Chandi
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2008-03-21T11:58:04Z
Ekabhishek
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/* Temples */
{{Hdeity infobox| <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Hindu mythology-->
| Image =Cuttack_Chandi.jpg
| Caption = Chandi - Cuttack, Orissa, India
| Name = Chandi
| Devanagari = चण्डी
| Sanskrit_Transliteration = {{IAST|Caṇḍī}}
| Pali_Transliteration =
| Tamil_script =
| Affiliation = [[Devi]]
| Consort = [[Shiva]]
| Mantra = {{IAST|oṁ aiṁ hrīṁ klīṁ cāmuṇḍayāi vicce}}
| Mount = Lion
}}
'''Chandi''' ([[Sanskrit]]: {{lang|sa|चण्डी}}, {{IAST|Caṇḍī}}) or '''Chandika''' ({{IAST|Caṇḍīka}}) is the supreme Goddess of [[Devi Mahatmya]] (Sanskrit: Devīmāhātmyam, देवीमाहात्म्यम्) also known as ''Chandi'' or ''Durga Sapthashati''. Chandi is described as the Supreme reality who is a combination of [[Mahakali]], Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati. Later in the [[Murti Rahasya]] she is described as Maha Lakshmi with eighteen arms (''Ashtadasa Bhuja Mahalakshmi'') bearing weapons. But she is fearful form of Devi [[Parvati]], who even sends [[Shiva]] as her messenger.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} Thus she is also called as <b>Shivduti</b>.{{Fact|date=January 2008}}
==Etymology==
{{IAST|Caṇḍī}} or {{IAST|Caṇḍīika}} is the name by which the Supreme Goddess
is referred to in Devi Mahatmya. According to Coburn, "{{IAST|Caṇḍīika}} is "the
violent and impetuous one". In the light of the primacy of this
designation of the goddess, it is striking that the word {{IAST|Caṇḍīka}} has
virtually no earlier history in Sanskrit. There are no instances of its
occurrence in the Vedic literature we have surveyed. The epics are
similarly barren: neither the Ramayana nor the Mahabharata give evidence
of the [[epithet]], although in one of the hymns inserted in the latter
{{IAST|Caṇḍa}} and {{IAST|Caṇḍī}} are applied to the deity they praised."<ref>Coburn, Thomas B., Devī Māhātmya. p 95</ref>
The designation of Chandi or Chandika is used twenty-nine times in the Devi
Mahatmya. It is the most common epithet used for the Goddess. In Devi
Mahatmya, Chandi, Chandika, Ambika and [[Durga]] have been used synonymously. In it She emerges from [[Parvati]],The Supreme Goddess, when Parvati sheds her outer sheath, and incarnated to two forms [[Durga]] or Ambika and [[Kali]]. {{Fact|date=December 2007}}
==Legends==
The origin of the Goddess is given in the second chapter of [[Devi Mahatmya]].
"The great Goddess was born from the energies of the male divinities when
the gods became impotent in the long-drawn-out battle with the [[asuras]].
All the energies of the Gods became united and became supernova,
throwing out flames in all directions. Then that unique light, pervading
the Three Worlds with its lustre, combined into one, and became a female
form."
"The [[Devi]] projected an overwhelming omnipotence. The three eyed goddess
was adorned with the crescent moon. Her multiple arms held auspicious
weapons and emblems, jewels and ornaments, garments and utensils,
garlands and rosaries of beads, all offered by the gods. With her golden
body blazing with the splendour of a thousand suns, seated on her lion
vehicle, Chandi is one of the most spectacular of all personifications
of Cosmic energy." <ref> Mookerjee, Ajit, Kali, The Feminine Force, p 49</ref>
In other scriptures, Chandi is portrayed as "assisting" [[Kali]] in her battle with demon [[Raktabija]]. While Kali drank Raktabija's blood, which created new demons on falling on the ground; Chandi would desstroy the armies of demons created from his blood and finally killed Raktabija himself. <ref>Wilkins p.255-7</ref> In [[Skanda Purana]], this story is retold and another story of Chandika killing demons Chanda and Manda is added. <ref>Wilkins p.260</ref>
==Iconography==
The dhyana sloka preceding the Middle episode of Devi Mahatmya the
iconographic details are given. The Goddess is described as eighteen
armed bearing string of beads, battle axe, mace, arrow, thunderbolt,
lotus, bow, water-pot, cudgel, lance, sword, shield, conch, bell,
wine-cup, trident, noose and the discuss sudarsana. She has a complexion
of coral and is seated on a lotus. <ref>Sankaranarayanan. S., Devi Mahatmyam,
P 148.</ref>
In some temples the images of Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi, and Maha Saraswati are kept separately. The Goddess is also portrayed as four armed in many temples.
==Temples==
Temples devoted to Chandi are located in many places including the following:
* Gandaki Chandi, Gandaki near [[Pokhara]], Nepal. ([[Shakti Peethas]])
* Mangal Chandika, Ujaani, West Bengal. ([[Shakti Peethas]])
* Saptha Shringi temple, [[Vani]], (Maharashtra). (Ashtadasa Bhuja Mahalakshmi)
* [[Mahalaxmi Temple]], Mumbai (Maharashtra). (Three separate images).
* [[Vaishno Devi]] temple, Khatra, Jammu and Kashmir. (Three Pindas (stones)).
* [[Cuttack]] Chandi Temple, [[Cuttack]], [[Orissa]]. (Four armed).
* Ashtadasa Bhuja Mahalakshmi temple, Skandhashramam, Salem, Tamil Nadu.
* Mangal Chandi temple, [[Guwahati]], [[Assam]].
* Mangal Chandi temple, Chandithala, [[Kolkata]].
* Chandi Devi Temple, Neel Parvat, [[Haridwar]] <ref>[http://www.blessingsonthenet.com/newtemple/temple.asp?serialno=1&tempid=T027&desctitle=Introduction Chandi Devi] Haridwar.</ref>
* [[Chandi Mandir]], [[Chandigarh]]. The city of Chandigarh (lit. "fort of Chandi") derives it's name from this temple.
==Chandi in folklore of Bengal==
Chandi is one of the most popular folk deities in Bengal, and a number of
poems and literary compositions in Bengali called ''Chandi Mangala Kavyas''
were written from 13th century to early 19th century. These had the
effect of merging the local folk and tribal goddesses with mainstream
Hinduism. The ''Mangal kavyas'' often associate Chandi with goddess [[Kali]] or Kalika <ref>McDaniel(2004) p.21</ref> and recognize her as a consort of [[Shiva]] and mother of [[Ganesha]] and [[Kartikeya]], which are characteristics of goddesses like [[Parvati]] and [[Durga]]. <ref> McDaniel(2004) pp. 149-150</ref> The concept of Chandi as the supreme Goddess also underwent a change. The worship of the Goddess became heterogeneous in nature.
Chandi is associated with good fortune as well as disaster. Her auspivcious forms like ''Mangal Chandi'', ''Sankat Mangal Chandi'', ''Rana Chandi'' bestow joy, riches, children , good hunting and victory in battles while other forms like ''Olai Chandi'' cure diseases like cholera, plague and cattle diseases. <ref>McDaniel(2002) pp. 9-11</ref>
These are almost all village and tribal Goddesses with the name
of the village or tribe being added on to the name Chandi. The most
important of these Goddesses is Mangol Chandi who is worshipped in the
entire state and also in Assam. Here the word "Mangol" means auspicious
or benign. <ref>Manna, Sibendu, Mother Goddess, {{IAST|Chaṇḍī}}, pp. 100-110</ref>
==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}
==References==
*Coburn, Thomas B., "Devī Māhātmya, The Crystallization of the Goddess Tradition" , South Asia Books, 2002. (ISBN 81-208-0557-7)
*Manna, Sibendu, Mother Goddess, {{IAST|Chaṇḍī}}, Punthi Pustak, Calcutta, India, 1993. (ISBN 81-85094-60-8)
*Mookerjee, Ajit, Kali, The Feminine Force, Destiny Books, Rochester, Vermont, 1988, (ISBN 0-89281-212-5)
*Sankaranarayanan, S., Glory of the Divine Mother (Devī Māhātmyam), Nesma Books, India, 2001. (ISBN 81-87936-00-2)
*McDaniel, June, ''Offering Flowers, Feeding Skulls: Popular Goddess Worship in West '', Published 2004, Oxford University Press - US, 368 pages, ISBN 0195167902
*McDaniel, June, ''Making Virtuous Daughters and Wives: An Introduction to Women's Brata Rituals in Benegal Folk Religion'', Published 2002, SUNY Press, 144 pages, ISBN 0791455653
* Wilkins, William Joseph, ''Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic'', Published 2004, Kessinger Publishing, 428 pages, ISBN 0766188817 (First edition: Published 1882; Thacker, Spink & co.)
[[Category:Mother goddesses]]
[[Category:Hindu goddesses]]
[[Category:Shaktism]]