Durga Maa Brass Astabhuja — Lion-Mounted 6 inch, Pooja Activated
✦ New — be the first to reviewEnergised & verified by DivineTatva's Vedic astrologers in our Jaipur atelier.
- Protection and shakti invocation: Durga is the canonical Raksha (protective) goddess — worshipped for personal safety, household protection, and victory over difficulties.
- Ego destruction sadhana: The Mahishasura-Mardini iconography is the deepest symbol of inner-ego conquest — central to Shakta tantric practice.
- Navratri ritual centerpiece: Provides the vigraha for the nine-night festival, the most observed Hindu festival across North and East India.
- Women's empowerment iconography: Strongly associated with stri-shakti — fertility, courage, and household leadership.
- Astrological remedy for malefic planets: Durga japa is prescribed in Jyotish for Rahu-Ketu and Saturn afflictions.
About this piece
Durga (Sanskrit: Durgā, "the impassable one") in her Astabhuja (eight-armed) form is the supreme Shakti — referenced as Mahishasura-Mardini in the Devi Mahatmyam (a 700-verse text within the Markandeya Purana, chapters 81–93). The eight arms hold: trishula (trident, gifted by Shiva), chakra (discus, by Vishnu), shankha (conch, by Varuna), dhanusha-bana (bow-arrow, by Vayu), gada (mace, by Yama), vajra (thunderbolt, by Indra), khadga (sword), and an abhaya mudra hand or lotus. She rides a simha (lion or tiger) vahana and is depicted slaying or having slain the buffalo-demon Mahishasura — symbolising the destruction of ego (ahamkara). Cast in solid brass (~85% Cu / 15% Zn) with antique-finish detail on weapons and lion. Peak demand: Navratri (twice yearly), Durga Ashtami, and women devotees' households. Vastu: North or North-East; deity faces East.
Specifications
How to wear
Place on a chowki covered in red cloth facing East, ideally in the North or North-East puja zone. Offer red flowers (especially japa / hibiscus), red chunari draped on the idol, sindoor tilak, kumkum, akshata, kheer or halwa-puri as naivedya, and a ghee diya. During Navratri (nine nights), worship one form per day (Nava-Durga) with the corresponding colour and naivedya. Daily japa: Om Dum Durgayei Namah (108 times), or Devi Mahatmyam chapters during Navratri. Kanya-pujan on Ashtami: nine pre-pubescent girls are invited and fed.
Frequently asked
Why eight arms instead of ten (as in some images)?
Both forms are canonical. Astabhuja (eight arms) is the Devi Mahatmyam form most commonly cast in household idols. Dashabhuja (ten arms) is the West Bengal pandal-festival iconography. Both depict the same goddess.
Is it appropriate to keep a "slaying" iconography at home?
Yes — the Mahishasura-Mardini form is the most worshipped Durga iconography in Indian households. The symbolism is inner-ego destruction, not violence. Devotees worship her as the vijaya (victorious) form.
Should the idol be replaced after Navratri?
No. The same idol is worshipped year-round. Navratri is the festival of intensified worship, not replacement. Some Bengali pandal traditions immerse clay idols after Durga Puja — this is a different cultural practice from household brass-idol worship.
Cleaning instructions?
Soft cloth daily; lemon-salt paste weekly avoiding the antique-patina areas. The antique finish on weapons is intentional — do not over-polish.
Can a household with no women-only worship still install Durga?
Absolutely. Durga is worshipped equally by men, women, and children across all communities. Shakta tradition is universal.
If the idol breaks?
Respectful immersion in flowing water with brief Devi-Vandana. Replace with freshly consecrated idol. ---
How to verify this is genuine
For a murti the questions are what it is actually cast from, whether the iconography is correct, and — for puja use — whether it has been consecrated. Plated white-metal and resin sold as brass is the common substitution.
- 01Weight for size
Solid brass is dense. A murti that feels light for its size is hollow white-metal, resin or plated alloy. Hold it before you judge the finish.
- 02Magnet test
Brass is not magnetic. If a magnet sticks, the body is iron or steel under a brass-coloured coating.
- 03Base and underside
Turn it over. Solid brass shows the same metal underneath, often unpolished. Plating and paint reveal a different colour at the base, and resin shows a mould seam.
- 04Iconography accuracy
Count the arms, check the vahana (mount), the mudras and which hand holds which attribute. Mass-moulded copies frequently get these wrong, and in tradition an iconographically incorrect murti is not fit for installation.
- 05Consecration for puja use
A murti intended for daily worship needs Pran Pratishtha. Ask by whom, on what tithi and with which mantra — decorative pieces need none of this, and the seller should tell you plainly which one you are buying.
Care note — Brass darkens naturally — that is patina, not damage. Clean with tamarind or lemon-and-salt, rinse and dry completely. Never keep a chipped or broken murti in the puja space; the tradition prescribes immersion or respectful replacement.
Read the honest guides
We publish what most sellers leave out — how to spot fakes, which hand to wear it on, the real side effects, and what a genuine piece should cost. Read first, buy after.
What buyers are saying
No reviews yet — be the first to share your experience.
