Shumbha
Shumbha (शुम्भ) and Nishumbha (निशुम्भ) are two asuras in Hindu mythology, featured in the Devi Mahatmya. In their legend, they were slain by the goddess Kaushiki.
Variants
Legend
The story of Shumbha and Nishumbha begins in the fifth chapter of the Devi Mahatmya.
Durga retells how two asura brothers sought to conquer the three worlds by subjecting themselves to severe penance and purification rituals so that no man or asura could destroy them.[1] Shumbha and Nishumbha traveled to Pushkara, a sacred site, and remained there in prayer for ten thousand years. The creator deity Brahma saw the brothers' penance, and was pleased, granting them the boon they requested.[2]
Chanda and Munda, two lesser asuras in the service of Shumbha, encountered the goddess Durga, and were overwhelmed by her beauty. They carried reports of this goddess to Shumbha, who sought to possess Durga. Shumbha sent the asura Sugriva to court Parvati, but she rejected his advances. It was then decided by the asura brothers that if Parvati would not come willingly, they would have to abduct her. First, the asura Dhumralochana and his army of sixty-thousand asuras were sent to abduct Parvati. Various goddesses assumed the forms from Durga and slew the entire army. Next, Chanda and Munda were deployed, who were also destroyed by the goddess.[3]Raktabīja was sent next, and was slain by the goddess Kali.
Death
After these encounters, Shumbha and Nishumbha had no choice but to meet Parvati in direct combat. Although Brahma's boon had granted the brothers protection against men and demons, no such protection existed against goddesses. Nishumbha was the first to fall, after assaulting Parvati's lion.[4] Upon seeing the death of his brother, Shumbha went after Parvati in a rage, but was ultimately cleaved in two by the Goddess' trident. With Shumbha and Nishumbha gone, the Three Worlds returned to their ordinary state of being, rid of a great evil.[5]
Jat Gotras Namesake
- Nissowana (Jat clan) = Nisumbha (निशुंभ) (L.16,V.30). Nisumbha (निशुंभ) (L.16,V.30), the Asura, is mentioned in of Pujaripali Stone Inscription of Gopaladeva.....(V.30) - Chandika (चंडिका) (L.16), who has a terrific step and is possessed of great strength and valour, (and) who killed Nisumbha (निशुंभ) (L.15) and Sumbha (शुंभ) (L.15), was again praised by Gôpâla. [6] Pujaripali (पुजारीपली) is village in Sarangarh tahsil in Raigarh district in Chhattisgarh.
References
- ↑ "The Devi Mahatmya Navrathri Katha - Chapter 1 to 13". S-a-i.info.
- ↑ "The Devi". Sdbbs.tripod.com.
- ↑ "The Devi". Sdbbs.tripod.com.
- ↑ "Sri Durga Saptasati or The Devi Mahatmya". Sivanandaonline.org. Archived from the original on 2010-06-16.
- ↑ "Sri Durga Saptasati or The Devi Mahatmya". Sivanandaonline.org. Archived from the original on 2010-06-16.
- ↑ Corpus Inscriptionium Indicarium Vol IV Part 2 Inscriptions of the Kalachuri-Chedi Era, Vasudev Vishnu Mirashi, 1905. pp. 588-594
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