Carcikā

Carcikā is a fierce devī. The Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa says she arose during the war between Andhaka and Bhagavān Śiva, from the joint energy of the battle. She is one of the divine Śaktis who appeared in that great struggle. She is also named among the future avatāras that the Devī declares in the account of Śumbha and Niśumbha. A sacred site was set up for her.

Birth in the war with Andhaka

Carcikā came forth during the fierce battle between Andhaka and Bhagavān Śiva, which the Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa tells in Chapters 41–44. She arose from the gathered energy of the battle. She is one of the divine Śaktis who appear at times of the greatest struggle between dharma and adharma (what is against dharma) (Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, Chapters 42–43).

Her place in the account of Śumbha and Niśumbha

In Chapter 30 of the Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, after Śumbha is defeated, the Devī (Kauśikī-Caṇḍikā) speaks of her own future avatāras. Carcikā is named among these future forms. So she is one of the forms in which the highest Devī will come down to protect the worlds in later ages (Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 30).

The sacred site

Carcikā was set up at a sacred site tied to the battle in which she was born. It is a tīrtha or pīṭha (seat of the Devī) and it remained a centre of her pūjā. The Vāmana Purāṇa records her setting up as part of the sacred places established after the battle (Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 43).

Sources

• Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, Chapters 29–30 and 41–44