 |
| Durga slays the Buffalo demon, Mahishasura. Source. |
Mahishasura was a half buffalo-demon. He decided to repent for his crimes, and underwent severe penance for Brahma’s forgiveness. After many years, Brahama was pleased with his peaceful ways, and appeared before the demon. Mahishasura asked the god for immortality, but Brahma refused on the grounds that all must die. Angered, Mahishasura asked that only a woman be able to kill him. Brahma granted his wish. Mahishasura was pleased by his deception. He raged across the earth, torturing all in his way. Eventually, he set his sites on heaven, believing none could stop him as he thought women were weak.
(100 words)
Mahishasura set his sites on the heavens. He gathered a legion of demons and vile creatures, and waged war on the Devas. Led by Indra, the battles between gods and demons commenced, but the Devas stood no chance against Mahishasura. Slowly, the demons overcame the gods, and the Devas were forced to retreat. Mahishasura sat on the throne of heaven, and the Devas hid away in the mountains. The gods did not resign themselves to defeat, instead combining their energies, the gods created Durga – the goddess of strength and protection.
(90 words)
The gods gifted Durga their astra, and a lion as her mount. She left the mountains to confront Mahishasura, and made good time on the back of her mount. Mahishasura saw the goddess approaching. Fearing imminent defeat, Mahishasura moved first. Hoping to catch Durga off guard, he pounced on her, morphing into any form he could think of to overtake Durga. Durga was unaffected by his attempts, and destroyed every form the demon took. Tired from his changing, Mahishasura took on his true form – a buffalo. As he reared to attack, Durga drove a spear through his heart, killing Mahishasura.
(100 words)
Author's Note: I thought this story was so cool! I contemplated making it an entire story, but I like the challenge of microfictions, and keeping things under 100 words. It sort of hones your writing skills, and makes you learn how to detail without saying too much. It's really fun!
Bibliography: Durga
Hi Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteI've also gotten the opportunity to experience with microfiction this semester and I agree with your opinions. It's truly is a different way in practicing our writing skills. Typically we are always forced to give a word count, but with this we have word minimum. I really enjoyed the story though. Mainly because I've never read the original. Definitely gives me something to do this week!
Hey Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteI've never read the original story, but I think you did a great job in telling it using just a few hundred words. At the start of the semester, I didn't want to touch microfictions. I felt like you couldn't tell a full story with them. The past few weeks I've been doing them, and they have grown on me quite a bit.