Have you been noticing the rising number of politicians and 'religious leaders' who seem obsessed with lopping off heads: either their own or that of others. Are they influenced by tales of head-offering that we find in the Puranas?

It all starts with Rudra, the fiercest form of Shiva, who wrenches off the fifth head of Brahma that mouths profanities on seeing the Goddess. The head, or kapala, sears into Shiva's palm, transforming him into Kapalika, who has to wander the earth and find a place where he can rid himself of the head in his hand. Liberation happens when he washes his hand in Kashi.