2023-02-16 06:27:18 by ambuda-bot
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LALITĀ-SAHASRANĀMA
Then the narrative proceeds to describe how on
another occasion the gods prayed to her for help against
Sumbha and Nisumbha who had conquered them and
driven them from heaven. While they were thus
praying on the Himalayas, Pärvati came there to bathe
in the Ganges and asked them, "Whom are you praying
to?" At once from her own body issued forth Ambika
and said, "For me is this hymn uttered by the gods who
have been routed by Sumbha and Nisumbha " This new
goddess was surpassingly beautiful. She illumined
the whole sky with her lustre, and reports of her
presence were taken to the two demons by their servants,
Chanda and Munda. Sumbha thereupon sent a message
to her, offering her his hand in marriage. The goddess
replied that she had taken a vow that she would marry
only that hero who could vanquish her in an open fight.
So if Sumbha wanted to marry her, he should come at
once and fight with her. This challenge was joyfully
accepted by the demon and the fight began. The battle
on this occasion was much more prolonged and fierce
than the battle with Mahisa. At one stage of it, the
goddess grew so dark with rage that out of her fore-
head issued forth Käli with a terrible form, clad in a
tiger skin and wearing a garland of skulls and lolling
out her tongue for the blood of the enemy. The fight
now becomes most ghastly. Káli roams about on the
battlefield crushing the demons or devouring them or
drinking the blood of the slain, She destroys Chanda
and Munda and is rewarded by Ambikä with the title
of Chamunda. After her work is over, Kali retires again
into the body of Chandi, who thereafter single-handed
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Then the narrative proceeds to describe how on
another occasion the gods prayed to her for help against
Sumbha and Nisumbha who had conquered them and
driven them from heaven. While they were thus
praying on the Himalayas, Pärvati came there to bathe
in the Ganges and asked them, "Whom are you praying
to?" At once from her own body issued forth Ambika
and said, "For me is this hymn uttered by the gods who
have been routed by Sumbha and Nisumbha " This new
goddess was surpassingly beautiful. She illumined
the whole sky with her lustre, and reports of her
presence were taken to the two demons by their servants,
Chanda and Munda. Sumbha thereupon sent a message
to her, offering her his hand in marriage. The goddess
replied that she had taken a vow that she would marry
only that hero who could vanquish her in an open fight.
So if Sumbha wanted to marry her, he should come at
once and fight with her. This challenge was joyfully
accepted by the demon and the fight began. The battle
on this occasion was much more prolonged and fierce
than the battle with Mahisa. At one stage of it, the
goddess grew so dark with rage that out of her fore-
head issued forth Käli with a terrible form, clad in a
tiger skin and wearing a garland of skulls and lolling
out her tongue for the blood of the enemy. The fight
now becomes most ghastly. Káli roams about on the
battlefield crushing the demons or devouring them or
drinking the blood of the slain, She destroys Chanda
and Munda and is rewarded by Ambikä with the title
of Chamunda. After her work is over, Kali retires again
into the body of Chandi, who thereafter single-handed
16