The story of Maa Durga.

When heaven was conquered by the demon king, Mahishashur, the demi-gods went to the three Great Gods of the Trimurti; Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.

They pleaded with them, “We have been dispossessed from heaven, from our home! How can it be that heaven is overrun with malevolent demons. How can such a place even be called heaven?”

On hearing this, the faces of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva were flushed with a brilliant light, which flooded forth in all directions. The demi-gods watched in wonder as great flames radiated and illuminated all the three worlds: heaven, earth and the netherworld with and intense penetrating light.

The energy of all the fires coalesced and focused onto one point. In a great flash, Lord  Shiva appeared in the feminine form of a young woman adorned in mystical and ferocious weapons. Her face was from the light of Shiva. Her ten arms were from Lord Vishnu. Her legs were from Lord Brahma. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, thus created Maa Durga, an embodiment of the divine Shakti.