Vijayadashami – Victory of Good over Evil!

Today is Vijayadashami or Dussehra as it is called in the North of India and I am going to narrate the story of Vijayadashami.

Long long ago a fearful Asura by name Mahishasura was the king of Asuras and Indra was the King of Devas. Mahishasura and his army were so powerful that they had a fierce battle with the Devas for over a hundred years. At the end of the battle, Mahishasura drove away the Devas from the heavens. 

The Devas, led by Indra went to Brahma, Vishnu and Mahādeva. They poured out their grievances. “We have no place to go!” they said. “We cannot do anything to stop Mahisha from occupying our place. The world is unprotected now since the roles of Surya, Chandra, Yama, Agni, Vayu and Varuna have been taken over by Mahisha. There is total chaos. Darkness and calamity pervades the world. Only you three can save the Universe O Brahma, Vishnu and Mahādeva!” they pleaded in great distress. 

Brahma, Vishnu and Mahadevā were enraged beyond measure when they heard the atrocities committed by Mahishasura. They did not say a word but the creasing of their foreheads and crinkling of their eyebrows said it all. 

As the Devas watched, three dazzling beams of light came forth from the foreheads of the Trinity – a beam of red light from Shiva’s, yellow from Vishnu’s, white from Brahma’s. The lights converged and became brighter than the brightest light. This light brought in a wave of courage in the Devas that Indra, Yama, Agni, Surya, Chandra, Vayu, Varuna and many other Devas also sent rays of bright light from their bodies. The lights merged with the bright light.

Out of this light came the most beautiful woman this universe had ever seen. She was the manifestation of all the positive energy of all the celestial beings. Her beauty was unparalleled and she had eighteen arms. She had power, wealth and knowledge. She possessed the qualities of Tamas, Rajas and Satva. She appeared fearful  but had benevolence in her eyes, at the same time. Born with all the best qualities of all the celestial beings, she was Durga – the form of Parashakti. 

All the celestial beings paid obeisance to her. They sung her praises and requested her to accomplish what was impossible for them to do – to slay the demon Mahishasura. Each of them gave their best weapon to her. Lord Shiva gave her his Trident (Trishul), Vishnu gave his discus (Sudharshan Chakra), Brahma gave her a Kamandala, Indra gave his thunderbolt (Vajrayudha), Agni gave his flaming dart, Yama gave his iron rod, Vayu gave her a mighty bow, Surya gave her a quiver and arrows and Varuna gave her a conch and a noose.  Himavan, the ruler of Himalayas gave her the most ferocious lion which was as sturdy as Himavān himself. She mounted the lion and was looking majestic. She was wearing a red saree and bedecked with jewels and diamonds.

The Devas and the Trinity looked at Her with awe as She stood with the brilliance of ten million suns. She looked at all of them and roared with laughter. The sound of her laughter echoed all around the universe and the ocean waves crashed and mountains trembled and the earth shook. But the same laughter filled the Devas’ hearts with tremendous courage! The Devas all wished Her victory. “Jayatu Jayatu Devi!” they said repeatedly. 

The roaring laughter of Durga had been heard at the place where Mahishasura was.  He was puzzled and annoyed at the same time that someone was laughing loudly in his domain. Unable to contain his curiosity he came out with his generals to see who it was. By that time Devi had already reached to where Mahisha was. And there She raised Her bow and pulled the bowstring. “TWANG” the noise was deafening. 

Mahisha stared at Her but  was not afraid. “A woman? Hmph.. A weakling woman wants to challenge me Hahaha… I will crush her under my feet for all to see!” he roared. 

“Charge!” he ordered, as millions of soldiers rushed with various weapons in their hands pointing at Devi. 

Devi again let out a deafening roar and using all Her various weapons struck them all down like a pack of cards. Her every breath brought forth thousands of her own warriors. They were as fierce as Her. They rushed to attack the army of Mahisha with various weapons. 

Bows, arrows, maces, spears, axes, javelins, swords, daggers, nooses – all of these were used by the Asura army targeting Devi, but Devi destroyed all of them into powder with her weapons as if it was a child’s play. The Devas and Rishis were watching from the heavens this mighty battle. Amidst all this Devi’s face had no sign of tiredness. Devi’s mount, the lion, was creating havoc too, in the Asura army. With loud roars,and powerful leaps, using his teeth and claws he was killing many. Whenever he jumped, his great golden mane shook and that looked like streaks of fire. 

Seeing the army being devastated, Mahishasura’s two able assistants Chāmara and Chiksurā came forth to defend. Chiksurā came first  raining  thousands of arrows at Devi. Devi killed his horses and charioteer and pierced him with her sword. Chiksurā was not afraid, he took a sword and leaped at Devi hitting the lion’s head and Devi. His sword broke into pieces and in a swift move, Devi used Her spear and killed him. 

Chāmara was enraged seeing Chiksurā die. He mounted an elephant and came rushing at Devi. From a height, he threw spears and javelins which fell down and broke. Devi’s lion was very angry and it lunged at Chāmara. He fought with the lion atop the elephant and then both fell down from the elephant and the lion. The lion left him for a moment, jumped high into the air , pounced on Chāmara and with a swift blow with its paw, killed him. 

Many other powerful generals namely, Karāla, Udagra, Bhāskala, Udjāta, Andhika, Bidāla, and others were also despatched to the world of dead, by Devi and her army.

Now Mahishasura was terribly enraged. He assumed the form of a huge wild buffalo. He bellowed with all his might that it resounded in the whole universe. He lashed his tail on the ground with such force that the waters of the oceans splashed out like a tsunami. He came running with such force terrifying the army of Devi. He killed many of the warriors with his hooves and even by his breath. He then charged towards Devi’s lion, throwing about mountains which he lifted with his horns.

A furious Devi threw the noose given by Varuna and caught Mahisha in the buffalo form. He immediately turned into a lion and charged at Devi’s lion. Devi pierced him with her sword and he became a man and charged at her with a sword. As Devi’s sword fell on him, he turned into an elephant and trumpeted loudly. Then the elephant  encircled Devi’s lion with its mighty trunk  and was trying to pull it when Devi cut off the trunk. 

Now, Mahishasura once again turned into a buffalo and shook all the three worlds.

Devi jumped and landed on Mahisha, pinned his neck down and pierced the buffalo with her spear. Crushed by Her, Mahisha tried to get back into this original form and was emerging as a Man from the buffalo mouth. Devi beheaded him with Her sword and that was the end of Mahishasura. 

Seeing Mahishasura die, the whole army of the Asuras dies and together with the divine sages and Devatās, the celestial musicians sang the praise of Devi. Indra and all the Devatas sand a long hymn called Shakrādistuti.

Devi was pleased and asked them what they wanted. “Please O Devi!” said they. “Please be ever gracious to us!” 

“So be it!” said Devi and vanished. 

It is said that Devi Durga fought for nine days and nights to vanquish Mahishasura and these nine nights and days are celebrated as Navaratri. In these nine days, all the women are considered as the representatives of the Goddess and are honoured specially. On the tenth day on which Durga vanquished Mahishasura, it is celebrated as Vijayadashami (Dasami -The tenth day of Vijaya – victory). There are other stories associated with Vijayadashami such as Rama vanquishing Ravana and Arjuna starting for battle after the exile, but in both the cases, both Rama and Arjuna propitiated Goddess Durga for their victory in their wars and emerged victorious with Her blessings.
Let us also pray to Durga Maa for Health, Wealth and Prosperity in our lives.

Jai Mata Di!!

Note: This post has been modified by me today, Oct 26,2026 since the earlier post contained some inaccuracies which have since been rectified.