View source for Chamunda

{{short description|Hindu goddess}}
{{for multi|the village in [[Nepal]]|Chamunda, Nepal|the skipper butterfly genus|Chamunda (butterfly)}}
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{{Infobox deity<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Hindu mythology-->
| type = Hindu
| image = The Hindu Goddess Chamunda LACMA M.80.3.jpg
| caption = 14th century Nepalese sculpture of Chamunda.
| name = Chamunda
| script_name = Devanagari
| script = चामुण्डा
| Sanskrit_transliteration = {{IAST|Cāmuṇḍā}}
| affiliation = [[Adi parashakti]], [[Mahakali]], [[Parvati]]
| deity_of = [[Mahadevi]] <br/> [[Goddess]] Of [[War]] <br/>  
 [[Goddess]] Of [[Epidemic]]
| abode = Cremation grounds or fig trees
| mantra = {{IAST|oṁ aiṁ hrīṁ klīṁ cāmuṇḍāyai vicce}}
| weapon = Trident and Sword
| mount = [[Water buffalo|buffalo]]<ref name="auto">{{cite web | url=http://www.omsakthi.org/goddess/chamundi.html | title=Goddess Chamundi }}</ref><br/>or [[Dhole]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.drikpanchang.com/hindu-goddesses/parvati/matrika/sapta-matrika.html | title=Sapta Matrika &#124; 7 Matara – Seven Forms of Goddess Shakti }}</ref><br/>Corpse ([[Preta]])
| complexion = [[Red]]
| consort = [[Shiva]]
| gender = [[Female]]
}}
{{Hinduism}}
'''Chamunda''' ({{langx|sa|चामुण्डा}}, {{IAST3|Cāmuṇḍā}}), also known as '''Chamundeshwari''', '''Chamundi''' or is a [[Wrathful deity|fearsome form]] of [[Chandi]], the Hindu [[mother goddess]], [[Mahadevi]] and is one of the seven [[Matrikas]].<ref name = "W72">Wangu p.72</ref>

She is also one of the chief [[Yogini]]s, a group of sixty-four or eighty-one [[tantra|Tantric]] goddesses, who are attendants of the warrior goddess Parvati.<ref name="Wangu p.114">Wangu p.114</ref> The name is a combination of [[Chanda (monster)|Chanda]] and [[Munda (Hinduism)|Munda]], two demons whom Chamunda killed. She is closely associated with [[Mahakali]] or [[Durga]].

The goddess is often portrayed as residing in cremation grounds or near holy fig trees. The goddess is worshipped by ritual animal sacrifices along with offerings of wine. The practice of animal sacrifices has become less common with [[Vaishnavite]] influences.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Goddess Chamunda Maa: Story, History & Significance – Rudra Centre |url=https://www.rudraksha-ratna.com/articles/goddess-chamunda |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=rudraksha-ratna.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=OmniMaster |date=2020-05-25 |title=Hinduism: Shaivism |url=https://omnilogos.com/hinduism-shaivism/ |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=omnilogos.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Origins==
[[Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar]] claims that Chamunda was originally a tribal goddess, worshipped by the tribals of the [[Vindhya]] mountains range in central [[India]]. These tribes were known to offer goddesses animal as well as [[Purushamedha|human sacrifices]] along with liquor. These methods of worship were retained in Tantric worship of Chamunda, after its assimilation into mainstream Hinduism. He proposes the fierce nature of this goddess is due to her association with [[Rudra]] or ([[Shiva]]), identified with the fire god [[Agni]] at times.<ref>''Vaisnavism Saivism and Minor Religious Systems'' By Ramkrishna G. Bhandarkar, p.205, Published 1995, Asian Educational Services, {{ISBN|81-206-0122-X}}</ref> Wangu also backs the theory of the tribal origins of the goddess.<ref>Wangu p.174</ref>

==Iconography==
In  early representations of Chamunda, she is given a ferocious visage, but with a feminine figure and elegant features. However, in later representations she is generally depicted as a skeletal old women wearing an elephant or tiger hide. She is shown to have sunken eyes, dishevelled hair. 

Chandi or Chamunda is depicted as black or red, she wearing a garland of severed heads or Skulls  called (''[[Mundamala]]''). She has up to twelve arms. She holds a [[Damaru]] (drum), [[trishula]] (trident), sword, snake,a skull mace
([[khatvanga]]), thunderbolt, a severed head and ''panapatra'' (drinking vessel) or a''skull-bowl''
([[kapala]]) in her hands. She is standing or sitting upon a 'shava' or corpse or sitting on a 'preta' or vanquished demon.

She is often depicted in a terrifying manner: her skull-bowl is filled with blood. She has a skeletal body with three eyes. Her face is fearsome with protruding teeth and long nails. . Her breasts are shown sagging down with a sunken belly. She is adorned with ornaments made of Bones, skulls, snakes, scorpions,She also wears a ''Yajnopavita'' (sacred thread) of skulls.Her headdress is ''jata makuta'', matted hair tied with snakes. Sometimes you can see a crescent moon, on in her head.

* Kinsley p. 147, 156. Descriptions as per Devi Mahatmya, verses 8.11-20
* {{cite web |url= http://museums.ap.nic.in/sapta.html|title= Sapta Matrikas (12th C AD)|access-date=2008-01-08 | publisher= Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Andhra Pradesh |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070701121832/http://museums.ap.nic.in/sapta.html |archive-date = July 1, 2007}}
* {{cite web|url = https://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/asia/s/sandstone_figure_of_chamunda.aspx|last= Donaldson |first= T. |title = Chamunda, The fierce, protective eight-armed mother.|publisher = British Museum}}
* "Chamunda, the Horrific Destroyer of Evil [India, Madhya Pradesh] (1989.121)". In Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. [http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ho/07/ssn/ho_1989.121.htm] (October 2006)
* Kalia, pp.106–109.<ref name = "anistor">{{cite web |url= http://www.anistor.gr/english/enback/Saptmatrika.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505020416/http://www.anistor.gr/english/enback/Saptmatrika.pdf |archive-date=2010-05-05 |url-status=live|title= Sapta Matrikas In Indian Art and their significance in Indian Sculpture and Ethos: A Critical Study|access-date=2008-01-08 |last= Goswami|first= Meghali|author2=Gupta, Ila |author3=Jha, P. |date=March 2005|work= Anistoriton Journal|publisher= Anistoriton}} "Anistoriton is an electronic Journal of History, Archaeology and ArtHistory. It publishes scholarly papers since 1997 and it is freely available on the Internet. All papers and images since vol. 1 (1997) are available on line as well as on the free Anistorion CD-ROM edition."</ref> Her eye sockets are described as setting the world ablaze with flames. She is accompanied by spirits.<ref name="anistor"/><ref name="Kinsley p.147">Kinsley p.147</ref> 

She is accompanied by demons and [[goblins]]. She is also shown to be surrounded by skeletons, ghosts and beasts like jackals, who are shown eating the flesh of the corpse the goddess sits or stands on. The jackals and her fearsome companions are sometimes depicted as drinking blood from her skull cup or the severed head she is holding, implying that Chamunda drinks the blood of the defeated enemies.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.nortonsimon.org/guide_item.aspx?id=470&item=chamunda|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061003135311/http://www.nortonsimon.org/guide_item.aspx?id=470&item=chamunda|url-status = dead|archive-date = 2006-10-03|title = Durga: Avenging Goddess, Nurturing Mother ch.3, Chamunda|publisher = Norton Simon Museum}}</ref> This quality of drinking blood is a characteristic of all Matrikas, and Chamunda in particular.  At times, she is depicted seated on an owl,  or a [[Water buffalo|buffalo]]  
,<ref name="auto"/> or [[Dhole]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.drikpanchang.com/hindu-goddesses/parvati/matrika/sapta-matrika.html | title=Sapta Matrika &#124; 7 Matara - Seven Forms of Goddess Shakti }}</ref> Her banner figures an eagle.<ref name ="anistor"/>

These characteristics, a contrast to the typical depictions of Hindu goddesses with beautiful faces, symbolise the inevitability of old age, death, decay and destruction.<ref>Wangu p.94</ref> Chamunda is often seen as a form of Kali. She appears as a frightening old woman,  projecting fear and horror.<ref name="art-and-archaeology.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/india/jagat/jagat13.html|title = Ancient India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/asianartglossary.html#chamunda|title = Glossary of Asian Art}}</ref>

==Legends==
[[Image:Chamunda.jpg|thumb|Chamunda, 11th-12th century, [[National Museum]], [[Delhi]]. The ten-armed Chamunda is seated on a corpse, wearing a necklace of severed heads.|left|381x381px]]
[[Image:Ashta-Matrika.jpg|thumb|350px|The Goddess [[Ambika (goddess)|Ambika]] (here identified with: Durga or [[Chandi]]) leading the Eight Matrikas in Battle Against the Demon [[Raktabīja]], Folio from a ''[[Devi Mahatmya]]'' - (top row, from the left) Narasimhi, Vaishnavi, Kumari, Maheshvari, Brahmi. (bottom row, from left) Varahi, Aindri  and Ambika. Chamunda drinking the blood of demons (on right) arising from Raktabīja's blood]]
[[File:The Great Goddess in Her Chamunda Form.jpg|thumb|The Great Goddess in Her Chamunda Form. [[Mughal painting|Mughal]] miniature, possibly from a scroll of the ''[[Devi Mahatmya]]'', c. 1565-1575. [[Government Museum and Art Gallery, Chandigarh]]]]
[[File:Chamunda Sculpture.jpg|alt=Chamunda sculpture from Rajshahi.|thumb|Chamunda sculpture from Rajshahi at [[Asian Civilisations Museum]], schist, 11th century CE. The goddess is standing on a young boy and two kankala (skeletal) figures.]] According to   ''[[Devi Mahatmya]]'', Chamunda emerged from middle of eyebrows of goddess ''[[Kaushiki]]'', a goddess created from the "sheath" of Durga and was assigned the task of eliminating the demons Chanda and Munda, servants  of demon kings [[Sumbha and Nisumbha|Shumbha-Nisumbha]]. She fought a fierce battle with the demons, ultimately killing them.<ref name=Madan>{{cite book|title=India through the ages|url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada|last=Gopal|first=Madan|year= 1990| page= [https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/81 81]|editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref>

According to a later episode of the ''Devi Mahatmya'', Durga created [[Matrikas]] from herself and with their help slaughtered the demon army of Shumbha-Nishumbha. In this version, [[Kali]] is described as a Matrika who sucked all the blood of the demon [[Raktabīja]], from whose blood drop rose another demon. Kali is given the epithet Chamunda in the text.<ref>Kinsley p. 158, Devi Mahatmya verses 10.2-5</ref> Thus, the Devi Mahatmya identifies Chamunda with Kali.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asia.si.edu/devi/kali.htm|title=Devi: The Great Goddess|website=www.asia.si.edu|access-date=2017-05-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609232149/http://www.asia.si.edu/devi/kali.htm|archive-date=2017-06-09|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the ''[[Varaha Purana]]'', the story of Raktabija is retold, but here each of Matrikas appears from the body of another Matrika. Chamunda appears from the foot of the lion-headed goddess [[Pratyangira|Narasimhi]]. Here, Chamunda is considered a representation of the vice of tale-telling (''pasunya''). The Varaha Purana text mentions two separate goddesses Chamunda and Kali, unlike Devi Mahatmya.<ref name="anistor"/>

According to another legend, Chamunda appeared from the frown of the benign goddess [[Parvati]] to kill demons Chanda and Munda. Here, Chamunda is viewed as a form of Parvati.<ref name="Moor p.118">Moor p.118</ref>

The ''[[Matsya Purana]]'' tells a different story of Chamunda's origins. She with other matrikas was created by Shiva to help him kill the demon [[Andhaka]]sura, who has an ability - like Raktabīja - to generate from his dripping blood. Chamunda with the other matrikas drinks the blood of the demon ultimately helping Shiva kill him.<ref name="anistor"/> [[Ratnākara]], in his text ''[[Haravijaya]]'', also describes this feat of Chamunda, but solely credits Chamunda, not the other matrikas for sipping the blood of Andhaka. Having drunk the blood, Chamunda's complexion changed to blood-red.<ref>Handelman pp.132–33</ref> The text further says that Chamunda dances destruction, playing a musical instrument whose shaft is [[Mount Meru (mythology)|Mount Meru]], the string is the cosmic snake [[Shesha]] and the gourd is the crescent moon. She plays the instrument during the deluge that drowns the world.<ref name="Kinsley p.147"/>

==Association with Matrikas==
[[File:WLA lacma Hindu Goddess Chamunda West Bengal.jpg|left|thumb|Chamunda, LACMA, Bengal, 11th century AD India.]]
Chamunda is one of the saptamatrikas or Seven Mothers. The [[Matrika]]s are fearsome mother goddesses, abductors and eaters of children; that is, they were emblematic of childhood pestilence, fever, starvation, and disease. They were propitiated to avoid those ills, that carried off so many children before they reached adulthood.<ref name="art-and-archaeology.com"/>
Chamunda is included in the ''Saptamatrika'' (seven Matrikas or mothers) lists in the Hindu texts like the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' (Chapter 'Vana-parva'), the ''[[Devi Purana]]'' and the ''[[Vishnudharmottara Purana]]''. She is often depicted in the Saptamatrika group in sculptures, examples of which are [[Ellora Caves|Ellora]] and [[Elephanta Caves|Elephanta]] caves. Though she is always portrayed last (rightmost) in the group, she is sometimes referred to as the leader of the group.<ref>Handelman p.118</ref> While other Matrikas are considered as [[Shakti]]s (powers) of male divinities and resemble them in their appearance, Chamunda is the only Matrika who is a Shakti of the great Goddess [[Mahadevi|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.<ref name = K241>Kinsley p.241 Footnotes</ref>

The ''Devi Purana'' describes a pentad of Matrikas who help [[Ganesha]] to kill demons.<ref>Pal in Singh p.1840, Chapters 111-116</ref> Further, sage [[Mandavya]] is described as worshipping the ''Māṭrpaňcaka'' (the five mothers), Chamunda being one of them. The mothers are described as established by  the creator god [[Brahma]] for saving King [[Harishchandra]] from calamities.<ref>Pal in Singh p.1840, Chapter 116(82-86)</ref> Apart from the usual meaning of Chamunda as the slayer of demons Chanda and Munda, the ''Devi Purana'' gives a different explanation: ''Chanda'' means terrible while ''Munda'' stands for Brahma's head or lord or husband.<ref>Pal p.1844</ref>

In the ''Vishnudharmottara Purana'' - where the Matrikas are compared to vices - Chamunda is considered a manifestation of depravity.<ref>Kinsley p. 159</ref> Every matrika is considered the guardian of a direction. Chamunda is assigned the direction of south-west.<ref name="Moor p.118"/>

'''Chamunda''', being a Matrika, is considered one of the chief [[Yogini]]s, who are considered to be daughters or manifestations of the Matrikas. In the context of a group of sixty-four yoginis, 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.<ref name="Wangu p.114"/>

==Worship==
{{More citations needed section|date=July 2021}}
[[File:Eight-armed goddess Chamunda.jpg|thumb|120px|9th century statue of goddess Chamunda at the British Museum.]]
A South Indian inscription describes ritual sacrifices of sheep to Chamunda.<ref>Kinsley p.146</ref> In [[Bhavabhuti]]'s eighth-century Sanskrit play, Malatimadhva describes a devotee of the goddess trying to sacrifice the heroine to Chamunda's temple, near a cremation ground, where the goddess temple is.<ref>Kinsley p.117</ref> A stone inscription at Gangadhar, [[Rajasthan]], deals with the construction of a shrine to Chamunda and the other Matrikas, "who are attended by [[Dakini]]s" (female demons) and rituals of daily Tantric worship (''Tantrobhuta'') like the ritual of ''Bali'' (offering of grain).<ref>Joshi, M.C. in Harper and Brown, p.48</ref> Chamunda puja is a part of Sandhi Puja, a key ritual during Durga Puja. During Sandhi Puja, which takes place between the final 24 minutes of Ashtami and the first 24 minutes of Nabami, Goddess Durga is worshipped in her Chamunda form. 
===Temples===
Chamunda mata mandir chotila on the up hill
[[File:Baitala Deula Bhubaneswar 15.jpg|thumb|8th-century ''[[Baitala Deula]]'' in [[Bhubaneswar]], [[Odisha]] dedicated to Chamunda]]
[[Image:Chamundi-hills.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Chamundeshwari Temple]] in [[Mysuru]], [[Karnataka]]]]
[[Image:Chamunda Devi Temple Jodhpur.jpg|thumb|upright|Jodhpur temple]]

* In the [[Kangra district]] of [[Himachal Pradesh]], around {{convert|10|km|mi}} west of [[Palampur]], is the renowned Chamunda Devi Temple which depicts scenes from the Devi Mahatmya, the [[Ramayana]] and the [[Mahabharata]]. The goddess's image is flanked by the images of [[Hanuman]] and [[Bhairava]]. Another temple, Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham, also found in Kangra, is dedicated to Shiva and Chamunda. According to a legend, Chamunda was enshrined as chief deity "Rudra Chamunda", in the battle between the demon [[Jalandhara]] and Shiva.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}
* In [[Gujarat]], two Chamunda shrines are on the hills of [[Chotila]] and [[Parnera]].
* There are multiple Chamunda temples in Odisha. The 8th-century [[Baitala Deula]] is the most prominent of them, also one of the earliest temples in Bhubaneswar. The Mohini temple and Chitrakarini temple in Bhubaneswar are also dedicated to Chamunda. [[Kichakeshwari Temple]], near [[Baripada]]; and [[Charchika Temple]], near [[Banki, Odisha|Banki]], enshrine forms of Chamunda.<ref name="Orissa Review">{{cite journal |last1=Ghadai |first1=Balabhadra |title=Goddess Kichakeswari Temple at Khiching |journal=Orissa Review |date=September–October 2011 |page=27 |url=https://magazines.odisha.gov.in/Orissareview/2011/sep-oct/sep-octreview.htm}}</ref><ref name="Dinesh Das">{{cite news |last1=Das |first1=Dinesh |title=Charchika shrine an old Shakti Peeth in State |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2016/state-editions/charchika-shrine-an-old-shakti-peeth-in-state.html |access-date=21 March 2024 |work=The Pioneer |date=10 October 2016}}</ref>
* Another temple is [[Chamundeshwari Temple]] on [[Chamundi Hill]], [[Mysore]]. Here, the goddess is identified with Durga, who killed the buffalo demon, [[Mahishasura]]. Chamundeshwari or Durga, the fierce form of [[Shakti]], a tutelary deity held in reverence for centuries by the [[Maharaja of Mysore]].
* The Chamunda Mataji temple in [[Mehrangarh Fort]], [[Jodhpur]], was established in 1460 after the idol of the goddess Chamunda — the Kuladevi and [[Iṣṭa-devatā (Hinduism)|iṣṭa-devatā]] ([[tutelary deity]]) of the [[Parihar (clan)|Parihar]] rulers — was moved from the old capital of [[Mandore]] by the then-ruler [[Jodha of Mandore]]. The goddess is still worshiped by the royal family of Jodhpur and other citizens of the city. The temple witnesses festivities in [[Vijayadashami|Dussehra]]: the festival of the goddess.
* Another temple, Sri Chamundeshwari Kshetram is near [[Andole–Jogipet|Jogipet]], in [[Medak]] District in [[Telangana]] State.
*Sree Shakthan Kulangara temple is one of the [[Chamundeshwari Temple|Chamundeshwari]] temples. It is located in [[Koyilandy]], [[Kozhikode]] District in [[Kerala]].
*One Chamunda Mata temple is situated in [[Dewas]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], It is situated on a hilltop named [[Dewas Tekri|Tekri]] above 300 feet. Chamunda Mata in Dewas is also called Choti Mata (the younger sister of Tulja Mata, situated at the same hilltop).<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of Chamunda Tekri is centuries old|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/history-of-chamunda-tekri-is-centuries-old|access-date=2022-01-05|website=Free Press Journal|language=en}}</ref>

===In Buddhism===
In [[Vajrayana Buddhism]], Chamunda is associated with [[Palden Lhamo]]. She is seen as a wrathful form of Kali and is a consort of [[Mahakala]] and protectress of the [[Dalai Lama]] and [[Panchen Lama]] of the [[Gelug]] school.<ref>{{cite web |last=Srivastava |first=Sonal |url=https://www.speakingtree.in/article/The-Goddess-Sutra/m-lite |title=The Goddess Sutra |quote=“Chamunda is a form of Kali; she is protector, just like Palden Lhamo in Tibetan Buddhism,” says Tsundu Dolma, a student of Tibetan Medicine, I’d met at an interfaith tour earlier in Karnataka. Palden Lhamo is protector of Buddha’s teachings in the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. She is Mahakala’s consort and venerated as guardian deity of Tibet, the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lamas. |date=10 July 2011 |access-date=13 December 2022}}</ref>

===In Jainism===
{{Main article|Ratnaprabhasuri|Mahavira Jain temple, Osian|Sachiya Mata Temple}}

Early [[Jain]]s were dismissive of Chamunda, the goddess who demanded blood sacrifice - which is against the primary principle of Ahimsa of Jainism. Some Jain legends portray Chamunda as a goddess defeated by Jain monks like Jinadatta and Jinaprabhasuri. However, the most popular legend is of [[Ratnaprabhasuri]].<ref>''Encyclopaedia of Jainism'' By Narendra Singh, Published 2001, Anmol Publications PVT. LTD., {{ISBN|8126106913}}, p.705</ref>

Another Jain legend tells the story of the conversion of Chamunda into a Jain goddess. According to this story, Chamunda sculpted the [[Mahavir]] image for the temple in [[Osian, Jodhpur|Osian]] and was happy with the conversion of Hindus to Jainism and the subsequent renaming of their clan to [[Oswal]]. At the time of [[Navaratri]], a festival that celebrates the Hindu Divine Mother, Chamunda expected animal sacrifices from Jains. The Jains, however, were unable to meet her demand. Jain monk [[Ratnaprabhasuri]] intervened and preached to her, and as a result, Chamunda accepted vegetarian offerings, forgoing her demand for meat and liquor. [[Ratnaprabhasuri]] further named her ''[[Sachiya Mata Temple|Sacciya]]'', one who had told the truth, as Chamunda had told him the truth that a rainy season stay in Osian was beneficial for him. She also became the protective goddess of the temple and remained the clan goddess of the Osvals. The [[Sachiya Mata Temple]] in Osian was built in her honour by Jains.<ref>Babb, Lawrence A. ''Alchemies of Violence: Myths of Identity and the Life of Trade in Western India'', Published 2004, 254 pages, {{ISBN|0761932232}} pp.168–9, 177-178.</ref> Some Jain scriptures warn of dire consequences of worship of Chamunda by the Hindu rites and rituals.<ref>''Encyclopaedia of Jainism'' By Narendra Singh p.698</ref> Many [[Kshatriya]]s and even the [[Jain community]] worship her as her [[Kuladevata|Kuladevi]] and ''samyaktvi'' demi-goddess as per Jain rituals.

==See also==
* [[Mahakali]]
* [[Maheshvari]]
* [[Tridevi]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{commons category|Chamunda}}
* Wangu, Madhu Bazaz (2003). ''Images of Indian Goddesses''. Abhinav Publications. 280 pages. {{ISBN|81-7017-416-3}}.
* Pal, P. The Mother Goddesses According to the Devipurana in Singh, Nagendra Kumar, ''Encyclopaedia of Hinduism'', Published 1997, Anmol Publications PVT. LTD.,{{ISBN|81-7488-168-9}}
* Kinsley, David (1988). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=hgTOZEyrVtIC Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Traditions].'' University of California Press. {{ISBN|0-520-06339-2}}
* Kalia, Asha (1982). ''Art of Osian Temples: Socio-Economic and Religious Life in India, 8th-12th Centuries A.D.'' Abhinav Publications. {{ISBN|0-391-02558-9}}.
* Handelman, Don. with Berkson Carmel (1997). ''God Inside Out: Siva's Game of Dice'', Oxford University Press US. {{ISBN|0-19-510844-2}}
* Moor, Edward (1999). ''The Hindu Pantheon'', Asian Educational Services, {{ISBN|81-206-0237-4}}. First published: 1810.

==External links==
* [http://www.shriosiyamataji.org/ Shri Sachchiyay Mataji (Shri Osiya Mataji) A form (avatar) of Chamunda Devi]
* [http://www.culturalindia.net/indian-temples/chamunda-devi-temple.html Chamunda Devi Temple (Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham), Himachal Pradesh]

{{Shaktism}}

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[[Category:Hindu goddesses]]
[[Category:Forms of Parvati]]
[[Category:War goddesses]]
[[Category:Jain minor deities]]
[[Category:Folk deities of Rajasthan]]