Chamunda Chalisa

Salutations, Mother Chamunda, famed through the three worlds.

In the Himalaya is your holy abode; salutations to you, great power.

Sage Markandeya meditated, revealing how you appeared.

Shumbha-Nishumbha, two mighty demons, emptied the three worlds.

With wind, fire, Yama, Kubera, sun, moon, Varuna harassed.

Insulted, they came to your feet, bringing Himalaya, king of mountains.

Meditating daily on Bhadra-Raudra, they invoked conscious power.

Enraged, Kali came, displaying her play.

Chanda-Munda and Shumbha sent lustful foes to fight.

First Sugriva’s messenger was slain; fleeing Chanda too was beaten.

With billions of soldiers came smoke-eyed fury.

The instant villains roared, “Hum Hum” resounding slew them.

Armies broke in stampede; the lion tore whoever advanced.

Chanda-Munda came to kill, growling drunk on wine.

They brought fourfold armies, felling lofty camps.

You assumed wrathful form, appearing garlanded with heads.

Leopard-hide sari, mighty skeletal frame.

Dread-faced, you showed your eyes; beholding, creation trembled.

Chanda-Munda wheeled discuses, resounding “Hum” with drawn swords.

You finished the sinners, slaying both Chanda and Munda.

Smiling with heads in hand, you dismayed the sinful host.

Mother Saraswati called you; your name became Chamunda.

Hearing of Chanda-Munda’s death, Kalaka-Maurya came by chariot(?).

Billions were hurled on war’s path against Chamunda.

Fierce Chandika appeared, filling jackals’ howls.

Kali struck with skull-staff blows; Brahmani flung water-streams.

Maheshwari wheeled her trident; Mother Vaishnavi spun the discus.

Kartikeya’s power came; Narasimhi loomed over demons.

The lion devoured them pick by pick; every demon lay wounded, dismayed.

Raktabija spread illusion, showing new power.

Where blood fell on earth, new demons sprang there.

Mother Chandi now spun her lance, slaying him, drinking his blood.

Shumbha-Nishumbha rushed forth, filling foe armies.

With thunderbolts and lances they struck; all gods trembled somewhat.

She roared, then struck with fists, finishing them with the trident.

Shumbha-Nishumbha lay on the earth; all demons wept beholding.

Mother Chamunda saved dharma, building her blest temple.

All gods come celebrating; Hanuman-Bhairav wave fly-whisks.

In Ashwin-Chaitra Navratri I come, offering flag and coconut.

Bathing in the Chandera(?) river, I meditate on you, Mother Chamunda.

Blue-hued Mother Kalika, ever fierce; bearing arms in ten hands, punishing the wicked. Slaying Madhu-Kaitabha, winning dharma’s victory — end my hurdles too, if my deeds be pure.