See soorce fer Chandi

{{about||the Movie/Film|Chandee|the toun in Indie|Chandi, Bihar}}
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{{Infobox deity<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Hindu mythology-->
| type = Hindu
| image =Cuttack_Chandi.jpg 
| caption = Chandi - [[Cuttack]], [[Orissa]], India
| name = Chandi 
| Devanagari = चण्डी   
| Sanskrit_transliteration = {{IAST|Caṇḍī}}   
| affiliation = [[Devi]] 
| consort = [[Shiva]]
| mantra = ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे<br />{{IAST|oṁ aiṁ hrīṁ klīṁ cāmuṇḍāyai vicce}}
| mount = [[Teeger]]
}}

'''Chandi''' ([[Sanskrit]]: {{lang|sa|चण्डी}}, {{IAST|Caṇḍī}}) or '''Chandika''' or '''Ran-Chandi''' ({{IAST|Caṇḍīka}}) is the supreme Goddess o [[Devi Mahatmya]] (Sanskrit: Devīmāhātmyam, देवीमाहात्म्यम्) kent as '''[[Chamunda]]''' or [[Durga]] an aw as mentioned in ''[[Durga Saptashati]]''.

==Etymologie==
{{IAST|Caṇḍī}} or {{IAST|Caṇḍīika}} is the name bi which the Supreme Goddess is referred tae in Devi Mahatmya. Accordin tae Coburn, "{{IAST|Caṇḍīika}} is "the violent an impetuous ane". In the licht o the primacy o this designation o the goddess, it is strikin that the wird {{IAST|Caṇḍīka}} haes virtually nae earlier history in Sanskrit. Thare are nae instances o its
occurrence in the Vedic leeteratur we hae surveyed. The epics are similarly barren: neither the Ramayana nor the Mahabharata gie evidence o the [[epithet]], awtho in ane o the hymns insertit in the latter {{IAST|Caṇḍa}} an {{IAST|Caṇḍī}} are applee'd tae the deity thay praised."<ref>Coburn, Thomas B., Devī Māhātmya. p. 95</ref>

The designation o Chandi or Chandika is used twenty-nine times in the Devi Mahatmya, which is agreed bi mony scholars tae hae haed oreeginatit in Bengal, the primar seat o the [[Shakta]] or Goddess tradeetion an [[tantra|tantric]] sadhana syne auncient times. It is the maist common epithet uised for the Goddess. In Devi Mahatmya, Chandi, Chandika, Ambika an [[Durga]] hae been uised synonymously.<ref>Coburn, Thomas B., Devī Māhātmya.</ref>

Goddess Chandi is associatit wi the 9 lettered Navakshari Mantra. It is cried Navarna Mantra or Navavarna Mantra an aw. It is ane o the principal mantras in Shakti Worship apairt frae the Sri Vidhya Mantras. It customar tae chant this mantra when chantin the [[Devi Mahatmya]].

==Legends==
The oreegin o the goddess is gien in the seicont chapter o [[Devi Mahatmya]]. Thare are various mair stories regardin the incarnation o Devi Chandi  .

She is considered as [[Kaatyayini]] ([[Durga]]) itsel, who haed killed [[Mahishasura]] as well as Shumbha Nishumbha [http://stotraratna.awardspace.com/sruthi/katha/k7.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120903213010/http://stotraratna.awardspace.com/sruthi/katha/k7.pdf |date=2012-09-03 }} "The great Goddess wis born frae the energies o the male divinities when the gods became impotent in the lang-drawn-oot battle wi the [[asuras]]. Aw the energies o the Gods became unitit an became supernova, throwin oot flames in aw directions. Then that unique licht, pervadin the Three Worlds wi its lustre, combined intae ane, an became a female form."

"The [[Devi]] projectit an owerwhelmin omnipotence. The three-eyed goddess wis adorned wi the crescent muin. Her multiple airms held auspicious weapons an emblems, jewels an ornaments, garments an utensils, garlands an rosaries o beads, aw affered bi the gods. Wi her gowden bouk blazin wi the splendour o a thoosan suns, seatit on her lion
vehicle, Chandi is ane o the maist spectacular o aw personifications o Cosmic energy." <ref>Mookerjee, Ajit, Kali, The Feminine Force, p 49</ref>

In ither scriptures, Chandi is portrayed as "assistin" [[Kali]] in her battle wi demon [[Raktabija]]. While Kali drank Raktabija's bluid, which creatit new demons frae his awn bluid on fawin on the grund; Chandi wad destroy the airmies o demons creatit frae his bluid an feenally killed Raktabija hissel.<ref>Wilkins p.255-7</ref> In [[Skanda Purana]], this story is retauld an anither story o Chandi killin demons Chanda an Manda is addit.<ref>Wilkins p.260</ref>

Accordin tae [[Markandeya Purana]], when [[Indra]] an the ither gods war praying tae Goddess Mahasaraswati, tae gie them relief frae the atrocities o Demons Shumbha an Nishumbha, Goddess [[Parvati]] ([[Maha Gauri]]) happened tae hear thair prayers. Oot o curiosity, She asked them that whom are thay addressing tae in thair prayers. Frae the body o the Goddess, a female came intae existence an that wis Devi Chandika. Chandika wis an aa addressed as Ambika. Her actual name is believed tae be Chandraghanta, ane o the nine forms o Durga i.e. ane o the Navdurgas. She haes a third ee, throu the eyebrows o which, Goddess [[Chamunda]] haed manifested tae kill demons Chand an Mund; an later, the great demon Rakthbeej too, wis killed bi Kali. Chandika haed slain demons Dumralochan, Shumbha an Nishumbha. 
<br />Accordin tae [[Matsya Purana]] an as shawn in ane o the best kent Indian TV serials [[Om Namah Shivay (TV series)|Om Namah Shivaya]][http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOT4h6a3QvY], Goddess [[Parvati]] haed done penance tae please Lord [[Brahma]]. And as a reward for the penance, She requested for the recovery o her fair complexion, as She haed acome dark bi [[Shiva]]'s magic. Brahma gae the desired boon an the darkness o the Goddess got separated frae her an teuk the form o anither Goddess. That Goddess wis considered as the dochter o Parvati an as she haed taken birth frae the Kaushik (dark cell) o her mither, she wis named Kaushiki [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzsrEH5dbco&feature=fvwrel]. Kaushiki haed incarnated for the killin o the demons Shumbha an Nishumbha, who haed got a boon that thay wad be killed bi anjanmi (unborn) girl. And as Kaushiki haed nae taken ony biological birth frae her mither, She wis the Ajanma girl accordin tae the boon; an an aa she haed supernatural powers, bein the dochter o Goddess [[Shakti]] i.e. [[Parvati]]. Parvati, bein a concerned mither, teuk pairt in the war against the demons. Henceforth, Parvati incarnated as Chandika, [[Chamunda]] an [[Kali]]ka tae kill the demons Dumralochan, Chanda & Munda an Rakthbeej respectively. Thir demons war sent bi Shumbha an Nishumbha, who war finally killed bi Kaushiki in her divine form. 
<br />
It is believit that the extremely white skined bonnie goddess [[Kaushiki]] came intae existence frae Maha Gauri Parvati an aw. Due tae this, Parvati turned dark. Goddesses [[Lakshmi]] an [[Saraswati]] appeared thare an bestoued thair pouers tae Parvati. Hence, Parvati got transformit intae Goddess Chandika, who firstly killed the demons that creatit havoc aw ower the yird. Then, She assisted Kaushiki in the war against Shumbh-Nishumbh. Chandika confrontit the demons Chand an Mund sent bi Shumbh an Nisumbh, during which Goddess [[Chamunda]] manefisted frae the eyebrous o her third ee, who killed Chand an Mund. Later, Chandika killed Nishumbh an then while battlin the great demon Rakthbeej, Chandika transformit in Mahakali tae kill the demon bi drinkin his bluid. Hence, Chandika is considered as [[Parvati]], [[Kali]] an [[Chamunda]] an is considered as the mither o [[Kaushiki]] an aw.

==Chandi Homa (Havan)==

Chandi Homa is ane o the maist popular Homas in [[Hindu]] releegion. It is performit athort Indie durin various festivals, especially durin the [[Navaratri]]. Chandi Homa is performit bi recitin verses frae the Durga Sapthasathi an afferin oblations intae the sacrificial fire. It coud be accompaniet bi the Navakshari Mantra an aw. Kumari Puja, Suvasini Puja form a pairt o the ritual an aw.

==Iconografie==
[[File:Sandi Dewi (Chandi) Nat.jpg|thumb|A [[Burma|Burmese]] portrayal o Chandi (Sandi Dewi).]]
[[File:Godess Durga painting.JPG|thumb|An Indie iconografie in benevolent form o Chandi kent as [[Durga]] an aw.]]
The dhyana sloka precedin the Middle episode o Devi Mahatmya the iconographic details are gien. The Goddess is describit as aichteen airmit bearin string o beads, battle axe, mace, arrae, thunnerbolt, lotus, bow, watter-pot, cudgel, lance, swuird, shield, conch, bell, wine-cup, trident, noose an the discus (sudarsana). She haes a complexion o coral an is seatit on a lotus.<ref>Sankaranarayanan. S., Devi Mahatmyam, P 148.</ref>

In some temples the images o Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi, an Maha Saraswati are kept separately. The Goddess is portrayed as fower airmit in mony temples.

==Temples==
Temples devotit tae Chandi are locatit in mony places includin the follaein:

[[Image:Chandi Devi Mandir,Haridwar.JPG|right|thumb|300px|Chandi Devi Mandir,Haridwar]]
* Gandaki Chandi, Gandaki near [[Pokhara]], Nepal. ([[Shakti Peethas]])
* Mangal Chandika, Ujjaani, Wast Bengal. ([[Shakti Peethas]])
* [[Saptashrangi]] Temple, [[Vani]], (Maharashtra). (Ashtadasa Bhuja Mahalakshmi)
* [[Mahalakshmi Temple, Mumbai|Mahalaxmi Temple]], Mumbai (Maharashtra). (Three separate images).
* [[Hemadpanthi]] Chandika Devi Mandir, [[Katol]] (Maharashtra).
* [[Vaishno Devi]] temple, Khatra, Jammu an Kashmir. (Three Pindas (stanes)).
* [[Katak Chandi Temple]], [[Cuttack]], [[Odisha]]. (Fower airmit).
* Mangal Chandi temple, [[Guwahati]], [[Assam]].
* Mangal Chandi temple, Chandithala, [[Kolkata]].
* [[Chandi Devi Temple, Haridwar|Chandi Devi Temple]], Neel Parvat, [[Haridwar]] <ref>[http://www.blessingsonthenet.com/newtemple/temple.asp?serialno=1&tempid=T027&desctitle=Introduction Chandi Devi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060505210454/http://www.blessingsonthenet.com/newtemple/temple.asp?serialno=1&tempid=T027&desctitle=Introduction |date=2006-05-05 }} Haridwar.</ref>
* [[Chandi Mandir]], [[Chandigarh]]. The ceety o Chandigarh (lit. "fort of Chandi") derives its name frae this temple.
* [[Chandi Mata Mandir Machail]], [[Kishtwar,J&K]] Sphire glen Paddar
* [[Chandi Mata Mandir Chinnot]], [[Badherwah,J&K]]
* [[Anandavalli Temple, Panchetti, Gummudipoondi, Chennai]] - The Durga Sapthasathi yantra haes been instawed bi Sage [[Agastya]] in this temple.
*[[Hedavde Mahalaxmi Mata, Maharashtra]]
* Chandika Devi Mandir, [[Malgund]], (Ratnagiri) (Maharashtra) *Short drive fraethe famous Ganpatipule Mandir.
* Maa MangalChandi mandir (sagarbhanga, Durgapur)

==In fowklear o Bengal==
Chandi is one of the most popular folk deities in [[Bengal]], an a nummer o poems an leeterar componitions in Bengali cried ''Chandi Mangala Kavyas'' wur written frae 13t century tae early 19t century. Thir haed the effect o mergin the local fowk an tribal goddesses wi mainstream
Hinduism. The ''Mangal kavyas'' aften associate Chandi wi goddess [[Kali]] or Kalika.<ref>McDaniel(2004) p.21</ref> an recognise her as a consort o [[Shiva]] an mither o [[Ganesha]] an [[Kartikeya]], which are characteristics o goddesses lik [[Parvati]] an [[Durga]].<ref>McDaniel(2004) pp. 149-150</ref> The concept of Chandi as the supreme Goddess underwent a change an aw. The worship of the goddess became heterogeneous in nature.

Chandi is associated with good fortune as well as disaster. Her auspicious forms like ''Mangal Chandi'', ''Sankat Mangal Chandi'', ''Rana Chandi'' bestow joy, riches, childer, guid huntin an victory in battles while ither forms lik ''[[Oladevi|Olai Chandi]]'' cur diseases lik cholera, plague an cattle diseases.<ref>McDaniel(2002) pp. 9-11</ref>
   
Thir are amaist aw village an tribal goddesses wi the name o the veelage or tribe bein addit ontae the name Chandi. The most important o thir goddesses is Mangol Chandi who is worshippit in the entire state an in Assam an aw. Here the wird "Mangol" means auspicious or benign.<ref>Manna, Sibendu, Mother Goddess, {{IAST|Chaṇḍī}}, pp. 100-110</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}

==References==
*Coburn, Thomas B., "Devī Māhātmya, The Crystallization of the Goddess Tradition", South Asia Beuks, 2002. (ISBN 81-208-0557-7)
*Manna, Sibendu, Mother Goddess, {{IAST|Chaṇḍī}}, Punthi Pustak, Calcutta, Indie, 1993. (ISBN 81-85094-60-8)
*Mookerjee, Ajit, Kali, The Feminine Force, Destiny Beuks, Rochester, Vermont, 1988, (ISBN 0-89281-212-5)
*Sankaranarayanan, S., Glory o the Divine Mother (Devī Māhātmyam), Nesma Beuks, Indie, 2001. (ISBN 81-87936-00-2)
*McDaniel, Juin, ''Offering Flowers, Feeding Skulls: Popular Goddess Worship in West '', Published 2004, Oxford Varsity Press - US, 368 pages, ISBN 0-19-516790-2
*McDaniel, Juin, ''Making Virtuous Daughters and Wives: An Introduction to Women's Brata Rituals in Benegal Folk Religion'', Published 2002, SUNY Press, 144 pages, ISBN 0-7914-5565-3
* Wilkins, William Joseph, ''Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic'', Published 2004, Kessinger Publishing, 428 pages, ISBN 0-7661-8881-7 (First edition: Published 1882; Thacker, Spink & co.)

[[Category:Mither goddesses]]
[[Category:Hindu goddesses]]
[[Category:Virgin goddesses]]