According to Hindu beliefs, Chanda and Munda (चंड और मुंड), or Chanda-Munda, were a demon (or asura) sibling-duo who were part of the army of demon kings Shumbha and Nishumbha, a sibling-duo. There are several conflicting mythological legends about the killing of Chanda and Munda and by whom they were killed. However, all of them assert that a fierce form or rupa of Mata Parvati or Mata Durga killed them.
Legend
Chanda and Munda were killed by Mata Chamunda/Chamundi (माता चामुंडा / चामुंडी), believed to be a form of Mata Chandi which in turn is a fierce form of benign Goddess Mata Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva. The Chanda-Munda is the eponym of Mata Chamunda which she got upon their killing.
Some mythological legends assert that Maa Durga (a form of Mata Parvati) created a goddess from her mind to kill Chand-Munda who upon their killing got the name Chamunda. Several other lesser-known legends replace Mata Durga in the above with the Mata Kaushiki or Mata Ambika or Mata Kali, all of which are direct or indirect forms of Mata Parvati.
Read other curiosity-instilling articles:
- Shumbha and Nishumbha