See Chaturvarnyas.

A gandharva. See Puranjana.

Asura brothers. The elder one was Chanda and the younger Munda. Like Dhumraksha, Raktavarna and many others, they had their own armies. During that time, the brothers Shumbha and Nishumbha prayed to Brahma in the Himalayas. Brahma appeared and blessed that they could be killed only by a woman. They came back and from then, Chandamundas became their allies. Shumbha and Nishumbha began a victory march through earth, heavens and patala. The devas fled and as per Brihaspati’s advice asked Parvati for help. She agreed to help and sat alone on a rock. Chandamundas arrived there then and were awestruck by her beauty. They informed Shumbha and Nishumbha who sent Dhumraksha and 60000 soldiers to capture her. Parvati turned Dhumraksha into ash. Then came Chandamundas and Kali fought fiercely with them, finally beheading them. From then she became known as Chamundi. FInally parvati also killed Shumbha and Nishumbha as per Devibhagavata Panchamaskanda.

A famous king who ruled Ujjain. He was the father of Udayana’s wife Vasavadatta. His original name was Mahasena. After he became king, he meditated for a long while for a wife and a sword. When he finally started offering his skin as a sacrifice, the devi appeared, gave him a sword and said that he would be invincible so long as he had it. She also told him that the beautiful Angaravati, daughter of Angaraka would become his wife soon. Since he was meant to do violent things, she named him Chandamahasena. Later, he also got an elephant named Nandagiri.

Once Mahasena went for a hunt and saw a huge boar. But despite using several weapons against it, it was unharmed. It also toppled Mahasena’s chariot and ran into a cave. The furious king followed it and reached a lake, where he saw a beautiful lady in the company of several other women. She approached him and started conversing with him. He was infatuated and gave her all of his details, following which she started crying. He asked her the reason. She said, “My name is Angaravati and the boar you saw is my father Angaraka whose skin is so thick that nothing can harm him. The women that you see have all been kidnapped by him from various kingdoms to keep me company. My father is a rakshasa as a result of a curse, and he is now asleep, in his natural form. As soon as he wakes up, he will become hungry and even harm you. That’s why I cried.”

He replied, “When your father wakes up, go to him and start crying. He will ask you the reason. Tell him that you don’t know what will happen to you if someone kills him.” Angaravati did just that. On hearing her reason, Angaraka said, “No one can kill me. My skin is as hard as diamond and only my left palm has an opening. I hide it with my bow.” Mahasena listened to all this, and challenged him. The asura raised his palm and asked him to wait. But Mahasena chose this opportunity to send an arrow at his palm and killed him.

According to the Kathasaitasagara Kathamukhalambaka Taranga 3, the king married Angaravati and took her to his palace. They had two children – Gopalaka and Palaka. A daughter too was born to them with the blessings of Indra, who was pleased with Mahasena’s Indrotsava. Since she was born with the blessings of Vasava (Indra) she was called Vasavadatta who would become the wife of the famous Udayana.

A sage born in Chyavana’s dynasty. He was a scholar and was the one who conducted Janamejaya’s sarpasatra as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 58 verse 4.

A prominent vanara who tormented Kumbhakarna during the Rama-Ravana war as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 287 verse 6.

A son of Garuda mentioned in Mahabharata Udyogaprva Chapter 101 verse 9.

The son born to Kakshivan, son of Gautama. Brihadratha, king of Magadha, was childless, and Chandakaushika blessed him. He soon had a son named Jarasandha. Chandakaushika stayed as the guru of Magadha kings for a long time.

A tribal who earned salvation through shivalinga puja. Once, while he was out hunting, he chanced upon a ruined temple. He was saddened by the sight of the shivalinga which was in disrepair. The Panchala king Simhaketu came by then and Chandaka told him about the temple and asked whether there was a way for a tribal to worship the linga. The king replied that if he smeared himself with ash from a cremation ground, it was fine. From then on, the tribal, along with his wife Pulindi began worshiping the idol. One day, the ash ran out. Pulindi said that she would kill herself and Chandaka could cremate her and use the ash. He agreed reluctantly. The next day, she killed herself and Chandaka used the ash. He called out to Pulindi after he was done praying and to his surprise, she appeared hale and hearty before him. A divine vehicle reached there then and took them both to Shivaloka as per Shivapurana Shambaramahatmya.

See Chandamundas.