Is this information accurate?

[kamala]

http://shaktisadhana.50megs.com/Newh...ptamarkas.html

I found it all accurate except the writing in red, because I have been told other info..

The Saptamatrikas

From The eight Chapter called "The slaying of Raktabija" of Devi-Mahatmya in Markandeya Purana.

12-13. "At this moment, O King, in order to annihilate the enemies of devas and for the well-being of the supreme devas, there issued forth, endowed with exceeding vigour and strength, Saktis from the bodies of Brahma, Siva, Guha, Visnu and Indra, and with the form of those devas went to Candika…

14. Whatever was the form of each deva, and whatever his ornaments and vehicle, in that very form his saktis advanced to fight with the asuras.

15. In the heavenly chariot drawn by swans advanced Brahma's Sakti carrying a rosary and a Kamandaly. She is called : Brahmani.

16. Mahesvari arrived, seated on a bull, holding a fine trident, wearing bracelets of great snakes and adorned with a digit of the moon.

17. Ambika Kaumari , in the form of Guha holding a spear in hand riding on a fine peacock, advanced to attack the asuras.

18. Likewise, the Saktis of Visnu came, seated upon Garuda, holding conch, club, bow and sword in hand.

19. The Saktis of Hari, who assumed the incomparable form of a sacrificial boar, she also advanced there in a boar-like form.

20. Narasimhi arrived there, assuming a body like that of a Narasimha, bringing down the constellations by the toss of her mane.

21. Likewise the thousand-eyed Aindri, holding a thunderbolt in hand and riding on the Lord of elephants arrived just like Sakra ( Indra )

22. Then Siva, surrounded by those saktis of the devas, said to Candika, 'Let the asuras be killed forthworth by you for my gratification."

23. Thereupon from the body of Devi Issued forth the Sakti of Candika, most terrific, exceedingly fierce and yelling like a hundred jackals.

24. And that invincible ( Sakti ) told Siva, of dark coloured matted locks, "Go my lord, as ambassador to the presence of Sumbha and Nisumbha" 25. "Tell the two haughty asuras, Sumbha and Nisumbha, and the other asuras assembled there for battle.

26. "Let Indra obtain the three worlds and let the devas enjoy the sacrificial oblations. You go to the nether world, if you wish to live.

27. But if through pride of strength you are anxious for battle, come on then. Let my jackals be satiated with your flesh."

28. Because that Devi appointed Siva himself as ambassador thenceforth she became renowned in this world as Siva-duti.

32. Then, in front of him ( Sumbha ), stalked Kali, piercing the enemies to pieces with her spear and crushing them with her skull-topped staff.

33. And Brahmani, wherever she moved, made the enemies bereft of valour and prowess by sprinkling on them the water from her Kamandalu.

34. The very wrathful Mahesvari slew the daityas with her trident, and Vaisnavi, with her discuss, and Kaumari with her javelin.

35. Torn to pieces by the thunderbolt which come down upon them, hurled by Aindri, daityas and danavas fell on the earth in hundreds, streams of blood flowing out of them.

36. Shattered by the boar-formed goddess ( varahi ) with blows of her snout,wounded in their cheats by the point of her tusk and town by her disucss, (the asuras) fell down.

37. Narasimhi, filling all the quarters and the sky with her roars, roamed about in the battle, devouring other great asuras torn by her claws.

38. Demoralised by the violent laughter of Sivaduti, the asuras fell down on the earth; she then devoured them who had fallen down.

39. Seeing the enraged band of Matrikas, crushing the great asuras thus by various means, the troops of the enemies of devas took their heels.

40. Seeing the asuras harassed by the band of Matrikas and fleeing, the great asuras Raktabija stroded forward to fight in wrath.

41. Whenever from his body there fell to the ground a drop of blood, at that moment rose up from the earth asuras of his stature.

42. The great asuras fought with Indra's Sakti with club in his hand; then Aindri also struck Raktabija with her thunderbolt.

43. Blood flowed quickly and profusely from him, who was wounded by the thunderbolt. From the blood rose up ( fresh ) combatants of his form and valour.

44. As many drops of blood fell from his body. So many persons came into being, with his courage, strength and valour.

45. And those persons also sprung up from his blood fought there with the Matrikas in a more dreadful manner hurling the very formidable weapons.

46. And again when his head was wounded by the fall of her thunderbolt, his blood flowed and there from were born persons in thousands.

47. Vaisnavi struck him with her discuss in the battle, Aindri beat that Lord of Asuras with her club.

48. The World was pervaded by thousands of great asuras who were of his stature and who rose up from the blood that flowed from him when cloven by the discuss of Vaisnavi.

49. Kaumari struck the great asuras Raktabija with her spear, Varahi with her sword, and Mahesvari with her Trident.

50. And Raktabija, that great asuras also, filled with wrath, struck everyone of the Matrikas severally with his club.

51. From the stream of blood which fell on the earth from him when he received multiple wounds by the spears, darts and other weapons, hundreds of asuras came into being.

52. And those asuras that were born from the blood of Raktabija, pervaded the whole world; the devas got intensely alarmed at this.

53. Seeing the devas dejected, Candika laughed and said to Kali: "O Camunda, open out your mouth wide, with this mouth quickly take in the drops of blood generated by the blow of my weapon and (also) the great asuras born of the drops of blood of Raktabija.

I have been told many times here that Chammunda is not Kali, but this keeps making me think if she is Kali because of this.. I don't want anyone to be offended.

[Shuddhasattva]

Namaste

I believe your question reflects one of the most common problems people have in trying to intellectually understood Hinduism without first understanding the Hindu 'logic of being,' which is not as mutually exclusive or binary as some assume, or would like it to be - as is often reflected in our favorite topics of debate here.

It is possible (and the reality) for a god to both be, and not be, another god, in whole or part.

Camunda is Kali. Camunda is an aspect of Kali. Camunda is Camunda. Kali is Kali.

Om Aim Hrim Klim Camundayei Viche.

Namaste

[kamala]

Okay thank you! Because many people have told me here that Kali is not a matrika (but Chammunda is and Chammunda is Kali).

[Shuddhasattva]

Kali Krama is about as deep into Matrika worship as it gets.

[kamala]

Oh okay. But when worshipped, are they seen as two different goddesses? Or the same goddess with a different name? Because there is a yogini temple in hirapur.. and they have different murtis for each and different names, they look totally different as well..

Kali (hirapur):


Chammunda (hirapur):

[Shuddhasattva]

Worship again implies that polymorphous ontology. The deity concepts, namarupas, interpenetrate with one another, some encompassing others. Without this, the subtle body systems where deities compose deities composing deities cannot be appreciated or practiced.

[kamala]

I don't understand your last post..? Sorry my english isn't the best.

[Shuddhasattva]

My apologies.

Polymorphous = many forms, or modes.

Ontology = logic of being.

The practical point is that in worship, they ought (in my opinion, at any rate) be seen as simultaneously the same and different.

[kamala]

Hmm alright, thanks! I always thought Kali that Kali is a Matrika. But I don't see how she can be different from herself. Or it may mean she has many forms.

[JayaRadhe]

Namaste.

Kali, Chandi, Chamunda, Durga, Vaishnavi, Narayani, Varahi, etc... are all forms of the one Mahadevi (Devi Mahatmayam 10.1-8; Devi Mahatmyam 11.30). She is able to assume these many different forms at one time because, being Mahamaya, she is not bound by time or space (Devi Mahatmyam 11.3-5).

Jai Vaishnavi Ambe!