Why did she cut off her own head?

When I wrote the post on Creativity and Bloodletting, I discovered Chinnamasta. This self-decapitating goddess really fascinates me. It's such a strange image. A goddess cuts off her own head to feed her devotees while standing on a goddess and a god who are busily having sex... I hardly know what to think.

Just in case you're having trouble actually visualizing this, here's what it looks like! My sister loves painting religious icons... I wonder if she'd ever be tempted to do this one.



Here's the story behind the image:

One day Parvati went to bathe in the Mandakini river…with her attendants, Jaya and Vijaya. After bathing, the great goddess’s color became black because she was sexually aroused. After some time, her two attendants asked her, "Give us some food. We are hungry.” She replied, “I shall give you food but please wait.” After awhile, again they asked her. She replied, “Please wit, I am thinking about some matters.”

Waiting awhile, they implored her, “You are the mother of the universe. A child asks everything from her mother. The mother gives her children not only food but also coverings for the body. So that is why we are praying to you for food. You are known for your mercy; please give us food.”

Hearing this, the consort of Shiva told them that she would give anything when they reached home. But again her two attendants begged her, “We are overpowered with hunger, O Mother of the Universe. Give us food so we may be satisfied, O Merciful One, Bestower of Boons and Fulfiller of Desires.”

Hearing this true statement, the merciful goddess smiled and severed her head. As soon as she severed her head, her head fell on the palm of her left hand. Three bloodstreams emerged from her throat; the left and right fell respectively into the mouths of her flanking attendants and the center one fell into her own mouth. After performing this, all were satisfied and later returned home. From this act Parvati became known as Chinnamasta.