Supreme Refuge

Offers the first comprehensive analysis of the Hindu Great Goddess Durg?, tracing her evolution from a minor goddess into a transcendent supreme deity central to Hindu theology and the ultimate refuge accessible to all. This study provides the first comprehensive examination of the Hindu Great Goddess Durg?, one of the most significant deities in the Hindu pantheon, who is celebrated annually during the Navar?tra festival, a widely observed event across the Hindu world. Drawing on textual, inscriptional, and iconographic evidence, the study traces Durg?'s evolution from a minor goddess to her identification as the Mah?dev?, or Great Goddess. It presents an alternative chronology for hymnic materials, aligning them more closely with early iconographic depictions and offering new insights into misidentified attributes of the goddess. The work incorporates evidence from beyond South Asia to contextualize external influences on Durg?'s persona and her central myths, particularly her defeat of the buffalo demon Mahi?a. A detailed analysis of the myths in the influential Dev? M?h?tmya against earlier Pur??ic accounts highlights the text's sophisticated theological approach. Its strategy places Durg? in a transcendent role while asserting her as the supreme deity and ultimate refuge, accessible to both kings and commoners in dire need of her support.