Victory To Durga, The Mother of the World

One of the most popular cults in Hindu religion is that of the goddess Durga who is described in the Devi Mahatmaya as a powerful goddess created from the combined anger of several gods. Durga's primary purpose is to combat demons who threaten the stability of the cosmos. Thus she is depicted as a queen armed for battle.

Amongst the fourteen chief forms of Durga, the benevolent ones are most often depicted. This image is that of Jagaddhatri (the mother of the world). The red color is symbolic of energy and passion. Wearing golden clothes, she is seated gracefully on the lion. She carries Vishnu's mace, Shiva's trident, and Brahma's lotus, thus signifying that she is the universal mother, including all the male deities. She looks gentle and beautiful in the crown and other jewellery decorating each part of her body.

The field of the shawl has Devi's image in square frames in a row. In Hindi language it says Jai Mata Di, meaning glory and victory be to The Mother goddess. There is also the ancient Hindu symbol of swastika, which is a kind of mystical cross or mark made to denote good luck. It denotes welfare, prosperity, fortune and success. And that is also what one gets by propitiating goddess Durga.