ORIENTAL SERIES.

66 CHANAKYA CHANDRA-GUPTA.
" From the forehead of Ambika (Durga), contracted with wrathr
fol frowns, sprang swiftly forth a goddess of black and formid-
able aspect, armed with a scimitar and noose, bearing a ponderous
mace, decorated with a garland of dead corses, robed in the
hide of an elephant, dry and withered and hideons, with yawning
mouth, and lolling tongue, and bloodshot eyes, and filling the
regions with her shouts." When she had killed the two demons,
she bore their heads to Durga, who told her that she should
henceforth be known, by a contraction of their names, as Cha-
CHAJVAKYA. A celebrated Brahman, who took a leading
part in the destruction of the Nandas, and in the elevation of
Chandxa-gupta to their throne. He was a great master of finesse
and artifice, and has been called the Machiavelli of India. A
work upon morals and polity called Chawakya Sutra is ascribed
to him. He is the chief character in the drama called Mudrarakshasa,
and is known also by the names Vishnu-gupta and
Kaufrlya. His maxims have been translated by Weber.
CHAJ/Z>A, CHANDt The goddess Durga, especially in the
form she assumed for the destruction of the Asura called
Mahisha,
CHAJVBI-MAHATMYA, CKA^7)IKA-MAHATMYA, The
same as the ChaT^ipatfha.
CHAJVDIPAT, CHAJVDlPAmA. A poem of 700 verses,
forming an episode of the Markam?eya Puram. It cele 1
brates Durga's victories over the Asuras, and is read daily in
the temples of that goddess. The work is also called Devi-
mahatmya. It has been translated by Poley and by Burnouf.
CHANDRA. The moon, either as a planet or a deity. See
Soma.
CHANDEA-GUPTA. This name was identified by Sir W.
Jones with the Sandracottus or Sandrocyptus mentioned by
Arrian and the other classical historians of Alexander's cam-
paign ; and somewhat later on as having entered into a treaty
with Seleucus Nicator through the ambassador Megasthenes,
The identification has been contested, but the chief writers on
Indian antiquities have admitted it as an established fact, and
have added confirmatory evidence from various sources, so that
the identity admits of no reasonable doubt. This identifica-
tion is of the utmost importance to Indian chronology; it is the