Which demon was killed by the goddess Durga?

Which demon was killed by the goddess Durga? Mahishasura was killed by the goddess Durga.

Mahishasura is a powerful asura, or demon-like being, whose name means “buffalo demon.” Hindu accounts portray him as a shape-shifter who could take buffalo form as well as human or other animal forms. His growing power allowed him to defeat the gods and threaten the cosmic order.

According to the Devi Mahatmya, the gods combined their powers to manifest Durga, a warrior goddess equipped with divine weapons. After a fierce battle, she defeated Mahishasura with a trident. This victory gives Durga the epithet Mahishasuramardini, meaning “slayer of Mahishasura.”

The story is central to Navaratri celebrations and especially to Vijayadashami, which marks the demon’s defeat in many Hindu traditions. It is commonly interpreted as the triumph of good over evil, though Shakta traditions also emphasize the supreme power of the Goddess. Mahishasura is not Kamsa, Hiranyakashipu, or Ravana; those figures belong to different mythic stories and are defeated by different heroes or deities.