Chinnamasta Mhavidya
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. 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.
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