The End of Raktabeej

In the eighth adhyay, hearing of Chand and Mund's end, Shumbh sent every clan of asuras to war. The Devi twanged her bow, the lion roared and Kali filled the directions with her cry. Then, to protect the gods, the powers of Brahma, Shiv, Kartikeya, Vishnu, Indra and others appeared, each in the form and on the mount of her god.

Brahmani came on a swan, Maheshwari on a bull, Kaumari on a peacock, Vaishnavi on Garud, along with Varahi, Narasimhi, and Aindri on an elephant. They are called the Matrikas. Then a very fierce power came from Chandika's body and sent Lord Shiv as her messenger to Shumbh, so she was called 'Shivaduti'. The message was: 'Return heaven and go to the underworld, or else fight.'

The asuras chose war, and the Matrikas drove them back. Then came an asura named Raktabeej. He had a boon: for every drop of his blood that fell on the earth, a new Raktabeej would rise. Each time the goddesses struck him, new Raktabeejs stood up, until the whole battlefield was full of them.

The gods grew afraid. Then Chandika said to Kali, 'Chamunda, open your mouth wide. Take in every drop that falls from my weapons before it touches the earth, so no new asuras are born.' Kali did just that. Now no new Raktabeej could arise.

Slowly Raktabeej's strength ran out, and Chandika ended him. The gods breathed with relief and danced with joy. The Matrikas, too, rejoiced in the victory. But Shumbh and Nishumbh were still left, and their anger was greater than ever.