Durga Maa Aarti

I am the Queen, the gatherer-up of treasures, most thoughtful, first of those who merit worship.

Thus gods have established me in many places with many homes to enter and abide in.

Through me alone all eat the food that feeds them, – each man who sees, breathes, hears the word outspoken.

They know it not, yet I reside in the essence of the Universe. Hear, one and all, the truth as I declare it.

Durga is depicted in the Hindu pantheon as a Goddess riding a lion or tiger, with many arms each carrying a weapon often defeating Mahishasura. The three principal forms of Durga worshiped are Maha Durga, Chandika and Aparajita. Of these, Chandika has two forms called Chandi who is of the combined power and form of Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati and of Chamunda who is a form of Kali created by the goddess for killing demons, Chanda and Munda. Maha Durga has three forms: Ugrachanda, Bhadrakali, and Katyayani. Bhadrakali Durga is also worshiped in the form of her nine epithets called Navadurga.