There was another demon named Dundubhi. The word dundubhi means because his voice was like the noise of a drum. Dundubhi also happened to be the son of Maya, the architect of the demons.

Mahishasura sent Dundubhi as a messenger to Katyayni. Dundubhi told her. Mahishasura has conquered the three worlds. He has even succeeded in defeating the gods and all the kings on earth owe allegiance to him. There is no one in the three worlds who is his equal in battle. You are the most beautiful of women. It is only fitting that you should marry Mahishasura.”

“I agree with what you have said,” replied Katyayani. “However, there is a ritual that is followed in my family. I can only marry someone who defeats me in battle . please tell Mahishasura to fight with me and conquer me. I shall then be his wife.”

When Dundubhi carried this message back to Mahishasura, the demon-king got ready for battle. Chikshura was appointed the chief general and the demon namara led the attack. Arrows showered like rain from Katyayani’s bow. Her clubs killed several demons. The lion also killed many demons. The asuras started to flee, but Namara restrained them and himself came to fight. He flung spears and tridents at the goddess and also attacked her lion. But Katyayani grasped the demon and battlefield shook with her laughter. From her laughter there emerged several ghosts (bhuta) and these too killed the demons.

Chhikshura entered the fray now. But his arrows were easily repelled by Katyayani. She sliced off his bow, sword and shield. She then off his head, arms and feet. Many other demons then attacked the goddess, Vashkala, Durdhara, Durmukha and Vidalaksha. But Katyayani killed them all.

Mahishasura adopted the form of a buffalo and attacked the lion. He pounded on the ground with his hooves and roared in anger. Katyayani picked up the buffalo and flung him far away. But the buffalo got up again and rushed towards the goddess. Katyayani now tied him of an elephant. The goddess sliced off the elephant’s trunk, but the demon became a buffalo again.

All the weapons that the goddess used on the buffalo proved to be of no avail. Katyayani therefore climbed up onto the back of the buffalo. Mahishasura ran hither and thither to shake her off, but the goddess would not be dislodged. She proceeded to to methodically and slowly crush the buffalo death with her feet. When Mahishasura became weak from this burned, Katyayani speared his throat with a trident. From the severed throat of the buffalo a warrior armed with a sword and shield emerged. But the goddess speared his chest, grasped his hair with her hand and cut off his head with her sword.

Thus it was that Mahishasura died and great was the despair among the demons. They fled in disarray.

The gods prayed to Katyayani. She blessed them and said, “I will appear again when you need me.”

Saying this, she disappeared.

Uma

Narada asked Pulastya, ‘When did the goddess appear again?”

“She appeared to kill the asura Nishumbha,” replied Pulastya. “ She was born was as Uma, the daughter of Himalaya, and married Shiva. All this was to ensure the destruction of Shumbha and Nishumbha.”

“Tell me about Uma,” requested Narada.

“Before telling you about Shumbha and Nishumbh, let me tell you about Skanda,” said Pulastya.

When Sati died, Shiva was miserable and went away to perform tapasya. Meanwhile, the general of the gods left and went away to meditate. The gods had no general who could lead them into battle. The upshot was that the demon Nishumbha attacked them and gave them a thrashing. The defeated gods went to visit Vishnu in Shvetadvipa.