CAKDAMUNDAS 170 CANDIKA

the forest 3) Marriage. One day, during a hunting expedition took refuge in a forest. After wandering in a boar escaped unhurt by the king's arrows and after for a long time, at the instance of Brhaspati they sought turning turtle his chariot it went into a cave. The king asylum wi;h Parvatl. Parvatl stood for sometime in deep divine in great anger followed the pig into the cave, and going concentration, and there emerged from her body forward some distance he saw a beautiful animal where- Kausiki or . assured the Devas that she upon he seated himself on the side of a tank. There he would kill Sumbha and Nisumbha. And, then Kali sat saw, amidst a number of women an exceptionally alone on a rock in the thick Forest. Canda and Munda, beaut ; ful woman moving about. Casting her charming who happened to pass that way were attracted by the the news to eyes glistering with love the woman approached the great beauty of Parvatl and imparted King. During their conversation, when the king told Sumbha and Nisumbha, and they deputed Dhumraksa the as over to them but her about himself she began crying. To query and 60,000 soldiers to bring Parvatl ; to to the reason for her crying she answered as follows : by one hurhkara (sound 'hum') she reduced them "The boar you saw is my father, Augarakasura. His ashes. Ultimately she killed Sumbha and Nisumbha body is harder than even diamond, and none can inflict also, i Bhagavata, Pancama Skandha). any injury on it. The women you see around are CA^PATU]WPAKA(S). A son of Garuda. (Udyoga princesses captured by my father from various palaces Parva, Chapter 101, Verse 9). for my help, and my name is Angaravatl. My father CANDAVEGA. A . (See Puranjana). of is is became a Raksasa as the result a curse ; he now CAIiTDIKA. A terrific form of Parvati, who worship- 'I he asleep in the assumed form of a boar. On aw.iking he ped in temples under the name Candikadevi. is sure to eat you for food, and it was that thought which Devi's idol has twenty hands. In the hands on the right brought tears to my eyes". To these words of Aiigara- side are held Sfda (three-pronged weapons) sword,

as follows : "If have vati, the king replied you any Vela (rod), Cakra, pasa (rope), parigha (shield), love for me you would go to your father and begin ayudha, abhaya, damaru and Sakti, while the hands to his as to small crying when he wakes up, and question on the left side hold n^gapaSa, parigha, axe, are should that why you crying you reply thoughts Ankusa (a long-hooked rod) , pasa, mani, flag, gada, are also about your future in the event of your fathers's death mirror and an iron cylindrical rod. 1 here brought tears in your eyes." idols of Candika with ten hands. At the feet of the Aiigaravatl agreed to the above proposal of the King. Devi lies Mahisasura with his head severed from body. She hid the King in a safe place and went and stood There will also be standing near the idol a purusa (man) by the side of her father. Everything happened as was born from the neck of the Mahisa brandishing his wea- and anticipated and Angaraka consoled his daughter by pon, and with the Sula in his hand in all rage saying that none would be able to kill him whose womitting blood and with red hairs and eyes. That body was as hard and strong as diamond, there being purusa is bound strongly on his neck with rope. The only one opening through which he might be struck on vehicle of the Devi is a lion. The Devi is mounted on below. This the left wrist which might be concealed by the bow. the lion with her left leg on the lying Candamahasena who heard the above talk came out of Candikadevi thus stands with weapons in the hand, as his hiding place and challenged the asura to war. He annihilator of enemies and with three eyes, and she Padmas raised his left hand to show the sign, "just coming, should be worshipped in pujamandala with nine the Devi please wait", and the king then shot his arrow through (tantric divisions) along with her idol. Firstly the opening on his left wrist. The asura fell dead. should be worshipped in the central padma and 4) Birth of Vdsavadattd : And, now Candamahasena and others in the other padmas. married Angaravati and returned to his kingdom with There is also another Candikadevi () with eigh- his wife. Two sons, Gopalaka and Palaka were born to teen hands. She holds in her right hand a skull, shield, and the royal couple, and the King celebrated an Indro- mirror, broom, bow, flag, damaru and pa^a^cord) tsava for the welfare and prosperity of the children. in her left hand rod, iron pounder, Sula, Vajra, sword, to hold Pleased at the utsava Indra appeared to the king in AnkuSa (a sticklike weapon with one end bent There sleep and blessed him saying that a daughter would be on to things) Sara (arrow) Cakra and salaka. born to him and that her son would be crowned empe- are nine other Durgas having the same weapons as the ror of the Vidyadharas. Accordingly a daughter was above except the Damaru and the broom . But, they born to the King, and she was called Vasavadatta. have only sixteen hands each. These nine Durgas are

i.e. . Canda- ( given by Vasava, Indra) Udayana married Vasava- called Rudracanda, Pracanda, Ugracanda, datta. (See Udayana). nayika, Aticandika, and Candogra. The Durga standing CANDAMUNDAS. Two brothers born in the Asura at the centre will have the colour of gorocana (red dynasty, the elder brother being called Canda and sandal paste) and the others will have the following nila the younger Munda. These brothers collected, like colours; arunavarna (red) Krsna varna (black), varna the other asura leaders Dhumraksa, and Raktabija, varna (blue), s'ukla varna (white), dhumra thousands of soldiers and lived in all pomp and (brown) pita varna (yellow) and sveta varna (white). are installed for the glory. The nava Durgas (nine Durgas ) During this period two asura brothers called Sumbha prosperity of children etc. And all these are different and Nisumbha had returned from the Himalayas after forms of Parvati. securing from Brahman a boon that they would meet Also, in various aspects or poses, Parvati is called by in with their death only at the hands of a woman. Canda other names. She is called Siddha when installed and Munda became their friends and attendants. Raihbha-vana wearing aksamala (garland of beads), Sumbha and Nisumbha set out on a triumphal tour kirita (crown) and . The same Siddha without the and conquered heaven, earth and patala. The Devas the fire is called Lalita. Gauridevi with one of