Chandi

Chandi
Devanagari	चण्डी

Chandi (Sanskrit: चण्डी, Caṇḍī) or Chandika (Caṇḍīka) is the supreme Goddess of Devi Mahatmya (Sanskrit: Devīmāhātmyam, देवीमाहात्म्यम्) also known as Durga Sapthashati. Thus, The text is also called Candi. Chandi is described as the Supreme reality who is a combination of [[Maha Kali]], Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati. Later in the Murti Rahasya she is described as Maha Lakshmi with eighteen arms bearing weapons. She is called Ashtadasa Bhuja Mahalakshmi here.

Etymology

Caṇḍī or Caṇḍīika is the name by which the Supreme Goddess is referred to in Devi Mahatmya. According to Coburn, "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 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 Caṇḍa and Caṇḍī are applied to the deity they praised."

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.

Origin

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."

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.

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

• 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 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 gods with mainstream Hinduism. The concept of Candi as the supreme Goddess also underwent a change. The worship of the Goddess became heterogeneous in nature. Thus find a number of Goddesses like Abak Chandi, Basan Chandi, Baromese Chandi, Bhautta Mangal Chandi, Ghor Chandi, Mangal Chandi, Sankat Mangal Chandi and others.

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.

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, 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)