Chamunda Devi

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Chamunda Devi

by Mantra & shlokas on Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at 5:41pm

<span>Chamunda Devi is located in the spot where the famous battle described in the Devi Mahatmaya took place.  It is here that the two generals of Shumbha and Nishumba were killed by Kali.  Their names were Chanda and Munda.  As a result of this battle Kali received the name Chamunda.  The temple was originally located in dangerous remote spot.  It was relocated to it's current position in the following manner.

</span>The Legend

Around 400 years ago the king and a Brahmin priest prayed to Devi for permission to move the temple to a less dangerous location.  Devi appeared to the priest in a dream giving her consent.  She directed him to dig in a certain spot and an ancient image would be found.  That image should be installed in the temple and worshipped as her form.

The king sent out men to bring back the image.  Although they were able to locate it they were not able to lift it.  Again Devi appeared to the priest in a dream.  She explained that the men could not lift the holy relic because they considered it an ordinary stone.  She instructed him to get up early in the morning, bath, wear fresh cloth and go to the place in a respectful manner.  He did as he was told and found that he could easily lift what a large group of men could not.  He told the people that it was the power of the Goddess that brought the image to the temple.
In the temple now you can see scenes from the Devi Mahatmya, Ramayan and Mahabharata.  On either side of  the Devi's image is Hanuman and Bhairo.