A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.476

c5.476

The Chandī-māhātmya, which celebrates the victories of this goddess over the Asuras, speaks of her under the following names :—1. Durgā, when she received the messengers of the Asuras. 2. Dasa-bhujā. ‘Ten-armed,’ when she destroyed part of their army. 3. Sinha-vāhinī. ‘Riding on a lion,’ when she fought with the Asura general Rakta-vīja. 4. Mahisha-mardini. ‘Destroyer of Mahisha,’ an Asura in the form of a buffalo. 5. Jagad-dhātrī. ‘Fosterer of the world,’ when she again defeated the Asura army. 6. Kālī. ‘The black.’ She killed Rakta-vīja. 7. Mukta-kesī. ‘With dishevelled hair.’ Again defeats the Asuras. 8. Tārā. ‘Star.’ She killed Sumbha. 9. Chhinna-mastakā. ‘Decapitated,’ the headless form in which she killed Nisumbha. 10. Jagad-gaurī. ‘World’s fair one,’ as lauded by the gods for her triumphs. The names which Devī obtains from her husband are :—Babhravī (Babhru), Bhagavātī, Īsānī, Īswarī, Kālanjarī, Kapālinī, Kausikī, Kirātī, Maheswarī, Mridā, Mridānī, Rudrānī, Sarvānī, Sivā, Tryambakī. From her origin she is called Adri-jā and Giri-jā, ‘mountain-born;’ Ku-jā, ‘earth-born;’ Daksha-jā, ‘sprung from Daksha.’ She is Kanyā, ‘the virgin;’ Kanyā-kumārī, ‘the youthful virgin;’ and Ambikā, ‘the mother;’ Avarā, ‘the youngest;’ Anantā and Nityā, ‘the everlasting;’ Āryā, ‘the revered;’ Vijayā, ‘victorious;’ Riddhi, ‘the rich;’ Satī, ‘virtuous;’ Dakshinā, ‘right-handed;’ Pingā, ‘tawny, dark;’ Karburī, ‘spotted;’ Bhramarī, ‘the bee;’ Koṭarī, ‘the naked;’ Karna-motī, ‘pearl-eared;’ Padma-lānchhana, ‘distinguished by a lotus;’ Sarva-mangala, ‘always auspicious;’ Sākam-bharī, ‘nourisher of herbs;’ Siva-dūtī, ‘Siva’s messenger;’ Sinha-rathī, ‘riding on a lion.’ As addicted to austerities she is Aparnā and Kātyāyanī. As Bhūta-nāyakī she is chief or leader of the goblins, and as Gana-nāyakī, the leader of the Ganas. She is Kāmākshī, ‘wanton-eyed;’ and Kāmākhyā, ‘called by the name of Kāma, desire.’ Other names, most of them applicable to her terrible forms, are Bhadrakālī, Bhīma-devī, Chāmundā, Mahā-kālī, Mahāmārī, Mahāsurī, Mātangī, Rajasī, ‘the fierce;’ and Rakta-dantī, ‘red or bloody toothed.’