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According to Hindu mythology Durga manifested herself to relieve and protect the gods from the demon 'Mahisasura' who had driven them out of heaven and set out to perpetuate his evil dominion there. The Tale starts here - 

A Demon - Mahishasura: An army of demons was gathered, and its king was the Buffalo,the green skinned demon Mahishasura.

His vast army, with its weapons of iron, and its phalanxes of elephants and charioteers marched on the king of gods, Purandara, defeating him.

Then, Mahishasura usurped the throne of heaven. The victory was complete, and all the gods were driven from heaven.

They went to the trinity(three great gods), Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. "We have been dispossessed from heaven, from our home!" they said, "how can it be that heaven is filled with malevolent demons. How can such a place even be called heaven?"

On hearing the gods' petition for assistance, the face of Lord Vishnu flushed with anger and a brilliant light flooded forth. Soon, the faces of Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma burned with the same dazzling luminescence.

The gods watched in wonder as great flames issued forth in all directions. The fires illuminated all the three worlds: the heaven, the earth, and the nether-world in penetrating light.

Birth of Durga- The Shakti:

At a single point, the energy of all the fires coalesced and became Shiva, in the form of a young woman. Her face was from the light of Shiva. Her ten arms were from Lord Vishnu. Her legs were from Lord Brahma.

They praised her and gave to her their divine gifts. The 'Devatas' (various gods) also contributed their share of energy to form the various limbs of the goddess and armed her with the best of ornaments and deadly weapons - thus Durga represented an awesome combination of supreme beauty and fearsome power.

For Example : Krishna gave her a disc. Varuna, the sea, gave her a conch and the god of fire gave her a missile,Vayu gave her arrows. 

The king of gods, Indra, gave her a thunder-bolt, from the god of death Durga received a rod. Durga received many other precious and magical treasures-- gifts of jewels, new clothing, and a garland of immortal lotuses.God of mountains, Himavat gave her jewels and a magnificent lion to ride into battle.

Now equipped with the fearsome weaponry of the gods and dressed in golden armor and jewels she set off, seated gracefully upon that lion. His thunderous roars shook the three worlds.  All the demons were destroyed in a great battle as with her divine sword she cut them to bits.

So many demons and elephants and horses died and the a river of blood flowed across the battlefield. The ground was left littered with the broken limbs and body parts of the defeated demon army. Durga was then attacked by the demon commanders, who were all killed immediately, and without mercy.

The Death of Mahishasura:

Mahish, the king of the demons and usurper of the throne of heaven, was shocked and enraged by the disastrous events on the battlefield.

He reverted to his own form, a buffalo, and charged about on the battlefield. He ran wildly at Durga's divine soldiers goring many, biting others and all the while thrashing with his long, whip-like tail. Durga's lion, angered by the presence of the demon-buffalo, attacked him.

Durga  jumped on Mahishasura pushing him to the ground with her left leg.

She grasped his head in one hand, pierced him with her sharp spear held in another, and with yet another of her ten hands she wielded her bright sword, beheading him.

At last he fell dead, and the gods returned to heaven, and along with the sages of the earth, they sang praises to the Goddess Durga.

Henceforth, and to this day, the Goddess Durga is worshipped by all the gods in heaven, and all human beings on earth.   Mahishasura is there too, impaled by Durga's spear and prostrate beneath her left foot.

Yet Another Story States the Birth of Durga:

The legend is that two demons Shumbh and Nishumbh, became so powerful that their atrocities made the gods leave their seats of power and flee for life.

With no solution in sight all the gods got together and prayed to the primordial power to save them.

They continued to worship & prayer for nine days, where on the primordial power (Aadi Shakti) appeared in the form of

Durga and took upon herself the combined might of all the gods and annihilated the demons. As such it is the worship of divine force to overcome evil forces.

During the nine days period, fasting and austere living is adopted. Mother goddess is worshipped with devotion.