Receive the Blessings of Life’s Joy from the Sixth Mahavidya

The sixth Mahavidya among the ten, Maa Chhinnamastika Jayanti, will be celebrated on 11 May 2025. The Goddess manifested on Vaishakh Chaturdashi. Though her form appears terrifying, she holds deep messages of nourishment and protection. Devotees also refer to her as Prachanda Chandika. According to several scholars, devotees worship her through Tantric rituals.

Tantric Tradition Guides the Worship of the Goddess

Devotees engage in Tantric and Aghori practices to worship the fierce form of Goddess Chhinnamastika. Monks from the Nath tradition especially revere her. Even Guru Gorakhnath worshipped her with deep devotion. Demons like Hiranyakashipu and Virochana also offered devotion to her, which is why people worship her as Vajra Vairochani.

However, householders also worship her through simple and traditional methods. In Gujarat, devotees worship her in a form called Jogani, a variation of the name Yogini, another title of the Goddess.

Description of Chhinnamastika’s Form

Goddess Chhinnamastika exhibits a terrifying appearance. She holds her severed head in her hand, drinking the blood flowing from her neck. Her two companions, Dakini and Varnini, also drink from the blood streams. Three blood streams flow from her body. The Goddess possesses a fiery red complexion, and her aura surpasses thousands of suns. At times, she appears with disheveled hair, emphasizing her fierce energy.

The Origin of Maa Chhinnamastika

Two popular legends explain the origin of Goddess Chhinnamastika.According to the Markandeya Purana and Shiva Purana, after the Goddess assumed the Chandi form and vanquished the demons, celebrations erupted across the universe. Her companions Jaya and Vijaya remained thirsty for blood.

To satisfy them, the Goddess severed her own head and let her blood quench their thirst. This act earned her the name Chhinnamastika. In Tantric texts, devotees also call her Prachanda Chandika and Chintapurni Mata.

Another legend describes the Goddess walking along the Mandakini river with Jaya and Vijaya. When they expressed hunger, the Goddess severed her head, allowing three streams of blood to flow. She let Jaya and Vijaya drink two streams and consumed the third herself.

Worship Method of Maa Chhinnamastika

Wake up early and bathe.
Wear clean clothes.
Take a vow to perform the worship with devotion.
Install the idol or image of Goddess Chhinnamastika on an altar.
Bathe the idol with Ganga water, Panchamrit, and clean water.
Apply vermilion (kumkum) and red turmeric (sindoor) as tilak.
Offer a garland of Hibiscus (Gudhal) flowers to the Goddess.
Present offerings like cloves, cardamom, sugar drops, coconut, sweets, and fruits.
Complete the ritual by performing aarti.
Chant Vedic mantras and meditate upon the Goddess.
Ask for forgiveness for any mistakes during the ritual.
Perform Kanya Puja (worship of young girls) as prescribed.
If you do not know any specific mantra, recite the Chhinnamastika Ashtottara Shatanamavali (108 names of the Goddess).