'Goddess Chamunda' - by K J S Chatrath

I visited the Government Museum Bhubaneswar and the 64 Yogini temple at Hirapur near Bhubaneswar in 2017. In the Museum this fascinating carving of Chamunda caught my eye.

Chamunda or Chamundeshwari, is a fearsome form of Chandi, the Hindu Divine Mother and one of the seven Matrikas (mother goddesses). She is also one of the chief Yoginis, a group of sixty-four (Chausath) Tantric goddesses, who are attendants of the warrior goddess Durga. The name is a combination of Chanda and Munda, two monsters whom Chamunda killed.

This statue dating back to the 8th century AD was discovered in Dharamsala, Jajpur, Odisha. It is oon display in Government Museum Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

This statue of Chamunda dating back to 7th century AD also on display in the same museum in Bhubaneswar, was discovered in Banakuda in Odisha.

This Chamunda portrayed as one of the 64 Yoginis is in the 64 Yogini temple at Hirapur, 20 kms from Bhubaneswar. This dates back to 8th century AD.

Please click at the following links to access the photo articles on Chausath Yoginis: http://indianheritagephotos.blogspot.com/2018/09/64-yogini-temple-hirapur-odisha-by.html

’64 hairstyles of 64 (Chausath) Yoginis in Hirapur temple, Odisha, Part-I’ by K.J.S.Chatrath ; http://indianheritagephotos.blogspot.com/2017/06/64-hairstyles-of-64-chausath-yoginis-in.html

’64 hairstyles of 64 (Chausath) Yoginis in Hirapur temple, Odisha, Part-II’ by K.J.S.Chatrath; http://indianheritagephotos.blogspot.com/2017/06/64-hairstyles-of-64-chausath-yoginis-in_5.html