Caṇḍī

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Caṇḍī (Skt., ‘vicious, fierce, violent’).
1. One of the names of the Hindu Goddess (also Caṇḍikā). It does not denote a specific goddess and tends to be used with reference to the more violent manifestations of Devī.

2. In Bengal, an originally autonomous folk Goddess (similar to Manasā). From c.14th cent. onwards, this Goddess became increasingly drawn into the mythology of the purāṇas and thereby got fused with the Skt. Caṇḍī (see (1) above).

3. In N. India, an alternative title of the Devīmāhātmya in the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa.

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