Goddess Chamunda

Goddess Chamunda

Paramar Dynasty,10th Century AD, Indore Museum

         She is more ferocious than Goddess Kali. She is the most frightening looking Goddess in the Hindu pantheon.  She is Goddess Chamunda. Skeltal in appearance,  with protruding ribs, dried up hanging breasts,  a sunken face, with protruding eyes, laughing grotesquely,  with a garland of skulls, She depicts Nature in its most violent and ferocious form. 

      According to legend Goddess Durga was proposed by two demons who were brothers : Chand and Munda. She challenged them to a battle. Taking on the grotesque form, She killed both of them. Hence, the name Chamunda or 'Chand Munda Vinashni ' ( the slayer of Chand and Munda). 

To tackle evil, one should also have the physical prowess like the evil. But one must kill evil for the sake of protecting the good. The Divine Mother transformed Herself, only in order to restore law and order in the universe. She may be 'demonic looking', but She is Divinity in her heart and soul.