Durga is a Hindu Goddess, with multiple functions and legends that are popular in India. Her name means “such as she who saves”. She is viewed as the goddess of power and protection. Durga’s depiction consists of a feminine figure which depicts her power, clad in a tigerskin and riding on or surrounded by lions.
So many Indian people believe that her soul (or shakti) flows through every woman who has been born on this Earth. Durga is not an actual being but rather just an idea for the nature of all women to be powerful and independent-minded according to traditional beliefs. 32 names of Durga each have different significance.
Durga is an Indian goddess who has been known for her bravery and power. She rides on a lion and a tiger, which are two of the most powerful animals. The Goddess stands with her two lion attendants, holding aloft a weapon and sporting a rounded crown. This is another way to show that she is the goddess of strength and bravery. Durga literally means “the invincible one”.
Everything You Need To Know About 32 Names Of Durga :
1. Harita:
“Durga is the destroyer” (Satapatha Brahmana). The Harita is a form of Durga protecting the Maa, or Mother. In this form, she has a snake and a scorpion as her attendants.
2. Kottari:
“Durga is the elder sister”. The name Kottari is used in several songs. In the Devirahasya, Durga is called Kottari for being old and experienced. This name is also used for Durga when she takes the form of a bull – when she protects cows during their annual festival.
3. Ashtabhuja:
“Durga has eight arms”. This name is used in many temples, as her depiction has eight arms. The word “Ashta” means “eight” and “abja” means “arms”. She is also referred to by this name during Navaratri when she was praised.
4. Chaturbhuja:
“Durga has four arms”. This name describes Durga as having four hands, with her weapon (lasso and chakra) in them. However, this is not exactly true; instead she holds a lotus flower or a mace or a bow in one of her hands.
5. Chandraghanta:
“Durga has the moon as her necklace”. This name is used in songs and temples. Durga is believed to be an incarnation of Sowmya, the wife of Chandra (the moon god) so she wears a crescent moon as a sign of marriage.
6. Mahagauri:
“Gauri is golden”. Gauri is one of Durga’s names for her daughter Parvati (Shiva’s wife). According to the Mahabharata, Gauri was a demon that took many demon forms and was killed by Durga. However, she is usually worshiped as the golden form of Parvati (Durga’s daughter).
7. Bhadrakali:
“Kali fights”. According to the Puranas, Durga killed Mahishashur in battle with Kali holding his feet. Then, Kali married Shiva after being blessed by Durga. “Bhadra” means “good” and “Kali” means ‘black”. She has three eyes and four hands, which hold various weapons.
8. Chamunda:
This name is used in North India only. Here, she is portrayed with a garland of skulls and a head of a demon. She has three eyes and four arms. Her right hand holds her sword while her left hand holds the severed head of the demon Chanda (the second manifestation of Mahishasura).
9. Kalaratri:
“Kala” means “black” in Sanskrit. Here, Kali is shown as wearing black clothes and having her tongue out as it is believed that she does not speak during this time (Navaratri).
10. Mahishasuramardini:
“Mahisha was killed by Durga ”. Mahisha was always considered as the most dangerous demon of all time, so he fell to defeat only after being defeated by Durga. Mahishasuramardini means “Maha ” (great) and “Sha” (that which causes fear). Here, it is said that she killed the demon Mahisha in battle.
11. Nandi:
This name comes from a deity named Nandi. Nandi is Shiva’s bull-like vehicle. “Nandi” is taken as the name of Durga’s mount. However, this name is not used in worship or in temples.
12. Bhadrika:
“Bhadre” means “good” or “blessed”. This name describes goddess Durga as being very good and healthy (nothing bad can happen to her). This name is used during Navaratri when she takes the form of Kali and Bhadreeka was one of her names for Parvati (Shiva’s wife).
13. Bala:
“Bala” means “to destroy”. This name is used in traditional folk songs and not in temples. Durga is believed to be a form of the goddess Renuka, the daughter of king Mandhata. Her eyes are believed to be made from fire, which gives her beauty and wonder. Hence, she is also known as Bhadrakali (the destroyer).
14. Mahishasuramardini:
This name is also used during Navaratri when Durga takes the form of Kali (Kalaratri Timi). It means “Maha” (great) and “Sha” (that which causes fear). Here, it is said that she killed the demon Mahisha in battle.
15. Chandi:
This is not a name for Durga. It is the name of a book about Durga’s battle with Mahishasur. This book gives a detailed description of the battle and it was said that when Mahishasur was killed, all his brothers and sisters were killed as well by Kali (Shiva’s wife in some accounts).
16. Maheswari:
“Mahe” means “god of death”, which, according to the Rig Veda, would mean Shiva. Worship of Durga is believed to be done by Brahmins so they call her “Maheswari”, which means “the god of Death”. This name is also used in temples.
17. Sharada:
“Shara” means “sword”. This name is used in many temples, as her depiction carries a sword, sometimes in one or both of her hands (usually the right hand). The word “Sharada” means the girl who holds a sword with the right hand. She has four arms and three eyes and receives Mahashivratri worship.
18. Ambika:
“Ambi” means “mother of living beings”. This name does not appear in the books and Puranas as a name for Durga, but is used during Navaratri when she takes the form of Kali. This name is used to show that Durga is the mother of all living beings. The word “Ambika” means “Mother’s sister”.
19. Chandi:
This is the name of a prayer (stotra) to Durga that contains the story of her battle with Mahishasur found in the Agam literature. The chariot of Durga is drawn by seven horses, which represent the seven days of the week. This prayer tells us about her fighting and killing demons on every day (every horse), which is why this prayer is read on every day during Navratri or Dussehra. The name “Chandi” means “destroyer of the demons”.
20. Bhavani:
This is not a name for Durga, but is also a name given to Parvati (Shiva’s wife in some accounts) in South India. It means “Bhava” (life) and “Ani” (controller), which means that she controls all living beings.
21. Pushkala:
This name means “earrings”, which are called “pushkal” in Sanskrit. This name is also used in temples because Durga’s ears have earrings on them and so does Parvati’s. In some cases, the goddess wears earrings on all four of her heads, with a silver thread that connects the earrings to her head. In some temples, she holds a lotus flower (instead of an earring).
22. Kali:
This is not a name for Durga, but it is the name given to her by the worshipers of Shiva during Navratri. Kali means “black” and this is because the goddess appears in black on some days.
23. Tripura Sundari:
This is the name for Durga after she married Shiva. “Tripura ” means “three cities” and the Puranas say that Durga married Shiva in three cities. Here, it tells us where she took her husband. It says that she got married in Gangotri, Kedarnath and Gauri Parvat.
24. Bhandagar:
This is the name given to Durga when she took over the earth with her right hand. The word “Bhandagar” means “the one who carries a big bundle”, here being the earth that is carried on her arm.
25. Bishnu:
“Bishnu” means “one born in the north”. This name is used in temples during Navratri, when Kali takes over as Lalaratri (Durga’s wife), giving birth to life on earth. This name should not be confused with Keshava, the name for Shiva. The word “Bishnu” means “he who rules the north”.
26. Anuradha:
This is a name that gives us glad tidings of good things and also shows that Durga came from a family where everyone lived at peace together. “Anuradha” means “lucky”. The word “Anuradha” tells us that this goddess is someone who gives us something good.
27. Raktavija:
This is a name for Kali (Durga’s wife) in South India. It means “she who wears red garments”. This name is used in temples during Navaratri when she takes over as Lalaratri (Durga’s wife), giving birth to life on earth.
28. Shruti Devi:
This means “she who is always truthful”. This goddess took the form of a deer and her husband was Shiva, so they were always true with each other (they did not deceive each other). This name is used in temples during Navaratri when she takes over as Lalaratri (Durga’s wife), giving birth to life on earth.
29. Balarupa:
This means “she who takes on the form of a giantess, when fighting Mahishasura”. This name is used in temples during Navaratri when Durga takes over as Lalaratri (Durga’s wife), giving birth to life on earth. This name can be used for Durga as well.
30. Girijapriya:
This means “she who is loved by mountain peaks” and the word “Giri” means “mountain”. This name is used in temples during Navaratri when Durga takes over as Lalaratri (Durga’s wife), giving birth to life on earth.
31. Bhairavi:
This means “one who carries a pair of scissors”, which are made from the mountain peaks that are loved by her. This name is used in temples during Navaratri when Durga takes over as Lalaratri (Durga’s wife), giving birth to life on earth.
32. Sarva Mangalam:
This means “she who gives all good things’ ‘ and this word is used in South India for both Durga and Kali during Navratri, when Kali takes over as Lalaratri (Durga’s wife). She gives all good things to her husband, Shiva.
