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Aarti to Chinnamasta (Prachanda-Chandika, self-decapitated — sixth Mahavidya)

Chinnamasta Aarti (Prachanda-Chandika)

छिन्नमस्ता आरती

Sixth Mahavidya — self-decapitated goddess holding her own severed head in left hand while three streams of blood from her neck nourish her two yoginis Dakini and Varnini and her own severed head. Stands on Kama-Rati couple in viparita-rati. Embodies simultaneous death and rebirth, self-sacrifice and self-sustenance — the supreme Vedantic non-duality expressed in raudra-tantric iconography. Rajrappa where Damodar and Bhairavi rivers meet is the principal seat; Chintpurni in Una district HP is a Shakti Peetha where Sati feet fell.

5 minDuring Chinnamasta Jayanti (Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi) at Chintpurni temple Himachal Pradesh and Rajrappa temple Jharkhand — the foremost Chinnamasta peethas. Sung at midnight by initiated tantric upasakas; not part of public temple repertoire in most regions.

Lyrics (Devanagari)

जय प्रचण्ड चण्डिका छिन्नमस्ता। षष्ठी महाविद्या रौद्र-शस्ता॥

स्व मस्तक स्व हस्त धारिणी। त्रिधारा रक्त डाकिनी वर्णिनी तर्पणी॥

काम रति युगल पर खड़ी हुई। विपरीत रति में संलग्ना सुई॥

राजरप्पा दामोदर तट विराजे। चिंतपूर्णी हिमाचल में साजे॥

आत्म बलिदान आत्म पोषिणी। अद्वैत तत्त्व की मूर्त रूपिणी॥

जय जय छिन्नमस्ता जगदम्बे। तन्त्र मार्ग की परम आराध्ये॥

English Transliteration

Jai Prachanda Chandika Chinnamasta | Shashti Mahaavidya raudra-shasta

Sva mastaka sva hasta dhaarini | Tridhaara rakta Daakini Varnini tarpani

Kaama Rati yugala par khadi hui | Viparita rati mein samlagna sui

Rajrappa Damodara tata viraaje | Chintpurni Himaachal mein saaje

Aatma balidana aatma poshini | Advaita tattva ki murta rupini

Jai jai Chinnamasta Jagadambe | Tantra maarga ki parama aaraadhye

Meaning

Victory to fierce Chandika Chinnamasta, sixth Mahavidya bearing raudra weapons. Holder of her own head in her own hand, satiating Dakini and Varnini with the threefold stream of blood. Standing upon the Kama-Rati couple absorbed in viparita-rati. Enthroned at Rajrappa on the bank of the Damodar, gracing Chintpurni in Himachal. Self-sacrifice and self-sustenance — the embodied form of the Advaita principle. Victory victory to Chinnamasta Jagadamba, supreme deity of the Tantric path.

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Chinnamasta (Prachanda-Chandika, self-decapitated — sixth Mahavidya) pujas, mantras, and festivals

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