Hands Of Goddess Durga ?

[Bijoy Misra]

My understanding is that the images are created
on interpretations of depictions in Devi Mahatmaya.
It's a function of saktis accumulated in the devi
to remove "evils".  Hands are needed to hold
the ayudha that sakti needs.

The ayudhas are ghanta, shULa, haLa, sankha, musaLa,
chakra, dhanu, sAyaka.  (from devi mahatmya, uttamacharita).

BM


On Fri, 1 Sep 1972, Tein Network wrote:

> September 1, 2000
>
> TO: Indology Discussion Group :
>
> At our Hindu Temple located at Northern Virginia, I noticed that the image
> of Goddess Durga has eight hands. The "bahan", lion is there, as in
> Bengal, but the "ashur" emerging from a buffalo's body as Goddress Durga
> is depicted in Bengal is missing in this image. This image of Goddess
> Durga is typically worshipped in North India, UP/Bihar areas (I am told) ?
>
> Goddess Durga in Bengal is always depicted with ten hands. Also, I
> think, the depiction in Bengal is perhaps a celebration of triumph of good
> over evil ?
>
> Is it possible that this depiction came to Bengal via a migrating tribe who
> came perhaps, from outside India long ago and who wanted to remember a
> memorable battle somewhere (such for example as in Mahabharata?), possibly
> outside of India through, their favorite deity, a Goddess of War ?
>
> (two possible clues: I remember seeing a  photo  from an archeological
> excavation at ancient Babylon which depicted a Goddess of War
> with four hands. Also, I noticed in a National Geographic magazine
> that area of present day Iraq where Babylon once was locted, still has
> herds of wild water buffalos in the Euphrates River tributaries !).
> As far as the Asian lion, even though there is none there in present
> day Iraq or Iran, in earlier times, the Asian lion was rather prevalant
> in that area I think ?)
>
> Can anyone explain these two variations of Goddess Durga or comments
> on possible link to ancient Babylon ?
>
> Any discussions on this variations and where and when such
> variations possibilities ?
>
>
> Avi Dey
> Coordinator,
> Hindu Temple Library
> Northern Virginia, USA
>