Durga

Durga – which means “the invincible” - symbolises the divine “shakti” for destructing all evil forces and protecting her believers from all miseries. Considered to be the most powerful of all goddesses, Durga has the combined energies of all the gods in the form of weapons and emblems – the conch shell, bow and arrows, thunderbolt, lotus, ‘Sudarshan Chakra’, sword and ‘trishul’.

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Kali

In spite of her fearful appearance, Kali assumes the form of an ever-caring mother for each of her devotee. The goddess of time and death, Kali, is also known as the all-powerful destroyer because she obliterates Mahishasura – the symbol of ignorance – which is man’s greatest enemy. While she creates fear in the ignorant ones, she removes the ignorance that creates fear in good souls.

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Saraswati

The goddess of knowledge and arts, Saraswati represents the free flow of wisdom and consciousness. She is believed to endow human beings with the power of speech, wisdom and learning. Each of her four hands represents four aspects of the human personality regarding learning - mind, intellect, alertness and ego.

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Parvati

Depicted as having a very calm and soothing appearance, Parvati is the ultimate source of life and energy in the universe. She is said to relieve her devotees from all tensions and problems. Parvati is the feminine energy of the universe that brings skill, power, prowess, and genius while infusing the world with her magic.

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Laxmi

The goddess of wealth and prosperity - both material and spiritual – Laxmi is the harbinger of good fortune and is said to bestow wealth on her worshippers. She is also considered to be an embodiment of beauty as her face exudes calmness and love, while her strong personality demonstrates the power of wealth.

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Annapurna

The Hindu goddess of food, Annapurna confers an unlimited supply of food to her devotees. Like every loving and doting mother, Annapurna does not swallow a morsel of food unless all her followers have been fed in her temple.

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Ganga

Considered to be the holiest river in India, the water of Ganga is so sacred that the touch or mere sight of it cleanses one of all sins. Taking a dip in the holy Ganges is said to bestow heavenly blessings.

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Radha

Known for her deep dedication towards Lord Krishna, Radha symbolises intense love and each devotee`s passionate longing for the ultimate unification with God. With her utmost devotion towards Krishna, she became his supreme devotee. Even though she is not Krishna’s consort, their love united them forever.

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Draupadi

One of the central characters of ‘Mahabharat’, Draupadi is one of the Panch-Kanya (The Five Virgins) of Ancient Hindu epic. Along with being known for her purity, she is also held in high esteem for her soothing beauty. Her immense belief in her so-called brother – Lord Krishna – was so firm that even when she was being disrobed, she knew she would be saved.

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By Mekhla Singh