Viji: slightly refined content per standard format further and added references

2026-01-31T08:15:00Z

slightly refined content per standard format further and added references

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:45, 31 January 2026
Line 6:		Line 6:
	The story of Shumbha and Nishumbha begins in the fifth chapter of the ''Devi Mahatmya''.		The story of Shumbha and Nishumbha begins in the fifth chapter of the ''Devi Mahatmya''.

	[[~~Parvati~~]] ~~relates~~ how two brothers ~~of the asura race~~ sought to conquer the [[Trailokya\|three worlds]] by subjecting themselves to severe penance and purification rituals so that no man or asura could destroy them.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.s-a-i.info/assoc_change/navarathri_6_1.html \|title=The Devi Mahatmya Navrathri Katha - Chapter 1 to 13 \|publisher=S-a-i.info \|date= \|accessdate=2009-01-29}}</ref> Shumbha and Nishumbha traveled to [[Pushkara]], a sacred site, and remained there in prayer for ten thousand years. The creator deity [[Brahma]] saw the brothers' penance, and was pleased, granting them the boon they requested.<ref name="tripod1">{{cite web\|url=http://sdbbs.tripod.com/devi.html \|title=The Devi \|publisher=Sdbbs.tripod.com \|date= \|accessdate=2009-01-29}}</ref>		[[Durga]] retells how two [[asura]] brothers sought to conquer the [[Trailokya\|three worlds]] by subjecting themselves to severe penance and purification rituals so that no man or asura could destroy them.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.s-a-i.info/assoc_change/navarathri_6_1.html \|title=The Devi Mahatmya Navrathri Katha - Chapter 1 to 13 \|publisher=S-a-i.info \|date= \|accessdate=2009-01-29}}</ref> Shumbha and Nishumbha traveled to [[Pushkara]], a sacred site, and remained there in prayer for ten thousand years. The creator deity [[Brahma]] saw the brothers' penance, and was pleased, granting them the boon they requested.<ref name="tripod1">{{cite web\|url=http://sdbbs.tripod.com/devi.html \|title=The Devi \|publisher=Sdbbs.tripod.com \|date= \|accessdate=2009-01-29}}</ref>

	[[Chanda and Munda]], two lesser asuras in the service of Shumbha, encountered the goddess [[~~Parvati~~]], and were overwhelmed by her beauty. They carried reports of this goddess to Shumbha, who sought to possess ~~Parvati~~. Shumbha sent the asura [[Sugriva ~~(asura)]]~~ to court Parvati, but she rejected his advances. It was then decided by the asura brothers that if Parvati would not come willingly, they would have to abduct her. First, the asura [[Dhumralochana]] and his army of sixty-thousand asuras were sent to abduct Parvati. ~~The goddess~~ assumed the ~~form of~~ [[Durga]] and slew the entire army. Next, Chanda and Munda were deployed, who were also destroyed by the goddess.<ref name="tripod1" /> [[Raktabīja]] was sent next, and was slain by the goddess [[Kali]].		[[Chanda and Munda]], two lesser asuras in the service of Shumbha, encountered the goddess [[Durga]], and were overwhelmed by her beauty. They carried reports of this goddess to Shumbha, who sought to possess Durga. Shumbha sent the asura Sugriva to court Parvati, but she rejected his advances. It was then decided by the asura brothers that if Parvati would not come willingly, they would have to abduct her. First, the asura Dhumralochana and his army of sixty-thousand asuras were sent to abduct Parvati. Various goddesses assumed the forms from [[Durga]] and slew the entire army. Next, Chanda and Munda were deployed, who were also destroyed by the goddess.<ref name="tripod1" /> [[Raktabīja]] was sent next, and was slain by the goddess [[Kali]].

	==Death==		==Death==

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article

2023-09-19T13:24:09Z

Created a new article

New page

{{Short description|Asuras in Hinduism}}
[[File:Durga fighting the rakshashas Shunga and Nishunga.jpg|upright 1.3|thumb|Painting of Durga fighting Shumbha and Nishumbha]]
'''Shumbha''' (शुम्भ) and '''Nishumbha''' (निशुम्भ) are two [[Asura|asuras]] in [[Hindu mythology]], featured in the ''[[Devi Mahatmya]]''. In their legend, they were slain by the goddess [[Kaushiki]].

== Legend ==
The story of Shumbha and Nishumbha begins in the fifth chapter of the ''Devi Mahatmya''.

[[Parvati]] relates how two brothers of the asura race sought to conquer the [[Trailokya|three worlds]] by subjecting themselves to severe penance and purification rituals so that no man or asura could destroy them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.s-a-i.info/assoc_change/navarathri_6_1.html |title=The Devi Mahatmya Navrathri Katha - Chapter 1 to 13 |publisher=S-a-i.info |date= |accessdate=2009-01-29}}</ref> Shumbha and Nishumbha traveled to [[Pushkara]], a sacred site, and remained there in prayer for ten thousand years. The creator deity [[Brahma]] saw the brothers' penance, and was pleased, granting them the boon they requested.<ref name="tripod1">{{cite web|url=http://sdbbs.tripod.com/devi.html |title=The Devi |publisher=Sdbbs.tripod.com |date= |accessdate=2009-01-29}}</ref>

[[Chanda and Munda]], two lesser asuras in the service of Shumbha, encountered the goddess [[Parvati]], and were overwhelmed by her beauty. They carried reports of this goddess to Shumbha, who sought to possess Parvati. Shumbha sent the asura [[Sugriva (asura)]] to court Parvati, but she rejected his advances. It was then decided by the asura brothers that if Parvati would not come willingly, they would have to abduct her. First, the asura [[Dhumralochana]] and his army of sixty-thousand asuras were sent to abduct Parvati. The goddess assumed the form of [[Durga]] and slew the entire army. Next, Chanda and Munda were deployed, who were also destroyed by the goddess.<ref name="tripod1" /> [[Raktabīja]] was sent next, and was slain by the goddess [[Kali]].

==Death==
[[File:Kali Attacking Nisumbha, c. 1740.jpg|thumb|upright 1.3|A [[Pahari painting|Pahari]] depiction of [[Kali]] (sometimes described as a form of [[Parvati]]) attacking Nishumbha with her trident: ''Kali Attacking Nishumbha''; {{circa|1740}}, colour on paper, 22 × 33 cm, [[Cleveland Museum of Art]].]]
After these encounters, Shumbha and Nishumbha had no choice but to meet [[Parvati]] in direct combat. Although Brahma's boon had granted the brothers protection against men and demons, no such protection existed against goddesses. Nishumbha was the first to fall, after assaulting Parvati's lion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sivanandaonline.org/graphics/activities/navaratri_04/chapter-9.htm |title=Sri Durga Saptasati or The Devi Mahatmya |publisher=Sivanandaonline.org |date= |access-date=2009-01-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616045121/http://sivanandaonline.org/graphics/activities/navaratri_04/chapter-9.htm |archive-date=2010-06-16 |df= }}</ref> Upon seeing the death of his brother, Shumbha went after [[Parvati]] in a rage, but was ultimately cleaved in two by the Goddess' [[Trishula|trident]]. With Shumbha and Nishumbha gone, the Three Worlds returned to their ordinary state of being, rid of a great evil.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sivanandaonline.org/graphics/activities/navaratri_04/chapter-10.htm |title=Sri Durga Saptasati or The Devi Mahatmya |publisher=Sivanandaonline.org |date= |access-date=2009-01-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616045049/http://sivanandaonline.org/graphics/activities/navaratri_04/chapter-10.htm |archive-date=2010-06-16 |df= }}</ref>

==In popular culture==
Some, such as John Stratton Hawley and Donna Marie Wulff, see Shumbha and Nishumbha as symbols of arrogance and pride which is ultimately overcome by [[Parvati]]'s humility and wisdom.<ref>Hawley, John Stratton; Wulff, Donna Marie; ''Devī: Goddesses of India''. Published by University of California Press, 1996: p. 68 {{ISBN|0-520-20058-6}}, {{ISBN|978-0-520-20058-6}}</ref> In [[Shashi Tharoor|Shashi Tharoor's]] [[satirical]] novel ''[[The Great Indian Novel]]'', the story of Shumbha and Nishumbha is used both as a warning against the dangers of seduction, and as a metaphor for the collapse of the relationship among the five [[Pandavas]].<ref>Tharoor, Shashi. ''The Great Indian Novel.'' Viking Press: 1989. {{ISBN|0-670-82744-4}}</ref> There is also a Kannada Movie by the name of Shumba Nishumba and tell the story of Asuras and [[Parvati]].

==See also==
* [[Chanda and Munda]]
* [[Mahishasura]]
* [[Raktabīja]]
* [[Rambha (asura)]]
* [[Dhumralochana]]
* [[Sugriva (asura)]]

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://sdbbs.tripod.com/devi.html English translation of the Devi Mahatmyam]
*[http://sanskrit.safire.com/Sanskrit.html Devī Māhātmya - Sanskrit original in pdf form.]

{{HinduMythology}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shumbha And Nishumbha}}
[[Category:Danavas]]

Shumbha and Nishumbha - Revision history

Viji: slightly refined content per standard format further and added references

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article