Chowdeshwari Devi is a manifestation of Mother Goddess
Shakti. She is worshipped mainly in Karnataka and parts of Maharashtra. She is
the family deity of many families and communities in the region. Choundeshwari Devi story is given below.
Chowdeshwari Devi is four armed. She holds sword and trishul
with a snake in the right hands. In the left hands she holds sweet bowl and a
snake with Damaru or hourglass-shaped drum.
She wears red color sari and has a look that gives an
assurance of motherly affection.
Legend has it that Shiva asked Goddess Parvati to take the manifestation
of Goddess Chowdeshwari to defeat a demon had a boon that every
drop of their blood which touched the ground would create a thousand warriors.
Chowdeshwari spread her tongue on earth and covered it. She drank all the blood
before it fell on the ground and the demon was defeated.
Chowdeshwari Devi is also associated with Nagas or Serpent
worship.