Beneficial for............. Giving
Courage, Sexual Energy, To overcome at
the evil impact of Planet Rahu.
Mahavidya Chinnamasta is the one of the
5th Mahavidyas. The literal meaning of
the word Chinnamasta is one with a
several head. Mahavidya Chinnamasta is
traditionally portrayed as a naked or
scantly dressed woman astride the
bodies, in intimate position, of Kama
(Hindu god of love and sexual lust), and
his wife Rati. Mahavidya Chinnamasta,
having severed her own head with her own
sword, holds her severed head on one of
her hands. Three jets of blood spurt out
of her bleeding neck, and one streams
into her own mouth of her severed head,
while the other two streams into the
mouths of her two female associates.
Mahavidya Chinnamasta is the goddess of
courage and discernment and sexual
energy.
It is said that one day Parvati went to
bathe in the Mandakini River with her
two attendants, Jaya and Vijaya. After
bathing, the great goddess's color
became black because she was sexually
aroused. After some time, her two
attendants asked her, "Give us some
food. We are hungry." She replied, "I
shall give you food but please wait."
After awhile, again they asked her. She
replied, "Please wait, I am thinking
about some matters." Waiting awhile,
they implored her, "You are the mother
of the universe. A child asks everything
from her mother. The mother gives her
children not only food but also
coverings for the body. So that is why
we are praying to you for food. You are
known for your mercy; please give us
food." Hearing this, the consort of
Shiva told them that she would give
anything when they reached home. But
again her two attendants begged her, "We
are overpowered with hunger, O Mother of
the Universe. Give us food so we may be
satisfied, O Merciful One, Bestower of
Boons and Fulfiller of Desires." Hearing
this true statement, the merciful
goddess smiled and severed her own head.
As soon as she severed her head, it fell
on the palm of her left hand. Three
bloodstreams emerged from her throat;
the left and right fell respectively
into the mouths of her flanking
attendants and the center one fell into
her mouth. After performing this, all
were satisfied and later returned home.
(From this act) Parvati became known as
Chinnamasta.
There are two different interpretations
of this aspect of Chinnamasta's
iconography. One understands it as a
symbol of control of sexual desire, the
other as a symbol of the goddess's
embodiment of sexual energy. The most
common interpretation is one where she
is believed to be defeating what
Kamadeva and Rati represent, namely
sexual desire and energy. In this school
of thought she signifies self-control,
believed to be the hallmark of a
successful yogi.
The other, quite different
interpretation states that the presence
of the copulating couple is a symbol of
the goddess being charged by their
sexual energy. Just as a lotus seat is
believed to confer upon the deity seated
atop its qualities of auspiciousness and
purity, Kamadeva and Rati impart to the
Goddess standing over them the power and
energy generated by their lovemaking.
Gushing up through her body, this energy
spouts out of her headless torso to feed
her devotees and also replenish herself.
Significantly here the mating couple is
not opposed to the goddess, but an
integral part of the rhythmic flow of
energy making up the Chinnamasta icon.
