Mahishasur Mardini
- When:
Monday 19th September, 2005, 7:00 pm
- Where:
Kamani Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi
The Story of the Goddess Durga — Kathak dancers
from Pandit Birju Maharaj’s Kalashram
combined with theatrical performers from the Kala Academy
in Goa to perform this dramatic tale of universal war
between the gods and demons!
Starring Asavari Pawar as the Goddess Durga and her father
Guru Shri Pratap Pawar as Mahishasur.
- Choreography:
Guru Shri Pratap Pawar
- Music and Lyrics:
Pandit Vishwa Prakash
- Costume design:
Padmashree Shobha Deepak Singh
The story of Durga
The mighty asura (demon) Mahisha was so devout in his
meditation and devotion to Brahma that the great god granted
him a boon — that no man or god would be able to defeat him.
Mahishasura exploited this by unleashing cosmic war on the Three
Worlds of heaven, earth and the world below. All of the gods
were driven out of heaven; and even when the mighty trinity of
Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh sided with the gods, they too were
defeated.
The gods came together and created between them a dazzling beam
of light, out of which was born the goddess Durga.
The embodiment of feminine and creative energy, Shakti, Durga
was created to be the ‘Mahishasur Mardini’, the nemenis
or slayer of the demon Mahisha. For Brahma’s gift protected
the demon king from men and gods, but not from the fierce goddess...
Depicted with many hands, wielding different weapons, and
riding on a lion, Durga leads an army into a battle of nine days,
in which Mahishasura’s army is cut to shreds. On the tenth day,
the goddess defeats and kills her demon opponent, and peace is restored
to the Three Worlds.
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