Astha SangrahASTHA SANGRAHhttps://asthasangrah.comShumbha-Nishumbha Vadh Katha
The Shumbha-Nishumbha Vadh Katha tells how Goddess Kaushiki emerged from Goddess Parvati's own body, and how Maa Kali, born of her fury, slew the formidable demon Raktabija before finally ending both Shumbha and Nishumbha, freeing the three worlds from their tyranny.
Chapter 1 · The Manifestation of Goddess Kaushiki, and the Slaying of Chanda-Munda
Two demon brothers named Shumbha and Nishumbha pleased Lord Brahma through severe penance and obtained the boon that no man could ever defeat them. Armed with this boon, they attacked the three worlds, drove Indra and all the other gods out of heaven, and even seized the powers of the Sun, Moon, Fire, and Wind for themselves.
Driven from heaven, the gods went to the Himalaya mountain and began praising the goddess in hymns. Hearing their prayers, from the very sheath (kosha) of Goddess Parvati's body, as she came to bathe, there emerged an exceedingly radiant and beautiful goddess, who came to be called 'Kaushiki.' Once this sheath departed, Parvati herself turned dark in complexion, and from then on was also called 'Kalika.' Goddess Kaushiki took up residence on the Himalaya.
Shumbha's servants Chanda and Munda saw Goddess Kaushiki's incomparable beauty and told Shumbha about her. Enchanted, Shumbha sent his messenger Sugriva to propose marriage to her, but the goddess replied that she had taken a vow to marry only the one who could defeat her in battle. Enraged, Shumbha first sent his general Dhumralochana with an army, whom the goddess reduced to ashes with a mere roar of 'Hoom.'
Read the Durga Chalisa →Enraged at his general's death, Shumbha sent Chanda and Munda against the goddess with a vast army. Seeing this enormous demon force, Goddess Kaushiki's face darkened with fury, and from her forehead emerged the fearsome, dark-hued Goddess Kali. Maa Kali slew both Chanda and Munda and presented their heads before Goddess Kaushiki, who, pleased, gave her the name 'Chamunda.'
Chapter 2 · The Slaying of Raktabija, and the End of Shumbha-Nishumbha
Distressed by the deaths of Chanda and Munda, Shumbha sent his entire army into battle under the demon Raktabija. Raktabija possessed the boon that every drop of his blood that touched the ground would give rise to a new Raktabija equal to him in strength. When the goddess and the Matrikas, Brahmani, Vaishnavi, Maheshwari, and others, born of the other gods' powers, began wounding him, every drop of his blood spawned hundreds of new Raktabijas, filling the battlefield with countless demons.
Seeing this dire situation, Goddess Kaushiki commanded Maa Kali to spread her vast tongue and drink every drop of Raktabija's blood before it could touch the ground. The Matrikas then continued striking Raktabija, while Maa Kali drank up all his blood, so that no new Raktabija could arise. Finally, drained of blood, Raktabija fell to the ground and died.
Read the Ambe Tu Hai Jagdambe Kali Aarti →Enraged at Raktabija's death, Nishumbha himself entered the battle, but Goddess Kaushiki slew him too. Seeing his brother's death, Shumbha accused the goddess of winning the battle only with the strength of other goddesses, the Matrikas, and not alone. To this the goddess replied, 'I alone exist in this world; there is no other but me', declaring that all these Matrikas were but her own powers. So saying, she withdrew all the Matrikas back into herself, fought Shumbha alone, and slew him with her trident. Thus the three worlds were restored to the gods, and peace was established in the world.
How to Read Shumbha-Nishumbha Vadh Katha
On Navratri's Saptami or Ashtami tithi, associated with the worship of the Kalratri form, it's traditional to meditate on Maa Kali and the Chamunda form while reciting the Uttama Charitra (chapters 5 to 13) of the Durga Saptashati. This day holds special significance for tantric practice and Shakti worship.
About Shumbha-Nishumbha Vadh Katha
This story is told across two chapters. The first tells of Shumbha-Nishumbha's boon and tyranny, the manifestation of Goddess Kaushiki from Goddess Parvati's body, and how Maa Kali earned the name 'Chamunda' by slaying Chanda and Munda. The second describes Raktabija's boon, how Maa Kali drank his blood, and the slaying of Nishumbha and finally Shumbha.
This story is connected to the Uttama Charitra of the Durga Saptashati and Navratri's worship of the Kalratri form. This page presents both chapters' full text in plain Hindi, with adjustable text size and print support.
About The Markandeya Purana (Durga Saptashati)
The Shumbha-Nishumbha Vadh Katha has no single authoritative printed 'katha text', it is a well-known and widely recited Puranic legend from the Uttama Charitra (chapters 5 to 13) of the Durga Saptashati (Devi Mahatmya), part of the Markandeya Purana. The wording here has been composed independently, so it is not a word-for-word copy of any single website's or publication's text, though the sequence of events follows the Purana's well-established tradition. Note: the story of Maa Durga's manifestation and the slaying of Mahishasura, a separate episode from the Madhyama Charitra of the Durga Saptashati, is already given on its own page on this site, and is not repeated here.
Frequently asked questions
How did Goddess Kaushiki manifest?
Hearing the prayers of the gods driven from heaven, an exceedingly radiant goddess emerged from the sheath of Goddess Parvati's body, coming to be called 'Kaushiki.' Once separated from this sheath, Parvati herself came to be called 'Kalika.'
How did Maa Kali get the name Chamunda?
Seeing Chanda and Munda arrive with a vast army, Maa Kali emerged from Goddess Kaushiki's forehead. She slew both demons and presented their heads to the goddess, who, pleased, gave her the name 'Chamunda.'
How was Raktabija defeated?
Every drop of Raktabija's blood gave rise to a new Raktabija. On the goddess's command, Maa Kali drank up all his blood before it could touch the ground, preventing new Raktabijas from arising, and he died drained of blood.
What answer did the goddess give Shumbha?
When Shumbha said the goddess was winning with the strength of other goddesses, she replied that all the Matrikas were her own powers, and there was no other but her, then withdrew them into herself and slew Shumbha alone.