Elements of Hindu Iconography v3.c19.58

v3.c19.58

battle-axe and other weapons, Himavān a lion, and other gods various arms and ornaments. Being thus armed and adorned by all the gods, Kātyāyanī proceeded to the Vindhya mountain. There two *asuras*, Caṇḍa and Muṇḍa, saw her, and immediately hastened to their king, and informed him that a most lovely goddess had singly fixed her abode on the Vindhya mountain. On hearing the high encomiums which Caṇḍa and Muṇḍa bestowed on the beauty of this goddess, Mahiṣāsura determined to obtain possession of her and ordered, his army to be collected and marched to the vicinity of the mountain. He himself entered into a lofty pavilion, and then sent the son of Maya to summon the goddess to his presence. Dundubhi, the son of Maya, accordingly proceeded to her, and standing respectfully at a short distance addressed her—"I am, O virgin lady, a messenger sent by the chief of the *asuras*". Kātyāyanī replied—"Approach! Approach! and dismiss thy fear, and truly deliver the message which thou bringest." Encouraged by these words, Dundubhi answered,—"thus says Mahisha, the king of the *asuras*,—'The gods wander upon the earth, helpless and powerless, as the three worlds have been conquered by me. It is I who am Indra and Rudra and Sūrya; I am the sole lord of the Universe, and there is no other god than me. In battle am I unconquerable; and by my victorious arms have I acquired possession of every desirable thing that the world contains. But on thy account, O lovely virgin! have I now come to this mountain; hasten, therefore, to pay due obeisance to the lord of the universe, for thou art worthy of becoming his spouse" Kātyāyani replied,—"It is true that the mighty asura Mahisha has subdued the three worlds, and I also am ready to obey him; but there is a custom, long established in my family, which requires that each daughter of our house should be conquered in battle by her wooer before she can be united to him in marriage. From this custom I cannot deviate. Before, therefore, I can become the spouse of thy king, he must vanquish me in combat." Dundubhi, on hearing these words, returned to Mahisha, and acquainted him with the determination of the goddess; and he immediately ordered his army to advance, on observing which the gods exclaimed to Durgā,—"Put on thy armour". But she said,—"I will not, for what necessity is there for an armour, when none but these vile asuras stand before me?". Vishnu, however, presented her with an armour, and entreated her to protect herself with it against the weapons of her enemies, especially as in consequence of a boon granted by Śiva to him Mahisha had been rendered almost invulnerable.