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| Mekhala and Kanakhala were daughters of a householder in Devikotta (]), who married them to sons of a boatman. Their husbands taunted them and their neighbours gossiped about them. Finally, Kanakhala could take the abuse any more and suggested Mekhala that they should flee from their house. However, the wise Mekhala told her younger sister that they deserved it and would have to face the same torment somewhere else if they run away; they stay and bear the agony.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1_cGIppWCeYC|title=Masters of Mahamudra: Songs and Histories of the Eighty-Four Buddhist Siddhas|last=Dowman|first=Keith|date=|publisher=SUNY Press|year=2010|isbn=9781438401485|location=|pages=317-20|language=en|via=}}</ref> | Mekhala and Kanakhala were daughters of a householder in Devikotta (]), who married them to sons of a boatman. Their husbands taunted them and their neighbours gossiped about them. Finally, Kanakhala could take the abuse any more and suggested Mekhala that they should flee from their house. However, the wise Mekhala told her younger sister that they deserved it and would have to face the same torment somewhere else if they run away; they stay and bear the agony.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1_cGIppWCeYC|title=Masters of Mahamudra: Songs and Histories of the Eighty-Four Buddhist Siddhas|last=Dowman|first=Keith|date=|publisher=SUNY Press|year=2010|isbn=9781438401485|location=|pages=317-20|language=en|via=}}</ref> | ||
| The mahasiddha guru Krishnacharya (]) passed by their house with his retinue of 700 dakas and ]<nowiki/>s. The sisters prostrated to the guru and explained their anguish. Krishnacharya instructed them in the ] (spiritual practice) of the goddess ]. The sisters practised the meditative techniques for 12 years and accomplished their goal.<ref name=":0" /> | The mahasiddha guru Krishnacharya (]) passed by their house with his retinue of 700 dakas and ]<nowiki/>s. The sisters prostrated to the guru and explained their anguish. Krishnacharya instructed them in the ] (spiritual practice) of the goddess ], a ferocious form of ]. The sisters practised the meditative techniques for 12 years and accomplished their goal.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
| The sisters journeyed to meet their guru to seek further instruction. They bowed to him and circumblulated him in reverance, however Krishnacharya failed to recognize them. They introduced themselves as the married unhappy sisters, he initiated 12 years ago. He inquired if he was their guru, they should have brought him offerings. The sisters asked him his desired offerings. The guru promptly asked for their heads.<ref name=":0" /> | The sisters journeyed to meet their guru to seek further instruction. They bowed to him and circumblulated him in reverance, however Krishnacharya failed to recognize them. They introduced themselves as the married unhappy sisters, he initiated 12 years ago. He inquired if he was their guru, they should have brought him offerings. The sisters asked him his desired offerings. The guru promptly asked for their heads.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
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| The sisters unquestioningly decapitated themselves and offered their severed heads at his feet. Their bodies danced as their severed heads sang reverently. The guru rejoined their heads and torsos. They were known as the "Headless ]<nowiki/>s" henceforth. By this act, they acquired ''mahamudra-]'' (supernatural magical powers) and became a ''mahasiddha''.<ref name=":0" /> | The sisters unquestioningly decapitated themselves and offered their severed heads at his feet. Their bodies danced as their severed heads sang reverently. The guru rejoined their heads and torsos. They were known as the "Headless ]<nowiki/>s" henceforth. By this act, they acquired ''mahamudra-]'' (supernatural magical powers) and became a ''mahasiddha''.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
| After serving the beings of the world for several years, they bodily assumed the Paradise of Dakinis.<ref name=":0" /> | After serving the beings of the world for several years, they bodily assumed Khechara, the Paradise of Dakinis governed by Vajrayogini.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
| == Iconography == | |||
| Mekhala and Kanakhala are depicted with swords held above their heads or dancing with them. They may be also depicted in the act of decapitation.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Buddhist Goddesses of India|last=Shaw|first=Miranda Eberle|date=|publisher=Princeton University Press|year=2006|isbn=0691127581|location=|pages=413|language=en|via=}}</ref> | |||
| == Dating == | |||
| Mekhala and Kanakhala are dated to the late ninth century based on the dating of their guru Krishnacharya, identified with Kanhapa.<ref name=":0" /> | |||
| == Chinnamunda == | |||
| The legend of the sisters is associated with Chinnamunda or Sarvabuddha-dakini, the severed headed form of the goddess Vajrayogini or her form Vajravarahi. The nude self-decapitated goddess, standing in a fighting posture, holds her own severed head in one hand, a knife in another. Three ]<nowiki/>out of her bleeding neck and are drunk by her severed head and two dakini attendants, Vajravaironi and Vajravarnini. The attendants hold a skull and a knife. This form is almost identical to the Hindu goddess ], who is standing on a copulating couple.<ref name=":0" /> | |||
| ] suggests the | |||
| == References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 12:42, 17 August 2016
Mekhala (Mekhalā or Mahakhala - "Elder Mischievous Girl") "The Elder Severed-Headed Sister" and Kanakhala (Kankhala, Kanakhalā - "Younger Mischievous Girl") "The Younger Severed-Headed Sister") are two sisters, who figure in the eighty-four mahasiddhas ("great adept") of Vajrayana Buddhism.
Legend
Mekhala and Kanakhala were daughters of a householder in Devikotta (Bengal), who married them to sons of a boatman. Their husbands taunted them and their neighbours gossiped about them. Finally, Kanakhala could take the abuse any more and suggested Mekhala that they should flee from their house. However, the wise Mekhala told her younger sister that they deserved it and would have to face the same torment somewhere else if they run away; they stay and bear the agony.
The mahasiddha guru Krishnacharya (Kanhapa) passed by their house with his retinue of 700 dakas and dakinis. The sisters prostrated to the guru and explained their anguish. Krishnacharya instructed them in the sadhana (spiritual practice) of the goddess Vajravarahi, a ferocious form of Vajrayogini. The sisters practised the meditative techniques for 12 years and accomplished their goal.
The sisters journeyed to meet their guru to seek further instruction. They bowed to him and circumblulated him in reverance, however Krishnacharya failed to recognize them. They introduced themselves as the married unhappy sisters, he initiated 12 years ago. He inquired if he was their guru, they should have brought him offerings. The sisters asked him his desired offerings. The guru promptly asked for their heads.
The sisters unquestioningly decapitated themselves and offered their severed heads at his feet. Their bodies danced as their severed heads sang reverently. The guru rejoined their heads and torsos. They were known as the "Headless yoginis" henceforth. By this act, they acquired mahamudra-siddhi (supernatural magical powers) and became a mahasiddha.
After serving the beings of the world for several years, they bodily assumed Khechara, the Paradise of Dakinis governed by Vajrayogini.
Iconography
Mekhala and Kanakhala are depicted with swords held above their heads or dancing with them. They may be also depicted in the act of decapitation.
Dating
Mekhala and Kanakhala are dated to the late ninth century based on the dating of their guru Krishnacharya, identified with Kanhapa.
Chinnamunda
The legend of the sisters is associated with Chinnamunda or Sarvabuddha-dakini, the severed headed form of the goddess Vajrayogini or her form Vajravarahi. The nude self-decapitated goddess, standing in a fighting posture, holds her own severed head in one hand, a knife in another. Three jets of blood spurtout of her bleeding neck and are drunk by her severed head and two dakini attendants, Vajravaironi and Vajravarnini. The attendants hold a skull and a knife. This form is almost identical to the Hindu goddess Chhinnamasta, who is standing on a copulating couple.
Taranatha suggests the
References
- ^ Dowman, Keith (2010). Masters of Mahamudra: Songs and Histories of the Eighty-Four Buddhist Siddhas. SUNY Press. pp. 317–20. ISBN 9781438401485.
- Shaw, Miranda Eberle (2006). Buddhist Goddesses of India. Princeton University Press. p. 413. ISBN 0691127581.