Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 756: Shri Chanda Mundasura nishudini (ōṃ caṇḍamuṇḍāsuraniṣūdinyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother eliminated the asuras Chanda and Munda.

The Divine Mother is kind to Her devotee and punitive to evil doers. She thereby exhibits both Her helping and correcting aspects. She is focusing on devotees’ welfare and maturity to reach Brahman. Kama (desire) and Krodha (anger) are needed for humans, within certain limits. When Kama and Krodha limits are exceeded, deep suffering happens to humans. Kama and Krodha are inseparable like Chanda and Munda. Those who pray to the Divine Mother will win over Chanda Munda thoughts hidden within them. Chanda and Munda had crossed their limit by causing untold sufferings to others. As the correction approach was not useful for Chanda and Munda, the Divine Mother eliminated them.

Chanda and Munda came to fight with Durga Devi. On seeing them Her angry face turned red and later black. Then Her other form Kali Devi appeared and destroyed Chanda Munda. The Divine Mother was pleased and named Kali as Chamunda who the Divine Mother Herself is. Chanda is brain with intelligence, and Munda is physically strong. There are the people who cause suffering to others with their brain scheming against them. Others use their physical strength to trouble others. The Divine Mother is the one who destroys these two types of asura or evil people.

Markandeya Purana says, “O Devi, because you captured Chanda and Munda, You will be known in the world as Chamunda”.

Varaha Purana tells another story in which the Divine Mother killed the demon Ruru and because She separated his body-skin (charman) and his head (Munda) with her trident, She is called Chamunda.

The Divine Mother eliminated asuras Chanda and Munda.

 

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 19 February 2022, updated 10 May 2025.

References:

1.      The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamis AparnaSan Ramon, California, USA, with Commentary by T. V Narayana Menon

2.      Shri Lalitha Sahasranama Stostram published in Tamil by N. Ramaswami Iyer charities’ societies, Trichirapalli, India, with Commentary by C. V. Radhakrishna Sastry.

3.       The Lalitha Sahasranamam published in Tamil by Shri Ramakrishna Thapovanam, Thiruipparaithurai, Trichy District, Tamilnadu, India with commentary by Shrimath Swami Sithbavandar