Mahishasura Mardini was created to combat the evil demon Mahishasura. The trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva came together to create a powerful female form with ten arms. When Durga emerged from the waters of the holy Ganga as a spirit, she was given a physical form by all the gods put together. Goddess Durga (Mahishasura Mardini) is the mother of the universe and is the power behind the work of creation, preservation, and destruction of the world.