Dimensions: 7.9 inch X 9.9 inch HinduWatercolor on Paper - Artist- Kailash RajThis shocking image of the headless nude female and her two nude companions, drinking blood gushing from her torso, rendered against an opaque pale background, is a 'tantrika' manifestation of the Divine female. This form of the Divine female is widely known as Chhinnamasta. As suggests her name, Chhinnamasta, one of the ten 'Mahavidyas', is the goddess who severs her head ? 'mastaka', by her own hands to feed her devotees. Chhinnamasta, despite of decapitation, does not symbolise death, dissolution or end, but only life, which she sustains by feeding the severed head, as well as others, with her own blood. Biologically, everyone feeds one's head with one's blood. But, centred on himself, he feeds only his own head. Chhinnamasta cuts off her head ? symbolically, the centredness, and this enables her to also feed others besides herself. The form of Chhinnamasta inspires the 'tantrika' to cut off his head, that is, to relinquish his centredness, as this alone would give him the power to live beyond death, to live across decapitation. Deity's own prominently depicted sex organ and breasts, one bearing life and the other nourishing this life, subordinate death to life. Chhinnamasta stands ? and this form is in exact adherence to the established tradition, on the figures of Kamadeva and Rati, respectively the god of love and his consort, engaged in the unbroken act of sexual intercourse. Chhinnamasta displays her nude form, though a pendant of one of her necklaces has incidentally covered her vulva. It is the same with her devotee-companions, Varnini on the right side and Dakini on the left. Varnini stands for 'Satoguna' ? brighter aspects, and Dakini, for 'Rajoguna' ? darker aspects, but the emphasis on displaying their
