The story of Chanda and Munda

Once the demons gained control over the gods. The mighty demon king Shumbha expelled the gods out of their domain, heaven. The demons chased the fleeing gods. The gods managed to reach Hemavata mountain to save their lives. There they prayed to the goddess Durga for help.

"O Mother Goddess! You are the cause of all the good tidings. Destroy Shumbha to cause the prevalence of peace and dharma.”

During that time Durga's alter-ego, Parvati had descended there for holy dips in the Ganga. She heard the prayers of the troubled gods. In answer to their prayers, Parvati projected Ma Ambika out of her body as her alter-goddess. Ambika's teasing beauty got the demon army commanders Chanda and Munda slavering. They exclaimed, "That beautiful woman is worth our king Shumbha being told about."

Chanda and Munda sang the praises of the beauty of the woman they had seen. Shumbha said, "If that woman is so gorgeous then I must accept her. Go and bring her to me."

The two returned to Hemavata mountain and spoke to Ambika, "O beauty! The king of all the demons who owns and runs all three worlds wishes to make you, his queen."

"But I have made a resolve that I would marry only the man who breaks my pride by defeating me in a battle," Ambika explained.

Chanda said, "Our king had defeated even the mightiest gods. You stand no chance against him. So, come with us to the king without making any fuss."

"I know I made that resolve in one of my trivial moments. But it can't be undone," Ambika revealed in a calm voice.

The two demons returned to the king muttering and communicating what Ambika had said. It angered the demon king. He howled, "All right, if she wants to fight, she will have a fight at her hands."

Shumbha summoned his chief commander and ordered, "Go and seize that woman -Ambika."

The chief commander, Dhumra Lochana stormed Hemavata mountain with his demon army. He spoke to Ambika, "Beauty! Come to our Lord on your own otherwise, I will take you by force."

Ambika declared, "I am a helpless weakling. You shouldn't use force against me."

"Then agree to marry our king," Dhumra Lochana said.

"That is the problem, valiant one. My resolve is that I won't marry unless I am defeated in battle."

Dhumra Lochana stared at Ambika. He ran at her to seize her by the hair. Ambika scornfully said just 'Humm! And with that Dhumra Lochana burnt to ashes. All that was left of him was a heap of ash.

It frightened the demon army, and it began to flee. Chanda and Munda tried to rally the demon soldier by yelling, "Our Lord has ordered us to seize this woman. She is alone and we are in the army. Lay a siege around her."

The demons turned back to face Ambika who now was across a lion. Her eyebrows arched and out of her forehead, Kaali Maa materialized. Kali pounced upon the demons. With one hand she lifted an elephant and tossed it on the demons. Scores of them were crushed under the fallen elephant. Chanda ran at Kaali barking, "Beastly woman! I will feed you to the dogs and vultures."

Kali grabbed him by the hair and severed his head with a cleave. It infuriated Munda and he leapt at Kaali to meet the same fate as Chanda.

Kali tossed away the severed head of Munda laughing outrageously. Ambika said to Kaali, "You have slain the evil demons Chanda and Munda Hence, you will be known also as "Chamunda"."

(To be continued)