CHAMUNDA

Chamunda is the sixth deity in the series of Hindu mother goddesses, also known as Astamatrikas. Chamunda rides on a corpse. She is red in colour and has four arms. With the first pair of hands, she holds the katri in the right and the kapala in the left. In the second set of hands she exhibits the anjali. Chamunda, known also as kali, is the celebrated Hindu goddess of death. She may be represented alone or in the company of other goddesses known collectively as the Eight Mother goddesses. She was created by the great goddess Durga who gave her title Chamunda, because she killed the demons Chanda and Munda. Her body is bare and very thin with an expressive face, articulated ribs and bony arms and legs.