invoked the Divine Mother. Responding to their prayers, the divine radiance emanating from the bodies of all the deities merged together and assumed the form of an extraordinarily beautiful Goddess. From that collective divine effulgence, Maa Adi Shakti manifested. Witnessing Her unparalleled beauty and transcendent radiance, all the gods were filled with wonder.

After Her manifestation, Himavana presented a lion to Goddess Durga as Her divine mount. Likewise, all the assembled deities offered their celestial weapons to the Goddess. Thus, Goddess Durga was fully equipped for the destruction of Mahishasura. Captivated by the extraordinary beauty of the Goddess, Mahishasura became enamored of Her and sent a messenger to propose marriage. Enraged by this insolence, Goddess Bhagavati challenged Mahishasura to battle.

Blinded by the arrogance born of Lord Brahma's boon, Mahishasura readily accepted the challenge. During the fierce battle, Goddess Durga destroyed Mahishasura's entire demonic army one by one. The great war continued relentlessly for nine days. Throughout the battle, Mahishasura repeatedly assumed different forms in an attempt to deceive the Goddess, but all his schemes ultimately failed. At last, Goddess Bhagavati severed his head with Her Chakra and slew him. Thus, Mahishasura met his end at the sacred hands of the Devi Bhagavati.

According to tradition, the day on which Maa Bhagavati liberated Svargaloka, Prithvi Loka, and Patala Loka from the tyranny of Mahishasura marked the beginning of the sacred tradition of Durga Ashtami.