The Supreme Sacrifice of Motherhood
पौराणिक कथाओं के अनुसार, देवी छिन्नमस्ता माँ पार्वती का ही एक उग्र और भीषण रौद्र रूप हैं। The story goes that once, Goddess Parvati went to bathe in the Mandakini river along with her two attendants (सहचरियां - Dakini and Varnini).
After bathing for a long time, her attendants became extremely hungry. भूख से व्याकुल होकर उन्होंने देवी पार्वती से भोजन मांगा। However, the Goddess, engrossed in her divine play, told them to wait a little longer. The attendants lost their patience and cried out, "A mother would even feed her children with her own blood to satisfy their hunger, but you are not doing anything for us!" (मां तो अपने बच्चों का पेट भरने के लिए रक्त तक पिला देती है)।
Hearing this pure, innocent demand from her devotees, the Goddess was moved. यह बात सुनकर देवी पार्वती ने तुरंत अपना खड्ग (Sword) उठाया और स्वयं अपना शीश (सिर) धड़ से अलग कर दिया!
From her severed neck, three streams of fresh blood erupted (रक्त की तीन धाराएं निकलीं). She directed two of the streams into the mouths of her hungry attendants, Dakini and Varnini, completely satisfying their hunger. She directed the third stream into the mouth of her own severed head, satisfying herself.
