English
Shumbha-Nishumbha and Chanda-Munda
Source: Markandeya Purana, Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati), chapters 5–10
Two demon brothers named Shumbha and Nishumbha used their might to seize Indra's kingdom, the share of the sacrifices, and the powers of the Sun, Moon, Kubera, Yama and Varuna. Once again the gods were driven from heaven.
Then the gods remembered the Devi's promise: “Remember me in distress, and I will come.” They went to the Himalaya and began to praise her: “Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu…”, salutations again and again to the Devi who dwells in all beings as power, intelligence, forgiveness and mother.
Just then the Devi Parvati came to bathe in the Ganga. She asked, “Whom are you praising?” At that moment a divine goddess emerged from her body and said, “This hymn is for me.” Because she came forth from Parvati's bodily sheath (kosha), she was called Kaushiki, and also Ambika.
Two servants of Shumbha, Chanda and Munda, passed that way. They saw Ambika's wondrous form and went to Shumbha: “Great king, all the jewels of the three worlds are yours. On the Himalaya there is a woman who is a jewel among women. She too should be yours.”
Shumbha sent a messenger named Sugriva to the Devi. The messenger said in sweet words, “Shumbha, lord of the three worlds, says: accept me, or my mighty brother Nishumbha, as your husband.”
The Devi smiled. “What you say is true. But I made a vow long ago. Whoever defeats me in battle, removes my pride, and is my equal in strength in this world, he shall be my husband. Let Shumbha or Nishumbha come himself, defeat me and take my hand.”
Enraged, Shumbha sent his general Dhumralochana: “Drag her here by the hair.” Dhumralochana advanced, but the Devi only uttered the sound “Hum”, and he was burnt to ashes on the spot. The Devi's lion destroyed his army.
Now Shumbha sent Chanda and Munda with a great army. Seeing them come, Ambika's face darkened with anger, and from her forehead sprang Kali, terrible in form: a skull-topped staff in hand, a garland of heads, a tiger skin, her red tongue lolling.
Kali fell upon the demon army and destroyed it in moments. Then she cut off the heads of both Chanda and Munda and brought them to Ambika. Pleased, Ambika said, “Because you have slain Chanda and Munda, you will be famed in the world as Chamunda.”
Then Shumbha sent his whole army. The powers of the gods came to stand beside the Devi, and even the sorcerous demon Raktabija, from every drop of whose blood a new demon was born, was ended by the Devi and Chamunda.
Now Nishumbha himself entered the battle. A fierce fight followed. The Devi pierced his heart with her spear. From his heart another mighty being emerged, crying, “Stop!” The Devi laughed and cut off its head with her sword. Nishumbha fell to the ground.
At his dear brother's death Shumbha went mad with rage. He taunted her, “Durga, do not be proud. You fight with the strength of others.”
The Devi replied, “I alone exist in this world. Who else is there besides me? See, these are my own powers entering back into me.” And all the shaktis, Brahmani and the rest, merged into the Devi's body. Now only Ambika stood on the battlefield.
A terrible battle followed, on the earth and in the sky. At last the Devi whirled Shumbha around and hurled him to the ground, and when he rushed at her again, she pierced his chest with her spear. Shumbha's life left him.
Peace spread over the world. The rivers flowed in their courses, the winds blew gently, and the sacrificial fires blazed again. The gods praised the Devi with joy.
What this story teaches
Arrogance fights in many forms, but truth is one. The Devi teaches that all powers are forms of the one original Shakti.
This story is the final section of the Durga Saptashati, recited during Navratri and especially on Durgashtami. Chamunda's worship is also linked to the Sandhi Puja at the junction of Ashtami and Navami.
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