Durga

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/durga

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary epithet?Mahishasura-mardini, signifying her decisive victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura
2. Who is Durga?Durga is a super-strong goddess who fights bad guys and protects everyone. She has many arms, each holding a different weapon, and is often shown riding a lion or tiger.
3. Why does Durga have many arms?Each arm carries a special weapon, showing that she can fight evil on all fronts at once.

Shaktism: A major branch of Hinduism that venerates the Goddess (Devi) as the supreme, ultimate reality and creator.
Mahishasura-mardini: An epithet for Durga, meaning 'Slayer of Mahishasura,' highlighting her victory over a formidable demon.
Prakriti: In Hindu philosophy, the primordial substance or nature from which the material world is evolved; often associated with the divine feminine.
Dharma: The concept of cosmic law, righteousness, duty, and the natural order of the universe, which Durga is seen to protect.