Goddess Chamundi / Chandi
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| MahaKali Chandi |
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| Chamundi |
Goddess Chandi is in fighting form, Goddess Chamundi Blesses people of a land for prosperity, usually prayed by the kings/people.
When you pray to Kali, she eliminates us from ego, gives us power to conquer/rule lands. When she is prayed for knowledge of brahman she gives us ultimate supreme knowledge. She is possesive of her devotee, finally leads them to moksha.
She is also one of the chief Yoginis, a group of sixty-four or eighty-one Tantric goddesses, who are attendants of the warrior goddess Durga. [3] The name is a combination of Chanda and Munda, two monsters whom Chamunda killed.
She is closely associated with Kali, another fierce aspect of Parvati. She is identified with goddesses Parvati, Chandi or Durga as well.
Apart from her popular names like Chamunda, Chamundi, Chamundeshwari, Charchika and Rakta Kali she is also known as Rudira Kali, Chanda Kali,Rudira, Rudira Mala devi, Rudiramma, Rudireshwari, Rakteshwari, Rakta Chamundi, Vir Kali, Porkali, Ghalurika, Ugra Chandi, Kalari Devi and Ati bhaya Kali regionally in India and Nepal.
She is popularly worshipped as the goddess of war and patron of Kerala’s martial arts like
Kalaripayattu. While other Matrikas are considered as Shaktis (powers) of male divinities and resemble them in their appearance, Chamunda is the only Matrika who is a Shakti of the great Goddess Devi rather than a male god. She is also the only Matrika who enjoys independent worship of her own; all other Matrikas are always worshipped together. Chamunda is assigned the direction of south-west.
Chamunda is believed to have created seven other yoginis, together forming a group of eight. In
the context of eighty-one yoginis, Chamunda heads a group of nine yoginis.
There are so many temples for Chamunda throughout India. For south indians, the temple at
Mysuru on the top of the hill, is very famous.
Also it is a practice among south indians to perform Sathachandi, Sahasrachandi homams often
to ward of all evils and obstructions.
