If Maa Durga is the mother of the universe, why do stories of Shakti speak about sacrifice? And what does the goat in this symbolism really represent? The answer may go deeper than a ritual. In this interpretation of the Devi Mahatmya, the fierce battle between Maa Chandi and Nishumbha becomes a picture of the struggle within the human mind. Nishumbha's second form, his relentless attack and his eventual defeat can be understood as symbols of ego, attachment and hatred. The real question is whether the sacrifice is about an animal or the destructive qualities we carry within ourselves.
