Dasha Mahavidya

shiva-parvati.blogspot.com.ar/2014/08/dasha-mahavidya.html

Adi Shakti Durga with Dasha Mahavidyas

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Om The Goddess Chandi is one who vanquished demons Madhu - Kaitabha, who killed demon Mahishsura, who
destroyed demons Dhumralochana and also Chanda - Munda, who swallowed demon Raktabija, who annihilated
demons Shumbha - Nishumbha, who bestows Siddhis. May that Supreme Goddess, who is Lordess of the cosmos,
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may she bless us in all her 90 million forms.

The Great Goddess Kali, who elevated Kalidasa from an illiterate fool to the greatest Sanskrit scholar and dramatist
of his time, is my Aradhya. May she protect us with her sword, which is pure conciousness, by beheading the
demons of ignorance.
Om Kali, jai Kali.
Om Kali, Mahakali.

Dasha Mahavidya

Dasha Mahavidyas at Shibpur Bijayee Sangha Kali Puja Pandal, Kolkata

Dasha Mahavidyas are a group of ten Tantric forms of Adi Shakti, the Supreme Goddess. They range from
extremely fierce and malevolent to extremely benign and benevolent aspects of Sati, and later Parvati. Each
Mahavidya represents a particular feature of the Supreme Goddess and are worshiped for attainment of the four
aims of human life, or for Nirvana. They find mention in many texts, particularly Tantric literature and also in Shiva
Purana, where they are depicted assisting Goddess Durga in her battle with demon Durgamasura. Here we will see
the names, aspect, Mantras, anecdotes and notable temples of each of the ten Mahavidyas. Since each Mahavidya
is a form of Parvati, Lord Shiva unites with all Mahavidyas under various names.

Kali

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Kali is the first and foremost among Mahavidyas, and the patron deity
of Kali Kula school of Shaktism. Kali is also famous for being the
patron of Bhakti saints like Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa,
Ramprasad Sen and Kamalakanta Bhattacharjee. Kali is worshiped
more in West Bengal than anywhere else. From roadside shrines to
shops, from charnel grounds to every household, Kali is everywhere
in Kolkata. It is a must for all Bengali settlements outside Bengal to
have a Kali temple. Also, Kali is the only Goddess of Hindu pantheon
who doesnt needs any introduction in West, where she is revered as
a role model of feminists. Popular among both householders as well
as ascetics, Kali is worshiped in two forms viz., Dakshina Kali and
Vama Kali. Other forms are Mahakali, Bhadrakali, Guhyakali,
Rakshakali Chamunda, Guhyeshvari, Raktadantika, Bhima and
Smashana Kali.

Aspect

Kali represents destructive aspect of Parvati

Consort

Mahakala

Mantra

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namo drigheSvarIm devI sarva kAma phala pradA l

dirghAkArA kuNDalayuktA siddhim yaccha sureSvarI ll

kAlI kAlI mahAkAlI kAlike pApanASinI l

khaDga haste muNDa haste kAlI kAli namastu te ll

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Anecdote

Kali makes her maiden appearance in Devi Mahatmyah, where she is invoked by Goddess Durga in her battle with
demons Chanda Munda and Raktabija. By killing Chanda Munda, Kali earns the name Chamunda. She also
appears in Atharva Veda and Kathaka Grihyasutra. Her other notable appearances are as follows:

1) On one occasion, Parvati invoked Kali to kill demoness Daruka (Linga Purana).

2) Parvati sends Kali as an emissary to Durgamasura (Shiva Purana).

3) Lord Shiva and Parvati send Virabhadra and Kali to destroy the second Yagna of Prajapati Daksha
(Mahabharata).

4) Kali incarnates as Prajapati Dakshas 64th daughter, Dakshayani Sati (Kalika Purana).

5) Kali fights and defeats demon Shankhachuda (Vayu Purana).

Notable temples

The city of Kolkata derives its name from the ancient Kali temple
at Kalighat. The Kalighat temple is amounted as one of the 51
Shakti Pithas. Other than this, the Dakshineshvar Kali temple
also attracts crowds of devotees. Kalkaji temple of Delhi and Kali
temple of Amarkantak are also famous. Chamunda Devi temple
of Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, Chamundeshvari Temple of
Mysore, Karnataka and Guhya Kali temple of Kathmandu, Nepal
are other known temples.

Tara

Tara is the second Mahavidya and also the second patron deity
of Kali Kula Shaktism. Favourite of ascetics and hermits, Tara is
often identified with Kali due to their almost identical
iconographies and is considered to be Vama Kali herself.
Besides this, Tara is also worshiped by Buddhist Tantiks. Tara is Kalighat Kali Temple, Kolkata, West Bengal
also patron of Bengali Tantric saint Bamakhepa (Vamadev). Tara
too has various forms such as Neelasarasvati, Ugra Tara, Smashana Tara, Shanta Tara, Adya Devi and Aparajita.

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Aspect

Tara represents the protector aspect of Parvati.

Consort

Akshobya

Mantra

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pratyalIDa pade ghore muNDamAlA upa Sobhite l

sarve lambodare bhIme ugra tArA namastu te ll

Anecdote

According to various Tantric texts, Parvati appears as Tara to assist Lord Shiva to drink venom during Samudra
Manthan (Churning of ocean).Other instances include Tara fighting battle against demons Andhakasura and Ruru
(Shiva Purana).

Notable temples

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Tara Pith temple in Rampurhat near Kolkata is the most important
temple of Tara. Reputed as a Siddha Pitha, it is believed to have
been established by Sage Vashishta himself. Other temples include
Tara Tarini temple of Behrampur, Odisha, which is counted as one of
the four Adi Shakti Pithas of Kalika Purana (Kalighat, Kamarup
Kamakhya and Vimala Pitha being the other three). Other important
temples are Ugra Tara temple of Guwahati, Assam and Tarini temple
near Bhubaneshwar, Odisha.

Tripurasundari/Kamakhya /

Tripurasundari/Kamakhya is the third Mahavidya and the patron deity

of Sri Vidya school of Shaktism. However, she in her Kamakhya form
is considered as a Kali Kula deity. Tripurasundari is notably
worshiped in Yoni Pithas and Sri Chakra. The Kali Kula, Kalika
Purana, Yogini Tantra and Kamakhya tradition reveres her as a form
and/or Kali herself. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa is noted to
worship his consort Sri Ma Sharoda Debi as Shodashi Devi. Her
various forms as Lalita Devi, Kamakhya Devi, Bala Devi,
Rajarajeshvari, Shodashi, Maha Tripurasundari and Mohini. She is
considered to be Tantric Parvati.

Aspect

Tara Pith Tara Temple, Rampurhat, West Bengal

Tripurasundari/Kamakhya represents creative aspect of Parvati.

Consort

Sadashiva
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Mantra

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kAmAkhyA kAma sampannA kAmeSvarI harapriyA l

kAmanA dehi me nityam kAmeSvari namastu te ll

kAmAkhye varade devI nIla parvata vAsini l

tvam jagatam mAtA rupeNa yonI mudre namastu te ll

kAmArthamAgatA yasmAnmayA sArddhaM mahAgirO l

kAmAkhyA pracyate devI nIlaSEle rahogatA ll
kAmadA kAminI kAmakAMtA kAmAMgadAyinI l
kAmAMganASinI yasmAt kAmAkhyA tena pracyate ll

Anecdote

Tripurasundari makes her debut appearance in Lalitopakhyana section of Brahmanda Purana, where she is invoked
to slay demon Bhandasura and his hordes. Other than this, Kamakhya makes her debut appearance in Kalika
Purana as the presiding deity of Kamarupa region (Assam) in North-East India. Kalika Purana also describes that
when Cupid was incinerated and later resurrected by Lord Shiva, he advised Cupid to perform penances to appease
Goddess Kamakhya to regain his form. Temple lores of Kamakhya Temple recount that how Kamakhya Devi cursed
Narkasura to die at Lord Krishnas hands when the demon proposed the Goddess for marriage. Another temple lore
recounts that how Kamakhya Devi killed the army of the king of Cooch Behar for trespassing the temple during
Ambuvachi festival, when the Goddess undergoes her annual menstrual cycle (the Yoni inside the sanctum
sanctorum of the temple oozes iron oxide into the natural streamlet that originates from the Yoni, giving the streamlet
blood-red color) and then cursed the king for watching her secret dance with the help of a corrupt priest (whom
Kamakhya kills for this blasphemy) by forbidding him and his descendants from even glancing at the Nilachal hillock
(on which the temple is situated). Another temple lore from Tripura recounts that how Tripurasundari instructed the
local king to retrieve the Sati Pinda from dense forest and construct a temple in her honour.

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Notable temples

Kamarupa Kamakhya Temple of Guwahati is not only the most

important of all Shaktipithas, but also the most famous temple of
Tripurasundari/Kamakhya. Previously a tribal sacrificial site to the
Khasi Goddess Kameke/Kamekha, Kamkhya Temple complex
has temples dedicated to each Mahavidya. Tripureshvari temple
of Udaipur, Tripura is another important temple of Tripurasundari
and along with Kamakhya temple, it is also counted as a Shakti
Pitha. Another Shakti Pitha dedicated to Tripurasundari is
Lalitambika temple of Prayag (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh.

Bhuvaneshvari

Bhuvaneshvari is the fourth Mahavidya. Durga, Chandika, Sati,

Parvati, Siddhidatri, Chandraghanta, Kushamanda, Kaushiki and
Ambika are her other forms. She is often identified as Adishakti
herself and thus the female half of Lord Shiva in his
Ardhanarishvara form.

Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati, Assam

Aspect

Bhuvaneshvari represents the Lordship or governing aspect of Parvati.

Consort

Trayambaka

Mantra

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bhuvaneSI mahAmAyA suryamaNDala rupiNI l
namAmi varadAm SuddhAm kAmAkhyA rupiNI SivA ll

Anecdote

All Shaivite and Shakta Puranas identify Bhuvaneshvari as Adi

Shakti who along with Lord Shiva creates everything. Shiva Purana
and Devi Bhagavatam are two such texts.

Notable temples

Bhuvaneshvari temples of Cuttack, Odisha, Chennai, Tamil Nadu,

Udaipur, Rajasthan & Jamshedpur, Jharkhand and Vaishno Devi of
Katra, Jammu & Kashmir, Jvala Devi of Jwalamukhi, Himachal
Pradesh and Chandi Devi of Haradwar, Uttarakhand are of
great importance.

Bhairavi

Bhairavi is the fifth Mahavidya. Favourite of hermits, she is

the consort of Lord Shivas fierce form Bhairava. Bhairavi is
often identified as Kali and Tara & also Durga and also as Vaishno Devi Temple, Katra, Jammu & Kashmir
the eight Matrikas (Brahmi, Maheshvari, Kaumari,
Vaishnavi, Varahi, Narasinghi, Aparajita, Chamunda). Her other names are Tripurabhairavi, Brahmacharini, Aparna,
Mahamaya, Linga Bhairavi and Balabharavi.

Aspect

Bhairavi represents asceticism of Parvati

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Consort

Dakshinamurti

Mantra

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mahApadma vanannrutAste paramAnanda vigrahe l

Sabda brahmamaye devI vande tripura bhairavI ll

Anecdote

All Tantras are presented in the form of a conversation between Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati. Here, Lord Shiva and
Devi Parvati discuss matters of spirituality with each other and are known as the Bhairava and the Bhairavi.
According to Shiva Purana, Bhairavi is the ancient form of Adishakti who slew Madhu Kaitabha to protect Brahma
& Vishnu. In the same Purana, she enlightens Lakulisha, a devotee of Lord Shiva, with the secret of Lord Shivas
skull garland. In Devi Mahatmyah, she is depicted slaying Mahishasura, Dhumralochana and Shumbha
Nishumbha.

Notable temples

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 Bhairavi Devalay, Tezpur, Assam

Bhairavi Devalay of Tezpur, Mahamaya temple of Dhubri, Dirgheshvari temple of Guwahati, all of which are in
Assam are important centres of Bhairavi worship. Other than this, the Siddha Bhairavi temple of Martindi, Odisha,
Bhairavi Shakti Pitha at Gokarna, Nepal and Linga Bhairavi temple at Kovai, Tamil Nadu also attract crowds.

Chhinnamasta

Chhinnamasta is the sixth Mahavidya and is better known for her act
of self-decapitation. She is identified as various goddesses such as
Durga, Chandi, Kamakhya and Kali. However, her closest
association is with the Buddhist Tantrik goddesses such as
Chhinnamunda, Vajrayogini and Vajravarahi. Her other forms are
Prachanda Chandika, Gupta Kamakhya, Guhya Durga and
Vairochana.

Aspect

Chhinnamasta represents self-sacrificing aspect of Parvati.

Consort

Kabandha

Mantra

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gupta durge mahAbhAge gupta pApa praNASinI l

saptajanmArjita pApa trAhimAm SaraNAgati ll

namaste gupta kAmAkhye tubhyam trailokyapUjite l

prayAcha vividham nityam devI sipriye ll

Anecdote

In Tantric literature, it is said that after the end of war with Mahishasura, when Dakini and Varini, two attendants of
Durga told her that even after drinking blood of demons their blood-thirst remains unquenched, Durga beheaded
herself and satisfied her attendants with her blood. Another version says that once Parvati decapitated herself and
quenched the thirst of Jaya and Vijaya, her two attendents. Another oral legend says that Parvati drank the demons
share of Somaras and thereafter decapitated herself to prevent them from acquiring it.

Notable temples

Chintapurni Mata Temple, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh

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Chintapurni Mata Temple of Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, Chhinnamasta temples of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh,
Bishnupur, West Bengal and Deoghar, Jharkhand are some of the famous temples. Also, there is a famous
Chhinnamasta-Vajrayogini temple in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Dhumavati

Dhumavati is the seventh Mahavidya and is considered

inauspicious. Among all Hindu Goddesses, Dhumavati alone
appears as a widow. Goddess of death and decay, she is associated
with Alakshmi, Jyeshtha and Niritti.

Aspect

Dhumavati represents the cursed aspect of Parvati.

Consort

Being a widow, Dhumavati has no consort .

Mantra

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devIm koTeSvarIm SuddhAm pApAgni kAmarupiNI I

namAmi muktikAmaya muktim dehi harapriye ll

Anecdote

There are many versions of the anecdote on Dhumavati. According to one version, once Sati swallowed Lord Shiva
out of hunger, because of which Lord Shiva cursed her to lose her youth & beauty and become an old widowed
woman. Another version says that Dhumavati is burnt remains of Sati herself. Vamana Purana version says that
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when Dhuralochan confronted Durga, she soaked all smoke into her and became Dhumavati and killed
Dhumralochan.
Another version says that Dhumavati is the charred remains of Sati, after the later quit Her mortal coil through self
immolation. Akshay Tritiya is said to be the death anniversary of Lady Sati, and thus inauspicious within Shakta
circle.

Notable temples

Dhumavati temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh and

Rajpara, Bihar are the only two known Dhumavati
temples.

Bagalamukhi

Bagalamukhi is the eighth Mahavidya and is famed for

paralyzing her foes. She is worshiped to get rid of
enemies. Her other forms include Pitambara,
Brahmastrarupini and Vak Shakti.

Aspect

Bagalamukhi represents the Courageous aspect of

Parvati.
Dhumavati Temple, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Consort

Maharudra

Mantra

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prapadye SaraNam devI Sri kAmAkhye sureSvarI l

Sivasya dayitAm devI kAmAkhya kAmarupiNI ll

Anecdote

Bagalamukhi is said to have manifested at the request of Lord

Vishnu from Haridra Sarovar to subdue a storm that would have
destroyed all living beings from the surface of earth. Also,
Bagalamukhi slew the demon Madanasura, who had achieved Vak-
Siddhi from Brahma which caused the Asura's curses to come true.
Hence Devi pulled out his tongue and killed him.

Notable temples

Pitambara Shakti Pitha, Datia, Madhya Pradesh

Pitambara Shakti Pitha of Datia, Madhya Pradesh, Bagalamukhi temples in Bankhandi, Himachal Pradesh, Patan in
Nepal and Shajapur in Madhya Pradesh are some of the famous temples. Kamakhya Temple complex also houses
a Bagalamukhi temple.

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Matangi

Matangi is the ninth Mahavidya and is considered an outcaste

goddess. Revered as Tantric Sarasvati, Matangi is said to be
Tripurasundaris prime minister in Sri Vidya traditions and an
attendant of Kamakhya in Kali Kula tradition. Her other forms are
Raja Matangi, Shyamala, Chandalika and Ucchishtha Changulini.

Aspect

Matangi represents knowledge aspect of Parvati.

Consort

Matanga (Chandeshvara) ( )

Mantra

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sarasvatyam namo nityam bhadrakAlyam nomo namah l

veda vedanta vedanga vidyA sthAnebhya eva cha ll

Anecdote

According to Kalika Purana, Matangi is wife of sage Matanga who transforms into Kali and kills Shumbha,
Nishumbha and their hordes. According to Vamana Purana, Matangi is born from the leftovers of Lord Shiva. She is
described as one of the war companion of Goddess Durga in Shiva Purana and in Lalitopakhyan, she participates
and assists Tripurasundari

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Notable temples

Meenakshi Devi of Madurai is considered an Avatar of Matangi

Devi. Also, she is worshiped inside the main sanctum sanctorum
of Kamakhya temple along with Kamakhya and Kamala.

Kamala

Kamala is the tenth and last Mahavidya. Due to her association

with Lakshmi, Kamalas consort is said to be consort of Lord
Vishnu. Revered as the Tantric Lakshmi, she is another
attendant of Kamakhya. The city of Mumbai has been named
after her Mumba Devi form. Her other forms are Kamalatmika,
Padma, Padmavati, Lakshmi, Vishnu Vallabha, Indira,
Mahalakshmi, Mumba Devi and Haripriya.

Aspect

Kamala represents the prosperous aspect. Madurai Meenakshi Devi

Consort

Vishnu

Mantra

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sadAchAra priye devI SuklapuShpa vara priye l

gomAyAdi suchi prIte mahAlakshmI namastu te ll

Anecdote
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During the churning of ocean, Kamala came in disguise of a rotting corpse. No one except Lord Shiva came near
her. Thereafter Kamala became Lord Shivas wife. Also, it was Kamala who vanquished the demon called
Mumbasura in her Mumba Devi.

Notable temples

Mahalakshmi Temple, Kolhapur, Maharashtra

Mumba Devi temple of Mumbai and Mahalakshmi temple of Kolhapur, both of which are in Maharashtra are the only
two independent temples of Kamala. Other than these, she is worshiped inside the main sanctum santorum of
Kamakhya temple along with Kamakhya and Matangi.

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