3. Birth of Ambikā / Kauśikī out of Pārvati’s body

Once the asuras i.e. Śumbha and Niśumbha conquered the gods and drove them out from heaven. After being defeated by the Asūras, the lord Indra and the other gods went to the Himalayas and worshipped the goddess Viṣṇu-māyā for their help. At that time, goddess Pārvati came to bathe in the water of the Ganges. The goddess Pārvati asked them to whom they were praying. Then an auspicious goddess came out from her body called Śiva, also called Aṃbikā and said that it was she i.e. Śivā whom the gods hymns praised for their help to kill Śumbha and Niśumbha demons. Goddess Śivā also known as Kauśikī, because she sprang out from the treasure house i.e. Kośa^[1] of Pārvatī’s body. Again, Pārvati’s complexion became dark after Aṃbikā came out of her (pārvati’s) body. She is celebrated as Kālika. After that Aṃbikā fixed to live on the mountain Himalayas. There were two servants of demons Śumbha and Niśumbha called Caṇḍa and Muṇḍa saw Aṃbikā in the Himalaya. They informed their demon kings Śumbha and Niśumbha about her beauty.^[2] Śumbha proposed her to marry him or his brother i.e. Niśumbha sent by the great asura Griva.^[3] But she refused to marry any of them and tell them that she would only agree to marry one who conquers her in war and destroys her pride.^[4] Then Śumbha dispatched his general Dhūmralocana and an army was sent to capture her by force.^[5] The goddess Ambikā destroyed the Dhūmralocana demon along with his army.^[6]