Loading…
Topic
All learning content tagged with this topic, across audiences and categories.
10 items
Nine nights, nine forms of Durga, one book recited across them, and a tenth day of victory. Where each piece comes from, and how differently India keeps the same festival.
Sati walks uninvited into her father's sacrifice and gives up her body there. She is born again as the daughter of the Himalaya — and the nine nights begin.
When beauty failed to reach Shiva, Parvati went into the forest and did not come back until he came to her. The second night honours the young woman who gave up even leaves.
Shiva arrives for his wedding with ghosts and goblins, and the bride's mother faints. The third night honours the bride who stood her ground — a story the devotional tradition reads into a name.
Before there was anything, there was darkness — and then a goddess smiled. The fourth night's story is a creation story built entirely out of a name, and it says so.
A demon who could be killed only by Shiva's son, a child carried by fire and river and raised by six star-mothers — and the goddess who holds him on her lap.
The gods' anger becomes a goddess in the hermitage of the sage Katyayana, and she rides out against Mahishasura. Centuries later, the young women of Braj keep a month-long vow in her name.
A demon from every drop of whose blood another demon springs, and a goddess dark enough to swallow them all. The seventh night is the most terrifying form of the nine — and is called the auspicious one.
Shiva teases Parvati about her dark skin, and she leaves to do austerities until she shines. Placed straight after the darkest night, the eighth is its answer.
The last of the nine is the one even Shiva is said to have worshipped — and half of him became her. The ninth night closes the circle that the mountain's daughter opened.