The story of lion that is the Vahana or Vehicle of Goddess Durga is found in a story associated with one of the forms of Shiva worshipped in Ujjain – 84 Mahadevs in Ujjain. Legend has it that once Goddess Parvati performed meditation and intense austerities. This happened after Shiva referred to her as Kali or black. There was intense heat in the three worlds because of this intense austerity. All the living beings were suffering due to this. Brahma then appeared before Goddess Parvati and asked her why she was performing the meditation. Goddess Parvati told him the reason. Brahman told her that she would become Gauri or the fair one in due course of time. Goddess Parvati was not satisfied and she became angry and a lion appeared from her body. The lion was hungry and it jumped to eat the Goddess. However, he soon realized it was impossible even to go near her. The lion walked away. Goddess Parvati had motherly feeling for the lion and she went near him. The l