Goddess Durga: what Eastern mysticism can teach us about the tricky process of relating to others

The festival, myth and rituals

I’m currently honouring Durga Puja. This festival, dedicated to the Goddess Durga, is celebrated predominantly in Eastern India, as well as in Nepal and Bangladesh and the Diaspora, during both the autumn and spring equinoxes. Of the two, the autumn festival is often seen as more significant, as it marks the end of the harvest season and the onset of winter’s decay and darkness. Just as the equinox represents a balance between day and night, Durga's myth tells the story of how the Great Goddess restored harmony to the Earth by vanquishing demons that threatened to throw it into chaos.

In the modern world, particularly in organisations, if people seek knowledge about how to work better together, they might turn to the social sciences or psychology. While these fields may offer some valuable insights, they miss out on the wisdom that millennia old spiritual traditions and indigenous practices can offer. It’s easy to overlook these ancient sources of knowledge, but they have much to teach us about navigating human relationships and the complexities of life. Rooted in the principles, practices and ideas of the Tantric tradition, the story of Goddess Durga, the festivals which honour her, with its profound symbolism, can help us derive meaning from our cycles of existence and provide guidance on how we might better relate to one another.

The name "Durga" itself means "invincible," and her story is celebrated over nine days, reminding us to seek balance in our own lives, both individually and collectively. On the tenth day, her victory is commemorated with grand festivities, mirroring the mythical celebration. The ten-day festival is rich with rituals that invite reflection on our place within the natural cycles of existence. The myths surrounding Durga offer a map of the human psyche, providing insights into life’s expansions and contractions—moments of joy and suffering, growth and decline.

The symbolism of Durga’s form

Durga is often depicted riding her lion, a symbol of her courage. She has long, dark hair, her arms adorned with bangles, and intricate henna tattoos. She wears golden earrings, and a chain connects one of them to a ring on her nose. A garland of marigolds drapes over her, with symbols of Mother Nature intricately painted on her feet. Durga has between eight and eighteen arms, each wielding a weapon or tool. These are not merely for battle but are symbolic guides to help us navigate the inevitable cycles of life—through death destruction and suffering as well as life, blossoming and joy.

For instance, Durga’s knives are not weapons of violence but tools of liberation. They represent the cutting away of what no longer serves us—whether that be a harmful belief, an unhealthy relationship, or a toxic environment. Her swords, meanwhile, symbolise the focus and wisdom required for making difficult decisions in life. Every sharp weapon she holds is there to remove obstacles that stand in the way of our personal and spiritual growth.

She also carries a shield for protection, a bow representing determination, and an arrow symbolising insight. The bell she holds clears the mind and dispels negativity, while her beads help with focus and concentration. The club she wields can help beat out new paths, while her trident pierces through the veils of past, present and future, teaching us about life, death, and rebirth. The conch symbolises the vibrational power of creation, the lotus represents abundance, and the discus reminds us of life’s cyclical nature.

Embracing paradox

Goddess Durga embodies the paradoxes of our existence: she is both a fierce warrior and a nurturing mother, both a creator and a destroyer. She shows us that life and death, pain and joy, suffering and ecstasy, are not opposites but are interconnected parts of the same experience. Durga teaches us not to get stuck in these dualisms—not to see ourselves as either submissive or aggressive, obedient or defiant—but to explore the in-between, embracing the full spectrum of our humanity.

Durga shows us that we can move gracefully between light and dark, between the periphery and the centre. We can be fierce and compassionate, wrathful and nurturing, embodied and divine. She demonstrates that it is natural for us to be ambivalent, mutable, and flexible, rather than clinging to one rigid way of being. In her myriad forms, she offers us countless possibilities of what it means to be human.

Working through difficulties

One of Durga’s greatest lessons is how to deal with suffering—both our own and that of others. We are often taught to look away from pain, to suppress difficult emotions, and to avoid confronting suffering head-on. But Durga encourages us to face it. She guides us to the centre of whatever chaos may be disrupting our lives, showing us that no matter how overwhelming it may seem, we can come through it stronger and more alive.

Durga in her myriad forms provides a model of expressing anger toward injustice in a constructive rather than destructive manner. She shows us how important it is to e.g. feel furious about the ways in which women and people of colour, indigenous peoples, animals and the environment have been abused, exploited, and oppressed. But her anger does not oppress, it cuts and liberates. Her battles are non-violent. Her revolutions are fought only to overcome oppression and corruption.

She holds the paradoxical nature of someone who can feel anger and pain, yet still feel love and compassion for herself and others. She helps personal and societal transformation take place by getting in touch and releasing her pain and anger in constructive ways: art, writing, yoga, dance, song, political activism, social justice, etc. She teaches us how to free pent up energy that has kept us bound and victimised and transform into creative power.

Reclaiming our power

Durga teaches us to reclaim our inner power—not a power of domination, but one rooted in valuing ourselves, our communities, and our experiences. This is a power that heals, renews, and embodies compassion, even in the face of violence. It is a power that strives for a positive outcome for the greater good.

We can turn to Durga for leadership.  She also reminds us that there is no true separation between "us" and "them," that there is beauty in diversity, and unity behind it all. Durga offers an empowering path for those who wish to live outside of patriarchal norms. She encourages us to abandon dualistic judgments of right and wrong, and instead embrace creativity and improvisation in forging a new path.

And what does Durga do at the end of her battle? She dances, with joy and abandon. Even when the future seems bleak, even when suffering feels unbearable, Durga teaches us to move. Through dance, we can release pent-up energy, reconnect with ourselves, and celebrate the timeless, ecstatic rhythm of life.

Inspired by Laura Amazzone’s ‘Goddess Durga and Sacred Female Power’