5. Origin of Caṇḍikā Śakti

Once the king of demon, Sumbha sent forth various other armies of demon to fight against the goddess Caṇḍikā. The gods like, Brahmā, Śiva, Viṣṇu and Indra took bodily shape to help her. The other gods armed with the same weapons, wearing the same ornaments and riding on the same vehicle (vāhana) of their corresponding gods fought with the Asuras.^[1] These newly formed gods are known as Brahmāṇi, Māheśvarī. Kaumārī, Vaiṣṇuvī, Vārāhi, Nārasiṃhī and Aindrī.^[2] Once these energies of gods surrounded the lord Śiva. Then he said to Caṇḍikā to kill the Asuras for his good will.^[3] As directed by Śiva, another form, Caṇḍikā-śakti who was most terrific, exceedingly fierce and dreadful in appearance and was attended by the howling like a hundreds of jackals came out from the Devī’s body.^[4] Caṇḍikā is also called Śivadūtī because of being sent by to send Śiva as a messenger to the demons Śumbha and Niśumbha.^[5] Hearing the messages of the goddess, the demons attacked her. Then the fight began with Kāli and other Deva-śaktis. Seeing the enraged band of goddess slaying and crushing the demons, Raktabija, a great demon came forward to fight against them. This demon i.e. Raktabīja had a special power that if a drop of blood falls on the earth it would produce many demons.^[6] Finally goddess Caṇḍika killed Raktabija with the help of Cāmuṇḍā. Goddess Cāmuṇḍā drank the demon’s Raktabija’s blood before it fell on the ground and killed the demon.^[7]

After killing Raktabija demon, goddess Caṇḍikā killed Niśumbha with the help of goddess Kālī, Śiva-dūtī, Brahmāṇī and other goddess.^[8] After killing Śumbha’s brother, Śumbha criticized the goddess for fighting with the help of another goddess. Then goddess Ambikā absorbed all the other goddesses and fought against Śumbha demons in a single combat. Finally she killed the demon Śumbha.^[9] Kalikāpurāṇa also mentions about Śivadūtī, how she was born of Śiva and sent as a messenger to Śumbha demon by Ambikā.^[10]