Mahishasura was a buffalo Asura in
Hinduism. He is known among Hindus of most sects as a deceitful demon who
pursued his evil ways by shape-shifting. Mahishasura was the son of Rambha, and
the great-grandson of Brahmarshi Kashyapa. He was ultimately killed by Goddess
Durga - after which She gained the epithet Mahishasuramardini ("Slayer of
Mahishasura"). The Navaratri ("Nine Nights") festival eulogizes
this battle between Mahishasura and Durga, culminating in Vijaya Dasami, a
celebration of his ultimate defeat. This story of the "triumph of Good
over Evil" carries profound symbolism in Hinduism, particularly Shaktism, and is both narrated as well
as reenacted from the Devi Mahatmya
at many South- and Southeast Asian Hindu temples. The story is also told in the
Sikh text Chandi di Var, also called Var Durga Di, which many in Sikh
tradition believe was included in the Dasam
Granth by Guru Gobind Singh.
The Legend
Mahishasura is a Sanskrit word
composed of Mahisha meaning buffalo and asura meaning demon, thus meaning
Buffalo Demon. As an asura, Mahishasura waged war against the Devas, as the
Devas and asuras were perpetually in conflict. Mahishasura had gained the boon
that no man could kill him. In the battles between the Devas and the demons
(asuras), the Devas, led by Indra, were defeated by Mahishasura. Subjected to
defeat, the Devas assembled in the mountains where their combined divine
energies coalesced into Goddess Durga. The newborn Durga led a battle against
Mahishasura, riding a lion, and killed him. Thereafter, she was named
Mahishasuramardini, meaning The Killer of Mahishasura.
Artwork depicting the goddess
Durga slaying the buffalo demon Mahishasura is found all over India, Nepal and
southeast Asia. Durga slaying Mahishasura is a prominent theme which was
sculpted in various caves and temples across India. Some of the prominent
representations are seen at the Mahishasuramardini caves in Mahabalipuram, the
Ellora Caves, in the entrance of Rani ki
vav, Hoysaleswara Temple in Halebidu and many more temples across India.
The worship of Durga during Durga Pooja in Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand,
Odisha and other eastern states is represented in Pandal which depict Durga
killing Mahishasura.
Mahishasura and Mysore
The popular legend is that Maisuru gets its name from Mahishasuramardini, a manifestation of Goddess Durga. The Buffalo demon Mahishasura, states the regional tradition, had terrified the local population. Goddess Durga (Chamundeshwari) killed Mahishasura, an event that is annually celebrated at Navratri and Mysore Dasara.
The temple of the city's guardian deity, Chamundeshwari, has a giant statue of Mahishasura on the hill facing the city. The earliest mention of Mysore traces to 245 B.C., i.e., to the period of Ashoka during which time Mysore was called as Mahisha Mandala.