chamundakalidurgadevi

Yasmach Chandam Cha Mundam Cha (The Naming of Chamunda)

यस्माच्चण्डं च मुण्डं च (चामुण्डा नामकरण) in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 During Navaratri, on Ashtami, or on Tuesdays at dawn or dusk·📜 Durga Saptashati Chapter 7

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

This passage from the seventh chapter of the Durga Saptashati records the moment the Goddess receives the famous name Chamunda. After Kali beheads the demon generals Chanda and Munda and offers their heads to Chandika, the auspicious Goddess blesses her: because she seized Chanda and Munda, she shall be celebrated throughout the world as 'Chamunda'. This is the scriptural origin of one of the most revered names of the Divine Mother.

Origin & Story

Durga Saptashati Chapter 7 · Sage Markandeya (Markandeya Purana) · c. 400–600 CE (Markandeya Purana)

The demon-king Shumbha sent his generals Chanda and Munda to seize the Goddess. From Ambika's brow sprang Kali, who routed their army and beheaded both demons. Carrying their heads, Kali approached Chandika and offered them in the 'sacrifice of battle', declaring that the Goddess herself would slay Shumbha and Nishumbha. Pleased, Chandika blessed Kali with the immortal name Chamunda.

✦ As told in scripture

Devotees believe that invoking the name Chamunda, born in this verse, grants the same conquering protection that destroyed Chanda and Munda; countless shrines to Chamunda across India testify to deliverance from grave dangers attributed to this fierce name of the Mother.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

mayā tavātropahṛtau caṇḍamuṇḍau mahāpaśū yuddhayajñe svayaṃ śumbhaṃ niśumbhaṃ ca haniṣyasi

Meaning:Kali said: 'Here I have brought you Chanda and Munda, the two great beasts, as offerings in this sacrifice of battle; Shumbha and Nishumbha you shall slay yourself.' The Rishi said: Then, seeing those two great asuras Chanda and Munda brought before her, the auspicious Chandika spoke this graceful word to Kali: 'Because you have come having seized Chanda and Munda, you, O Devi, shall therefore be renowned in the world as Chamunda.'

Verse 2

ṛṣiruvāca tāvānītau tato dṛṣṭvā caṇḍamuṇḍau mahāsurau uvāca kālīṃ kalyāṇī lalitaṃ caṇḍikā vacaḥ

Verse 3

yasmāccaṇḍaṃ ca muṇḍaṃ ca gṛhītvā tvamupāgatā cāmuṇḍeti tato loke khyātā devī bhaviṣyasi

Word-by-Word Meaning

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mayā tava atra upahṛtau🔊By me, here, are brought to you as offerings

caṇḍa-muṇḍau mahā-paśū🔊Chanda and Munda, the two great beasts (sacrificial victims)

yuddha-yajñe🔊In this sacrifice of battle

svayaṃ śumbhaṃ niśumbhaṃ ca haniṣyasi🔊Shumbha and Nishumbha you shall slay yourself

ṛṣiruvāca🔊The Rishi (sage) said

tau ānītau tataḥ dṛṣṭvā🔊Then, seeing the two brought before her

caṇḍa-muṇḍau mahāsurau🔊Chanda and Munda, the two great asuras

uvāca kālīṃ kalyāṇī🔊The auspicious one (Chandika) said to Kali

lalitaṃ caṇḍikā vacaḥ🔊This graceful word, Chandika (spoke)

yasmāt caṇḍaṃ ca muṇḍaṃ ca🔊Because Chanda and Munda

gṛhītvā tvam upāgatā🔊Having seized (them), you have come

cāmuṇḍā iti tataḥ loke🔊Therefore, by the name Chamunda, in the world

khyātā devī bhaviṣyasi🔊You, O Devi, shall be renowned

Benefits of Chanting यस्माच्चण्डं च मुण्डं च (चामुण्डा नामकरण)

✦

Reveals the sacred origin of the name Chamunda, deepening devotion to the Divine Mother

✦

Invokes Chamunda, the fierce slayer of Chanda and Munda, for powerful protection

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Chanting strengthens faith that the Goddess names and rewards those who serve the right

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Recited to overcome formidable enemies, just as Chanda and Munda were vanquished

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Central to the worship of Chamunda and the Sapta-Matrika tradition

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Powerful during Navaratri and in the recitation of the seventh chapter of the Saptashati

How to Chant यस्माच्चण्डं च मुण्डं च (चामुण्डा नामकरण)

Repetitions11times

Best TimeDuring Navaratri, on Ashtami, or on Tuesdays at dawn or dusk

Begin with the Saptashati seed mantra 'Om Aim Hrim Klim Chamundayai Vichche', whose very name Chamunda arises from this episode. Chant these verses with devotion, reflecting on Kali's offering and Chandika's blessing. Recited by devotees of Chamunda and as part of the seventh chapter path of the Durga Saptashati to invoke the Goddess's fierce protective grace.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete यस्माच्चण्डं च मुण्डं च (चामुण्डा नामकरण) written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

When Kali seized and beheaded the demon generals Chanda (Chanda) and Munda and offered their heads to the Goddess, Chandika blessed her: because she had captured Chanda and Munda, she would be renowned in the world as 'Chamunda' — a name combining the two demons she slew.

Chanda and Munda were two great asura generals sent by the demon-king Shumbha to seize the Goddess. They are called 'mahapashu' (great sacrificial beasts), and Kali offered them as oblations in the 'sacrifice of battle' before the Goddess named herself Chamunda.

Chamunda is one of the most powerful and widely worshipped forms of the Devi, also counted among the Sapta-Matrikas. The Saptashati's own seed mantra ends with 'Chamundayai Vichche', so this naming verse is at the very heart of Devi worship.