Lying nearly ten kilometers south, almost bordering Province Bihar, India, from Rajbiraj, Saptari, Province 2 , Nepal, Chhinnamasta temple, with another name Sakhada Temple, regarded as a vibrant Shakti Peeth, meaning a source of great power bestowed from God, especially among the dogmatic Hindus in Nepal and India. During the time of the greatest Hindu festival Dashain, the temple becomes colourful with blood from sacrificed animals like goats, pigeons, hens, etc.
A legend tells us that the Chhinnamasta temple was established by the fifth son of king Nanyadev, contemporarily ruling in the kingdom of Tirahut , known as Karntaka in India. Defeated by a massive assault planned by Muslims, King Nanyadev was forced to leave his kingdom and so fled to Simrounagadh, Bara, in Nepal. Later another king from the same dynasty named Sakrasinha Dev came to Saptari , established the temple and chose to live there throughout his life. There is an ancient statue of goddess Bhagawati here. It is after the name of the king Sakrasinha Dev that the temple also derives the name Sakhada Bhagawati temple.
The term ‘Chhinnamasta’ means’ beheaded’. This is one of the ten forms of Goddess Durga, also known as Bhagawati. The Chhinnamasta statue is a posture of Goddess Durga with her left hand holding her own head and drinking her own blood flowing from her neck. This statue stands on the body of Kamadeva, god of sensuality, and his wife, beloved, Rati on the bed of Lotus flower.
-Article written by: Bedu Khatiwoda for Land Nepal
