This article is about the Hindu goddess. For the Buddhist goddess, see Chinnamunda. For the village in Nepal, see Chhinnamasta, Nepal.
Chhinnamasta
Goddess of Self-Sacrifice
Member of The Ten Mahavidyas
Chhinnamasta, 19th century lithograph
Devanagari
छिन्नमस्ता
Affiliation
Mahadevi, Mahavidya, Devi, Parvati
Abode
Cremation ground
Weapon
khatri – scimitar
Consort
Shiva as Kabandha or Chhinnamasthaka (headless)[1]
Chhinnamasta (Sanskrit: छिन्नमस्ता, Chinnamastā :"She whose head is severed"), often spelled Chinnamasta, and also called Chhinnamastika and Prachanda Chandika and Jogani Maa (in western states of India), is a Hindu goddess (Devi). She is one of the Mahavidyas, ten goddesses from the esoteric tradition of Tantra, and a ferocious aspect of Mahadevi, the Hindu Mother goddess. The self-decapitated nude goddess, usually standing or seated on a divine copulating couple, holding her own severed head in one hand and a scimitar in another. Three jets of blood spurt out of her bleeding neck and are drunk by her severed head and two attendants.
Chhinnamasta is a goddess of contradictions. She symbolises both aspects of Devi: a life-giver and a life-taker. She is considered both a symbol of sexual self-control and an embodiment of sexual energy, depending upon interpretation. She represents death, temporality, and destruction as well as life, immortality, and recreation. The goddess conveys spiritual self-realization and the awakening of the kundalini – spiritual energy. The legends of Chhinnamasta emphasise her self-sacrifice – sometimes coupled with a maternal element – sexual dominance, and self-destructive fury.
Chhinnamasta is worshipped in the Kalikula sect of Shaktism, the Goddess-centric tradition of Hinduism. Though Chhinnamasta enjoys patronage as one of the Mahavidyas, temples devoted to her (found mostly in Nepal and eastern India) and her public worship are rare. However, she is a significant Tantric deity, well known and worshipped among esoteric Tantric practitioners. Chhinnamasta is closely related to Chinnamunda – the severed-headed form of the Tibetan Buddhist goddess Vajrayogini.
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Chhinnamasta (Sanskrit: छिन्नमस्ता, Chinnamastā :"She whose head is severed"), often spelled Chinnamasta, and also called Chhinnamastika and Prachanda...
and also from the neighbouring states of West Bengal and Bihar. The Chhinnamasta temple is popular for its Tantric style of architectural design. Apart...
sacred sites. The legend of Chhinnamasta Devi is apparently also part of the Shaktism tradition in Chintpurni. Here, Chhinnamasta is interpreted as the severed-headed...
Chhinnamasta is a village development committee in Saptari District in the Sagarmatha Zone of south-eastern Nepal. At the time of the 2011 Nepal census...
attracting an estimated 2,500-3,000 persons daily. The main attraction of the Chhinnamasta (also known as Chinnamastika) temple located here is the headless deity...
Shaktisimhadeva, the fifth ruler of the Karnata dynasty. The temple is in Chhinnamasta Rural Municipality, Saptari, 10 km from Rajbiraj near the Indian border...
Rati is often depicted with a sword. In Tantra, the Mahavidya goddess Chhinnamasta is depicted severing her own head and standing on the copulating couple...
armed Garuda and Laxmi seated on the lap of Vishnu Chhinnamasta:- Temple dedicated to Chhinnamasta Devi, who beheaded herself, offered her own blood to...
area government "Machha Palan Kendra" fish farming centre. The famous Chhinnamasta temple is one of the Shakti Peeths and Kankalini Temple are also located...
attributes and iconography are similar to those of the Hindu goddess Chhinnamasta. Chinnamunda is often portrayed alongside Mekhala and Kanakhala, the...
mundamala is generally described as fifty. Other Mahavidyas like Tara, Chhinnamasta, Bhairavi, Dhumavati and Matangi are depicted or at least described wearing...
hills and holy places. Parasnath, Baidyanath Dham, Maa Dewri Temple and Chhinnamasta Temple are major religious places. Tattapani Hot Water Spring is located...
commercial establishments and residential areas thereafter. There is Chhinnamasta Temple on the banks of the Damodar River. Melas are held every year in...
Jharkhand state. It is a mining, industrial and cultural hub with the Maa Chhinnamasta Temple. In 1670s, the king Dalel Singh shifted the capital of Ramgarh...
v t e North Chotanagpur division topics General Chota Nagpur Plateau Chhinnamasta Temple Dhanbad Municipal Corporation Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary Koderma...
Valerie of Limoges Vitores de Cerezo Winefride Wyllow Saint symbology Chhinnamasta – a Hindu goddess holding her own severed head Beheading game – Motif...
Cephalophore, a martyred saint who supposedly carries their severed head. Chhinnamasta, a Hindu goddess who supposedly decapitates herself and holds her head...
v t e North Chotanagpur division topics General Chota Nagpur Plateau Chhinnamasta Temple Dhanbad Municipal Corporation Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary Koderma...
v t e North Chotanagpur division topics General Chota Nagpur Plateau Chhinnamasta Temple Dhanbad Municipal Corporation Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary Koderma...
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