Mahishi (Mahishasur's Sister)

Mahishi was a demoness, she was the sister of her deceased brother, the Mahishasura, who, in many legends was killed by Parvati's part incarnate, Goddess Durga. She sought revenge against her and the Gods who participated in the death of her brother. Certain legends also stated that Mahishi was the cursed wife of Dattatreya, Leela. Driven crazy by the curse, she soughted to rule the three worlds using a boon from Brahma.

Story of Mahishasur (Retold)

Mahishasur, born of a she-buffalo, undertook severe austerities to Lord Brahma, he was granted the boon of invulnerability against all men (including humans, sages, demon, Deity and God). Being given this boon, he gathered his demon forces and picked a war with Indra. Likewise, he defeated him along with his own forces and began occupying the three worlds. The defeated Gods sought the refuge of Lords Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and narrated to them about the terrors about the demon Mahishasur. Hearing about Mahishasur's cruelties, the Tridev (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) became very furious and from their fury, emerged out flames coming from their bodies. Those similar flames also came from the bodies of the Gods too, including Indra, the head chief of the Gods. Those fiery energies of the Gods transformed into a woman, the woman was none other than Goddess Durga, who had ten arms (or eighteen). The Gods seeing her become very glad that Durga will be able to kill Mahishasur. Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Indra, Surya, Chandra, Agni, Vayu, Varun, Kubera, Yamraj and other Gods gave her new red apparels, heavy ornaments, their respective energies and weapons and Himavan, the King of the Himalayas and father of Goddess Gauri gave her a lion to ride upon. As Goddess Durga was fully armed and ready for battle, she utters a ferocious bloodcurdling and deafening roar which shook all the worlds, even reaching Mahishasur and his army. He and his army went out to find the one who dared to cause havoc. Then, at the battlefield, Goddess Durga was waiting for Mahishasur. The army of Mahishasur was led by generals like Chixsur, Chamar, Durmukh, Asiloma, Ugrasen, Utpal, Vidal, Vidhan, Ugravirya, Udagrasur, Karalasur, Vashkaal, Durdhara, Mahahanu, Ugrasya, Vikataksha, Ugravaktra, Dahan, Baskalasur, Udyatarasur, Virlaxa, Vidaalnetra, Vishang, Vaayakaal, Agraayudh, Praghas, Vighas, Shakukama, Vibhavasu, Vidyunmali, Sumali, Parjanya, Krura, Vidutprabha, Virupaksha, Lomavarshak, Anjan, Nilakukshi, Udraksh, Meghavarna, Balahak, Lalataksh, Subhim, Bhayankar, Dhawnksh, Dhvasta Karna, Shanka Kukarna, Vajrakaya, Ativeerya, Rakthaksha, Bhimadamshtra, Vidyutjihva, Atikay, Mahakaya, Dirghabahu, Krithantak, Kaal, Kritanth, Raktaksha, Haran, Mitrah, Anitya, Yajaha, Goghna, Stridhan, and Parakrami. Mahishasur's army becomes terrified. Goddess Durga challenges Mahishasur for war. His hoards attack the Goddess all at once, but the infuriated Goddess Durga launched various attacks on them with the powers of the weapons of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Indra, Surya, Chandra, Agni, Vayu, Varun, Kubera, Yamraj and other Gods. A severe war started. Goddess Durga hurled various weapons like the trident, mace, sword, axe, thunderbolt etc. at the army of demons. The demon armies were killed all at once and the battlefield was covered with dead bodies of the dead demon soldiers and their blood flowing. The generals (Chixsur, Chamar, Durmukh, Asiloma, Ugrasen, Utpal, Vidal, Vidhan, Ugravirya, Udagrasur, Karalasur, Vashkaal, Durdhara, Mahahanu, Ugrasya, Vikataksha, Ugravaktra, Dahan, Baskalasur, Udyatarasur, Virlaxa, Vidaalnetra, Vishang, Vaayakaal, Agraayudh, Praghas, Vighas, Shakukama, Vibhavasu, Vidyunmali, Sumali, Parjanya, Krura, Vidutprabha, Virupaksha, Lomavarshak, Anjan, Nilakukshi, Udraksh, Meghavarna, Balahak, Lalataksh, Subhim, Bhayankar, Dhawnksh, Dhvasta Karna, Shanka Kukarna, Vajrakaya, Ativeerya, Rakthaksha, Bhimadamshtra, Vidyutjihva, Atikay, Mahakaya, Dirghabahu, Krithantak, Kaal, Kritanth, Raktaksha, Haran, Mitrah, Anitya, Yajaha, Goghna, Stridhan, and Parakrami) of Mahishasur were each killed one by one by Goddess Durga, no matter how hard they tried to face her. Seeing his army perish, Mahishasur assumed various forms of a buffalo, lion, a warrior, and elephant. As Goddess Durga destroyed his forms, Mahishasur again re-assumed the form of a buffalo and charges at Goddess Durga. Her champion mount, the lion attacks the buffalo and tramples him. Goddess Durga pressed the buffalo's back with such force that Mahishasur came out of the buffalo's mouth. In anger, she impaled him with her trident and severed his head with her sword. Seeing the fall of Mahishasur, the Gods become delighted and start eulogizing her.

Story of Mahishi

One myth says that after Parvati killed Arunasur in the form of Bhramari Devi, she becomes furious and starts creating destruction the help of the bees, Lord Shiva, Kartikeya, Ganesh, Nandi, and all Gods and Goddesses are worried. Each of them try to pacify her, and some scenes flash from Lord Shiva, Kartikeya and Nandi's lives, involving Parvati. Goddess Lakshmi discusses with Vishnu ways how Parvati used to pacify Lord Shiva. Kartikeya goes near Bhramari Devi and scenes flash in his life and tearfully breaks down. Those scenes in his life make him sad and he breaks down, resigning from his post of commander-in-chief. Seeing Kartikeya pleading forgiveness, and crying, Ganesh and Nandi try to pacify her, but to no avail. Lord Indra asks Lord Vishnu why isn't Lord Shiva doing anything to pacify her. Lord Vishnu enlightens him about Bhramari Devi and woman power. Out of anger, Bhramari Devi vanishes. Lord Vishnu enlightens Narad about what will happen. The bees go berserk and feed on the humans, after the execution of Arunasur. The Gods worry that if Bhramari Devi is not stopped, the world will be covered with uncontrollable bees. Lord Brahma predicts the chain of events that will happen next, the one who desired for revenge and retaliation. It was Mahishi, who sought revenge for killing her brother, Demon King Mahishasur, who Parvati used to kill him in the form of Durga. So, Bhramari Devi will not be able to kill Mahishi. Mahishi had done severe austerities to Lord Brahma and was awarded the boon of being killed by a child out of Shiva and Vishnu's union. She starts fleeing from the bees of Bhramari and jumps in a nearby lake and traps the bees in a bubble. The other bees of Bhramari still follow her. She is still furious. In order to calm the Goddess of bees, Lord Vishnu assumes the form of a beautiful female angel, Mohini. Mohini assures them that she will pacify Parvati (still in the form of Bhramari Devi). Bhramari Devi still causes destruction in the human land. The villagers pray to Lord Shiva to save them. Mahishi sees Bhramari Devi, in the tornado form of bees. She decides to kill Adishakti (Bhramari Devi) in her uncontrollable state. Bhramari Devi confronts Mahishi, Mohini arrives and blocks Bhramari Devi from killing Mahishi. Mohini shows Mahishi her true form, as her being of Lord Vishnu. Mahishi, after hearing Mohini and seeing the huge form of Bhramari Devi, she retreats in fear. Mohini feels empathy for Bhramari Devi and succeeds in soothing her. A scene flashes in her life in which Vishnu tries to pacify her after swallowing Lord Shiva in her form of Dhumavati. Lord Shiva give orders in his mind to Mohini for pacifying Bhramari Devi. Bhramari Devi is pacified but needs the other bees to be with her again. Mohini and Bhramari Devi go in deep meditation, Mohini gives Parvati (Bhramari Devi) some tutor lessons about how to control her anger and power. Mahishi spreads her terror to the sages and inquire them about the whereabouts of Mohini and Bhramari Devi. They had no one answer but to die. Mahishi had no idea where Bhramari and Mohini and how will Bhramari return as Parvati because of her trapping the bees. Some scenes appear in Bhramari Devi's meditation about the terrors of Mahishi. She internally becomes angry but is later pacified by Mohini again. Mahishi again spreads terror by transforming herself as a female buffalo and creates havoc in the human world. Mahishi still had doubts about Bhramari Devi coming back to her normal form of Parvati again. Lord Shiva and Vishnu both perform leela, to bring serenity in the universe. Lord Brahma becomes elated on seeing Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu as Harihara. Mohini gives birth to Mahadev's son, Hariharaputra. Mahishi attempts to kill Hariharaputra, but Lord Shiva rescues him. On listening to King Rajashekhar's prayer, Lord Shiva bestows him with Hariharaputra, to take care of him as his son. Mahadev names Hariharaputra as Manikantan. Mohini bestows powers to Parvati for performing her penance. Mahishi attacks Manikantan in the forest. Manikantan succeeds in defeating her. Mahishi then killed, she see Manikantan performing Tandav and Harihara, she becomes terrified. Mahishi tearfully regrets for her sins and pleads forgiveness from Harihara. Seeing Harihara, the combined form of Shiva and Vishnu, she breathes out her last breath of life and dies in peace. In Mohini and Bhramari Devi's web, they continue the last step of meditation, some scenes appear in Parvati's life. Seeing those scenes in meditation, Bhramari Devi feels peace. She starts meditating upon Lord Shiva. During meditation, Mohini appears as Lord Vishnu again and Goddesses Saraswati and Lakshmi and Lord Brahma and Narad appear there, and Lord Shiva. Bhramari Devi feels tranquility and the bees come back to her and she attains her original form again. Parvati liberates herself from Bhramari Devi. The Gods and Goddesses are relieved and the world is at peace.