Narrator:
(Spiritual chanting: AUM)
Interviewer:
Pranam (Salutations), Gurudev.
Gurudev:
Pranam, my son.
Interviewer:
Welcome, friends, to the YouTube channel Gupta Sadhak Shyama Khyapa. Many of you have been asking Gurudev in our inbox to speak on various topics. As you know, Gurudev follows your comments and feedback closely. Today's topic was requested by a devotee who wanted to know more about Maa Chamunda. So, in today's episode, Gurudev will be speaking about Maa Chamunda.
Gurudev:
The origin of Maa Chamunda is linked to Goddess Durga. When Durga was battling Mahishasura on the battlefield, the demon Raktabija arrived. Maa Durga was fighting with her eight shaktis (divine powers). These were: first, Brahmani (the power of Brahma); second, Maheshwari (the power of Shiva); third, Kaumari (the power of Kartikeya); fourth, Vaishnavi (the power of Narayana); fifth, Varahi (the boar incarnation of Narayana); sixth, Narasimhi (the man-lion incarnation); seventh, Indrani (the power of Indra); and eighth, Maa Chamunda. Maa Durga was fighting with these eight powers.
Gurudev:
After Mahishasura was slain, Raktabija entered the fray. Whenever the weapons of the eight shaktis struck Raktabija and his blood fell to the ground, millions of other Raktabijas were born. Their collective roar made the Earth tremble in terror. Seeing that it was impossible to defeat him this way, Durga called upon Maa Chamunda.
Gurudev:
Maa Chamunda appeared and asked what she must do. Durga told her, "You must kill Raktabija. Expand your form and stretch out your tongue. When we strike Raktabija with our weapons, not a single drop of his blood should fall on the ground." Chamunda agreed.
Gurudev:
Durga also told her to silence the terrifying noise of the demons. Chamunda struck the earth with her fist, and the sound of that blow was so powerful that the demons' roars were instantly silenced. Then, as the shaktis struck Raktabija, Chamunda stretched her tongue and licked up every drop of blood. Raktabija was eventually drained of blood and died.
Gurudev:
Later, the demons Chanda and Munda arrived—the last of Shumbha and Nishumbha's generals. Durga again called upon Maa Chamunda to slay them. Chamunda caught them by their hair, pulled them into the sky, and used her unique weapon, the Khatvanga, to sever their heads. She presented the two heads to Maa Durga, saying, "I offer you the heads of these two beasts." Durga was pleased and blessed her, saying, "From this day forth, you shall be known on Earth as Chamunda (the slayer of Chanda and Munda)."
Gurudev:
Chamunda is especially worshiped during Durga Puja for 48 minutes during the Sandhi Puja. This occurs during the transition between the last 24 minutes of Ashtami and the first 24 minutes of Navami. This 48-minute period is considered "no man's land." At this time, only the Adi Shakti is worshiped. 108 lotuses are offered to her, following the tradition of Lord Ramachandra, who worshiped Durga with 108 lotuses.
Gurudev:
It is said that Maa Chamunda visits the Earth for only a brief moment during these 48 minutes—specifically, the time it takes for a mustard seed to fall off a cow's horn.
Gurudev:
There is a specific description of her form used in Durga Puja: "Nilotpala-dala-shyamam, chatur-bahu-samanvitam; vichitra-khatvanga-dhara, nara-mala-vibhushanam. Dwipi-charma-paridhanam, shushka-mamsa-tibhairavam; ati-bhishanam, jihvam-ati-lolanam; nimna-arakta-nayanam, nada-purita-dik-mukham."
Gurudev:
This describes her as being dark like a blue lotus petal, with four arms, holding a Khatvanga, and adorned with a garland of human heads. She wears a leopard skin and has an extremely emaciated, skeletal body with dry skin. Her eyes are red and look downward. Her mouth is wide, and she fills the directions with her roar.
Gurudev:
In the Tantric tradition, we worship her similarly, but the mantras are different. We describe her as: "Damshtra-koti-vishankatam, suvadanām, yantra-andhakara-sthitam; khatvanga-ashani-gudham, dakshina-pasham-karam-shivām."
Gurudev:
In Tantra, her form is even more fearsome. Her "Yantra" (spiritual machine/symbol) must never be shown to sunlight; it remains in darkness. She stands with her right foot on Lord Shiva's chest, holding a trident. She is skeletal—no flesh, just a skeleton. She has mastered all desires (Kaam).
Gurudev:
Maa Chamunda loves to dance in the leaping flames of a fire. If someone chants her mantra 100,000 times (or even a tenth of that in one sitting), the Mother becomes pleased. Her appearance is skeletal, with hollow eyes, yet she is the one who has conquered all worldly desires. She is protected by Veerabhadra, who is incredibly powerful, even beyond many gods.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, you mentioned two different ways of worship—one for Durga Puja and one for Tantra. Is there a specific mantra for chanting?
Gurudev:
Yes. The mantra is: "Om Aing Hring Shring Kling Chamundayai Vichche Namah." The "Kling" is her primary seed (bija) mantra. This is how we chant to her.
Interviewer:
And you mentioned that if one chants this 100,000 times and she is pleased, what is the result?
Gurudev:
Power. You gain immense Shakti (energy/power). When the Goddess is pleased, she grants you her strength. Where else can a human get such divine energy? If the Goddess blesses you, you receive that power. It is very difficult for an ordinary person or even many practitioners to worship Chamunda correctly, but for those who do, the power is immense.
Interviewer:
Friends, you have heard in detail from Gurudev about Maa Chamunda. Keep watching the videos on our channel, Gupta Sadhak Shyama Khyapa. Please subscribe, share the videos, and like them. If there are other topics you wish to hear Gurudev speak on, please write to us. Gurudev will select topics for future episodes. Pranam, Gurudev.
Gurudev:
Pranam, pranam.
Narrator:
(Closing spiritual chanting: AUM)
Spiritual Insight
Mother Chamunda represents the fierce, skeletal aspect of the Divine Mother who has conquered all desires. Born from Durga's need to defeat the nearly-invincible demon Raktabija, she embodies the principle that sometimes the most terrifying forms of the Goddess are required to restore cosmic order. Her worship during the sacred Sandhi Puja—the transitional moment between Ashtami and Navami—reminds us that spiritual transformation often occurs in the "in-between" spaces, when we surrender our ego completely and allow the Divine to work through us.