चण्डमुण्डस्

{ caṇḍamuṇḍas }

Puranic Encyclopaedia

CAṆḌAMUṆḌAS   Two brothers born in the Asura dynasty, the elder brother being called Caṇḍa and the younger Muṇḍa. These brothers collected, like the other asura leaders Dhūmrākṣa, and Raktabīja, thousands of soldiers and lived in all pomp and glory. During this period two asura brothers called Śumbha and Niśumbha had returned from the Himālayas after securing from Brahman a boon that they would meet with their death only at the hands of a woman. Caṇḍa and Muṇḍa became their friends and attendants. Śumbha and Niśumbha set out on a triumphal tour and conquered heaven, earth and pātāla. The Devas took refuge in a forest. After wandering in the forest for a long time, at the instance of Bṛhaspati they sought asylum with Pārvatī. Pārvatī stood for sometime in deep concentration, and there emerged from her divine body Kauṣikī or Kālī. Pārvatī assured the Devas that she would kill Śumbha and Niśumbha. And, then Kālī sat alone on a rock in the thick Forest. Caṇḍa and Muṇḍa, who happened to pass that way were attracted by the great beauty of Pārvatī and imparted the news to Śumbha and Niśumbha, and they deputed Dhūmrākṣa and 60,000 soldiers to bring Pārvatī over to them; but by one huṁkāra (sound ‘hum’) she reduced them to ashes. Ultimately she killed Śumbha and Niśumbha also. [Devī Bhāgavata, Pañcama Skandha] .