Why is only Durga associated with Devi?

Question

As we have already established in this question, Devi(AdiShakti) incarnates as Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Shaivas associate Durga with Devi as she is Shiva (their ishta devata)'s consort. However, even Shaktas, who worship Devi as the TriDevi, give Durga more importance than the rest. Why is this so? Even their names are from Durga (Shakti).

Now, in the answer, please explain why is only Durga associated with Devi? Is there anything to do with scriptures? If there is any evidence (e.g. scriptures,folklore,etc) of the rest of the TriDevi being associated with Devi, please put it in the answer.Also,please tell me about the different goddesses associated with Devi as per the sects(e.g.Ganaptyas,etc).

Also,to avoid confusion,only use the names Durga (for the wife of Shiva),Lakshmi(for the wife of Vishnu), Saraswati (for the wife of Brahma) and Devi (for the supreme goddess/AdiShakti).

Please clear my doubts.

Answer 1

This can be easily answered by using only the Durga Sapta Sloki as the reference,which is a part of the famous Devi Mahatyam found in the Markandeya Purana.

The Durga Sapta Sloki (Seven verses to Durga) was taught by the Goddess herself to Lord Shiva, to realize our objectives in the Kali age. This is also called Amba Sthuthi. These seven verses are a selection from the Devi Mahatmya. It is believed that reading these verses is equivalent to read the full text of Devi Mahatmya.

atha durgāsaptaślokī

śiva uvāca |

devī tvaṃ bhaktasulabhe sarvakāryavidhāyinī |

kalau hi kāryasiddhayarthamupāyaṃ brūhi yatrataḥ ||

Shiva said:

Oh Goddess who can be easily approached by devotion, who helps us to get all actions done. Please tell me the trick of achieving result for these actions in Kali age.

devyuvāca |

śṛṇu deva pravakṣyami kalau sarvaiṣṭasādhanam

mayā tavaiva snehenāpyambāstutiḥ prakāśyate ||

Goddess said:

Oh god, please hear what I say, which is the one fulfilling all desires in Kali age. Due to my love for you, I am telling you this prayer to Mother Goddess.

om asya śrīdurgāsaptaślokīstotramahāmantrasya

nārāyaṇa ṛṣiḥ । anuṣṭupādīni chandāṃsi ।

śrīmahākālīmahālakṣmīmahāsarasvatyo devatāḥ ।

śrī jagadambāprītyartha pāṭhe viniyogaḥ ॥

Of this Durga Sapta Sloki, Narayana is the Rishi, Anushtup (eight syllables in a pada) and others is the meter, Goddess Mahakali, Goddess Mahalakshmi and Goddess Mahasarasvati are the deities and it is recited for the love of Shri Jagadamba (Mother of the Universe).

So,when you see that the Devata of this Durga mantra are three Goddesses Mahakali,Mahalakshmi and Mahasraswati, it easy to conclude that Jagadamba Durga(to please whom this mantra is chanted) is a combined form of all the three aforesaid Goddesses and thus is superior to each of them considered individually.

So,that's basically the reason why Durga Devi is given more importance than other forms of Devis or in your words "only associated with Devi."

And,btw Devi Durga is not only a combined from of various Devis but she is a combined form of various Devas also.