In Hindu mythology, what buffalo demon was killed by the goddess Durga?

In Hindu mythology, what buffalo demon was killed by the goddess Durga? The answer is Mahishasura.

Mahishasura is a powerful asura, or demon-like being, famous for waging war against the devas. He is usually depicted as a buffalo or as a shape-shifter who can move between buffalo, human, and other forms. His arrogance grew after receiving a boon that made him effectively invulnerable to male opponents, allowing him to seize the realm of the gods.

According to the Devi Mahatmya, the gods combined their divine energies to create Durga, a warrior goddess equipped with their weapons. Riding a lion, she fought Mahishasura in a long battle. When he resumed his buffalo form, Durga pierced him with her trident and defeated him. She is consequently worshipped as Mahishasuramardini, “the slayer of Mahishasura.”

The story is central to Shakta Hinduism and is celebrated during Navaratri and Durga Puja. It is often read as a triumph of divine order over chaos, though regional traditions vary in details. The name combines Sanskrit mahisha, “buffalo,” with asura, commonly translated as “demon” or “powerful supernatural being.”