According to a legend from the
Shiva Purana, The asuras
Shumbha and
Nishumbha had gained a boon that may only be killed by a virgin, unmarried form of
Parvati, who was also of a fair complexion. Hence, as advised by
Brahma, Shiva repeatedly called Parvati Kali (black) to deliberately infuriate her. Parvati was agitated by this teasing, so she performed severe penance to Brahma so as to gain a fair complexion. Brahma explained his inability to grant her a boon and instead requested her to stop her penance and slay the asuras Shumbha and Nishumbha. Parvati agreed and went to take a bath in the
Ganga river in
Himalaya. Parvati entered in the Ganga river and as she took a bath, her dark skin washed off entirely and she came back out as a beautiful, fair woman, wearing white garments and apparels, lending her the epithet Mahagauri. She then appeared in front of the gods who were praying to her at the Himalayas for the destruction of Shumbha and Nishumbha, and worriedly asked them who they were worshipping. She then reflected and answered her own question and concluded that the gods were praying to her after being defeated by the asuras Shumbha and Nishumbha. Parvati then turned black out of pity for the gods and was called
Kali. She then transformed into
Chandi (
Chandraghanta) and killed asura Dhumralochana.
Chanda and
Munda were killed by the goddess
Chamunda who appeared out from the third eye of Chandi. Chandi then killed
Raktabija and his clones, while Chamunda drank their blood. Parvati turned into Kaushiki again and killed Shumbha and Nishumbha, after which she transformed back into Mahagauri. Hence Parvati killed Shumbha and Nishumbha, giving her the titles of
Mahasaraswati or
Ambika in the Shiva Purana and the Devi Mahatmya (part of the
Markandeya Purana) respectively. Mounted upon the back of an ox, she rode back home to Kailasha, where Shiva awaited for her. The two became reunited once again and lived happily with their sons, Kartikeya and Ganesha. == References ==