Maa Chhinnamastika Temple, Rajrappa

01The Devi who cut her own head

Chhinnamasta is the sixth of the ten Mahavidyas. The Tantras tell that after bathing with her two companions, Jaya and Vijaya, the Devi found them hungry, cut off her own head with a sword, and let three streams of blood flow, one into her own mouth and one into each of theirs. She is shown holding her head in her left hand. The image at Rajrappa, cut in rock, is worshipped with a covering, and only the priest sees it unveiled.

02The confluence

The Bhairavi falls into the Damodar over rocks just below the temple, and pilgrims bathe in the confluence before darshan. Around the main shrine stand smaller temples of the other Mahavidyas and of Mahadev. Goats are offered here on Tuesdays and Saturdays and at Kali Puja, and sadhakas come at night in the dark fortnight. The busiest days are Makar Sankranti and the Navaratris.