In Hinduism, in the Devi Mahatmya, Chanda and Munda are asuras (demons) in the service of demons Shumbha and Nishumbha. One day, they set their eyes upon Parvati and were overwhelmed by her beauty. They carried reports of this goddess to Shumbha. Shumbha desired to marry her. After the death of his lieutenant Dhumralochana at the hands of Devi, Shumbha sent Chanda and Munda to fight her, with orders to bring her to him by force. After Chanda and Munda approached the Devi, she turned black and Kali sprung from her forehead and killed them.[1] Then, since she had slain Chanda and Munda, the Devi gave the name "Chamunda" to Kali.[2] Afterwards, the demon Raktabīja was sent by the demons, but was also slain by Goddess Kali.[3][4]

A Pahari depiction of Kali fighting Chanda and Munda: Kali Fights Demons Chanda and Munda; c. 1825–35, gouache on paper, 17 × 24 cm, Rijksmuseum.

According to Skanda Purana Purana, Chanda and Munda also worshipped Surya.[5]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Bhattacharji, Sukumari (1995). Legends of Devi. Orient Blackswan. ISBN 978-81-250-0781-4.
  2. ^ Aijazuddin, FS (2014). "Devi-Yatras Here & There". Journal of the Pakistan Historical Society. 62 (2): 113–115.
  3. ^ "Vol. 17, 1860 of The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland on JSTOR". www.jstor.org. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  4. ^ Goswami, Meghali; Gupta, Ila; Jha, P (2005). "Sapta matrikas in Indian art and their significance in Indian sculpture and ethos: A critical study". Anistoriton. 9 (A051).
  5. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (19 October 2020). "The Greatness of Caṇḍāditya Tīrtha [Chapter 91]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 17 October 2023.