Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c5.476

c5.476

(1) *Durgādevī.* Mother of Gaṇeśa bhagavān. (God with the elephant’s head). She is the consort of Śiva. Nārāyaṇī, the Viṣṇumayā, is none than Durgā. She is also perfect Brahma, the one and the only one with no second to it. She is worshipped by Devas like Brahmā and by sages and maharṣis. She is the basis, the root and root cause of everything. She is eternal, upholder of dharma, truth itself and the giver and promoter of happiness, reputation, salvation etc. as also of sorrow, grief, pain etc. She takes great pleasure in removing the worries and sorrows of devotees who seek refuge in her. She is all-power, achievements and assets personified. All imaginable permutations and combinations of every attribute comprise in her and she is who activates the universal soul.