MAHISHA

[Hindu] The buffalo-headed monster killed by Durga in her battle with the Asuras. The fight between Mahisha and Durga took place at a time when the demons had taken over power from the gods . They controlled the priests and consumed the offerings made in honour of the gods. Faced with dwindling powers, the gods created a powerful goddess to help them: Durga. She destroyed Mahisha and the Asuras. In the Mahabharata, Mahisha is a monster killed by Skanda. The modern form of Mahisha is Bhainsasura who lives in the fields and tramples the corn unless he is appeased by an offering of a pig or is worshipped when the rice is ripening.