Durga

==Etymology and nomenclature==
{{Saktism}}
The word ''Durga'' (दुर्गा) literally means "impassable",{{sfn|Encyclopedia Britannica|2015}}{{sfn|James G Lochtefeld|2002|p=208}} "invincible, unassailable".{{sfn|Laura Amazzone|2012|p=xxii}} It is related to the word ''Durg'' (दुर्ग) which means "fortress, something difficult to defeat or pass". According to [[Monier Monier-Williams]], ''Durga'' is derived from the roots ''dur'' (difficult) and ''gam'' (pass, go through).<ref name="mmw487">Monier Monier Williams (1899), Sanskrit English Dictionary with Etymology, Oxford University Press, page 487</ref> According to Indologist [[Alain Daniélou]], Durga means "beyond defeat".{{sfn|Alain Daniélou|1991|p=21}}

The word ''Durga'' and related terms appear in the Vedic literature, such as in the ''[[Rigveda]]'' hymns 4.28, 5.34, 8.27, 8.47, 8.93 and 10.127, and in sections 10.1 and 12.4 of the ''[[Atharvaveda]]''.<ref name="mmw487" /><ref>Maurice Bloomfield (1906), [https://archive.org/stream/vedicconcordance00bloouoft#page/486/mode/1up A Vedic concordance], Series editor: Charles Lanman, Harvard University Press, page 486;<br />Example Sanskrit original: "अहन्निन्द्रो अदहदग्निरिन्दो पुरा दस्यून्मध्यंदिनादभीके ।
'''दुर्गे''' दुरोणे क्रत्वा न यातां पुरू सहस्रा शर्वा नि बर्हीत् ॥३॥ – Rigveda 4.28.8, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/ऋग्वेद:_सूक्तं_४.२८ Wikisource] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105214014/https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6:_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%AA.%E0%A5%A8%E0%A5%AE |date=5 November 2018 }}</ref>{{refn|group=note|It appears in ''Khila'' (appendix, supplementary) text to Rigveda 10.127, 4th Adhyaya, per J. Scheftelowitz.<ref>{{cite book|author=J Scheftelowitz|title=Indische Forschungen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_jhIAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA112|year=1906|publisher=Verlag von M & H Marcus|pages=112 line 13a|access-date=15 February 2017|archive-date=17 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217115252/https://books.google.com/books?id=_jhIAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA112|url-status=live}}</ref>}} A deity named ''Durge'' appears in section 10.1.7 of the Taittiriya [[Aranyaka]].<ref name="mmw487" /> While the Vedic literature uses the word ''Durga'', the description therein lacks the legendary details about her that is found in later Hindu literature.{{sfn|David Kinsley|1998|pp=95–96}}

The word is also found in ancient post-Vedic Sanskrit texts such as in section 2.451 of the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and section 4.27.16 of the ''[[Ramayana]]''.<ref name="mmw487" /> These usages are in different contexts. For example, ''Durg'' is the name of an [[Asura]] who had become invincible to gods, and ''Durga'' is the goddess who intervenes and slays him. ''Durga'' and its derivatives are found in sections 4.1.99 and 6.3.63 of the ''Ashtadhyayi'' by [[Pāṇini]], the ancient Sanskrit grammarian, and in the commentary of [[Nirukta]] by [[Yaska]].<ref name="mmw487" />

=== Epithets ===
Durga is commonly known as ''Mahisa-mardini'' for slaying the half-buffalo demon Mahishasura.{{Sfn|David Kinsley|1998|p=95}} She is also known as ''Vindhyavasini'' (she who dwells in the Vindhya Mountains).{{Sfn|David Kinsley|1998|pp=99–100}} Her other epithets include ''Mahamoha'' (great delusion), ''Mahasuri'' (the great demoness), ''Tamasi'' (the great night, the night of delusion).{{Sfn|David Kinsley|1998|pp=99–100}}

There are many epithets for Durga in [[Shaktism]] and her nine appellations are ([[Navadurga]]): Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayini, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri. A list of 108 names of the goddess is recited in order to worship her and is popularly known as the "Ashtottarshat Namavali of Goddess Durga".{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}

Other meanings may include: "the one who cannot be accessed easily",<ref name="mmw487" /> "the undefeatable goddess".{{sfn|Alain Daniélou|1991|p=21}}

Durga is also known as ''Durgati Nashini,'' meaning one who eliminates suffering.<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 August 2019|title=Chant these powerful Durga Mantras to turn your life around for good|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/religion/hindu-mythology/chant-these-powerful-durga-mantras-to-turn-your-life-around-for-good/articleshow/70599147.cms|access-date=11 November 2021|website=The Times of India|language=en|archive-date=11 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111035951/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/religion/hindu-mythology/chant-these-powerful-durga-mantras-to-turn-your-life-around-for-good/articleshow/70599147.cms|url-status=live}}</ref>

Her other names include Chandika, Sharada, Ambika, Vaishnavi etc. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/10/2/11-12/ |title=ŚB 10.2.11-12 |website=Bhaktivedanta Vedabase}}</ref>