India, Aug. 21 -- By Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik - Author, Speaker, Illustrator, Mythologist

Ganesha's arrival, in the latter half of the monsoon, marks the transformation of Shiva, the hermit, into Shankara, the householder. During this time, his mother is worshipped as Gauri, the home-maker.

But a few weeks later, she is worshipped as Durga for nine nights. She appears as a 10-armed goddess riding a lion or a tiger, battling a wild buffalo. She is dressed as a bride with bangles, necklaces, nose ring, earrings. But she is also a warrior, with weapons. She is a warrior-bride, protector and provider. Her name evokes the safety of the citadel (durg).

This violence of the battlefield, that provides protection, is not disconnected from the viol...