Chhinnamasta Jayanti

Chinnamasta Jayanti is the worship of Devi Chinnamasta, who is the fifth of the Dasa Mahavidya. Chinnamasta literally means one whose head is severed. She is also known as Chinnamastika or Prachanda Chandika. Devotees all over the world acknowledge and revere Devi Chinnamasta as an incarnation of Devi Shakti or Kali.

Chinnamasta Jayanti is celebrated in the month of Baisakh, on the Shukla Paksha Chaturdashi, according to traditional Hindu calendars. According to Gregorian calendar this is observed in the month of April or May.

The legend behind Chinnamasta is that once Devi BHavani or Parvati was having a bath in the Mandakini River along with 2 of her aides. While having this bath, she lost all count of time and her aides started feeling hungry. Despite giving reminders, her 2 aides failed to draw her attention. Finally when Devi Parvati realized that she had kept her aides hungry, in shame she cut off her head with her own hand, which fell in her left hand. Three bloodstreams spewed out; of which her two aides drank her blood to satisfy their hunger. From this day this avatar of the devi was known as Chinnamasta and she came to be worshipped as such.

According to the Markandeya Purana, however Devi took this form while killing the demons. According to Markandeya Purana and Shiva Purana Devi turned in to Chandika to demolish the demons. Chandika killed the demons and got victory for the Gods, however her 2 aides, Ajaya and Vijaya were not satiated and they wanted more blood. To quench their thirst for more blood, the Devi cut off her head and offered them her own blood.

Chinnamasta Mata looks like no other goddess. The self beheaded Chinnamasta has her own severed head in her left hand and has a stout sword in the other hand. Three blood streams gush out of her severed neck. Two blood streams are drunk by the 2 aides – Dakini and Varnani. The other blood stream is drunk by herself. She is generally seen standing on top of a couple involved in conjugal activities, who are Kamdeo and Rati or Manmadhan & Rathi lying on lotus bed. Her avatar suggests and signifies that she is both a life-giver and a life-taker in one instance.

Chinnamasta Mata is unique in her disposition. She is an incarnation of the Goddess Kali and as such can be both a life-giver and a life-taker. She is the fifth goddess amongst the Shakti Dasa Mahavidyas. It is believed that worshipping her can take her devotees out from all difficulties. She enhances sexual and spiritual energy in her devotees. She is believed to bring relief to her devotees from all problems such as sexual problems, debt, childlessness, and is believed to bless the devotees with financial prosperity, wish fulfillment, win over enemies etc.

On the auspicious day the place of worship is decorated with beautiful flowers and colorful lights. Devotes observe a strict fast on this day. While invoking her Durga Saptasati puja is done. Dasa Mahavidya and tantric mantra jaap is done. Then Chinnamasta Abhishekam and aarti is done to invoke the goddess. Prasad is then offered to the devotees.

A famous Chinnamasta temple is in Jharkhand in the forest areas of Ramgad. Generally all Chinnamasta temples have Shiva temples surrounding them. Devotees from all over the world observe this day with great fervor as this is the day of the worship of the Devi or Shakti and it is a day dedicated to her puja.

Celebrating and worshipping the Chinnamasta Jayanti has manifold effects. It protects the devotees from the following misfortunes such as:

- Social, financial and physical hardship
- Unfortunate state
- Childlessness
- Poverty
- Misdirection
- Guards from untimely death

Harmful effects of Rahu