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Mahavidya
The Mahavidya (Sanskrit: महाविद्या, IAST:
Mahāvidyā, lit. Great Wisdoms) are a group of
ten Hindu[1] Tantric goddesses.[2] The 10
Mahavidyas are usually named in the following
sequence: Kali, Tara, Tripura Sundari,
Bhuvaneshvari, Bhairavi, Chhinnamasta,
Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi and Kamala.[3]
Nevertheless, the formation of this group
encompass divergent and varied religious
traditions that include yogini worship, Saivism,
Vaishnavism, and Vajrayana Buddhism.[2] Top: Kali, Tara, Tripura Sundari, Bhuvaneshvari,
and Bhairavi
The development of the Mahavidyas represent an Bottom: Chhinnamasta, Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi,
important turning point in the history of Shaktism Matangi, and Kamala
as it marks the rise of the Bhakti aspect in
Shaktism, which reached its zenith in 1700 CE.
First sprung forth in the post-Puranic age, around 6th century CE, it was a new theistic movement
in which the supreme being was envisioned as female. A fact epitomized by texts like Devi-
Bhagavata Purana, especially its last nine chapters (31-40) of the seventh skandha, which are
known as the Devi Gita, and soon became central texts of Shaktism.[4]

Names
Shaktas believe, "the one Truth is sensed in ten different facets; the Divine Mother is adored and
approached as ten cosmic personalities," the Dasa-Mahavidya ("ten-Mahavidyas").[5] As per
another school of thought in Shaktism Mahavidyas are considered to be form of Mahakali. The
Mahavidyas are considered Tantric in nature, and are usually identified as:[6]

1. Kali The goddess who is the ultimate form of Brahman, and the devourer of time (Supreme
Deity of Kalikula systems). Mahakali is of a pitch black complexion, darker than the dark of the
dead of the night. She has three eyes, representing the past, present and future. She has
shining white, fang-like teeth, a gaping mouth, and her red, bloody tongue hanging from there.
She has unbound, disheveled hairs. She wears tiger skins as her garments, a garland of skulls
and a garland of rosy red flowers around her neck, and on her belt, she was adorned with
skeletal bones, skeletal hands as well as severed arms and hands as her ornamentation. She
has four hands, two of them had the trident called the trishula and the sword and two others
carried a demon head and a bowl collecting the blood dripping from a demon head.
2. Tara The goddess who acts as a guide and a protector, and she who offers the ultimate
knowledge that grants salvation. She is the goddess of all sources of energy. The energy of the
sun is believed to originate from her. She manifested as the mother of Shiva after the incident
of Samudra Manthana to heal him as her child. Tara is of a light blue complexion. She has
disheveled hair, wearing a crown decorated with the digit of the half-moon. She has three eyes,
a snake coiled comfortably around her throat, wearing the skins of tigers, and a garland of
skulls. She is also seen wearing a belt supporting her skirt made of tiger-skin. Her four hands
carry a lotus, scimitar, demon head and scissors. Her left foot rests on the laying down Shiva.
3. Tripura Sundari (Shodashi, Lalita) The goddess who is "beauty of the three worlds" (Supreme
Deity of Srikula systems); the "Tantric Parvati" or the "Moksha Mukta". She is the ruler of
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Manidvipa, the eternal supreme abode of the

goddess. Shodashi is seen with a molten gold
complexion, three placid eyes, a calm mien,
wearing red and pink vestments, adorned with
ornaments on her divine limbs and four hands,
each holding a goad, lotus, a bow, and arrow.
She is seated on a throne.
4. Bhuvaneshvari The goddess as the world
mother, or whose body comprises all the
fourteen lokas of the cosmos. Bhuvaneshvari is
of a fair, golden complexion, with three content
eyes as well as a calm mien. She wears red and
yellow garments, decorated with ornaments on
her limbs and has four hands. Two of her four
hands hold a goad and noose while her other
two hands are open. She is seated on a divine,
celestial throne.
5. Bhairavi The fierce goddess. The female version
of Bhairava. Bhairavi is of a fiery, volcanic red
complexion, with three furious eyes, and
disheveled hair. Her hair is matted, tied up in a
bun, decorated by a crescent moon as well as
adorning two horns, one sticking out from each
side. She has two protruding tusks from the
ends of her bloody mouth. She wears red and The ten mahavidyas, Rajasthan. Top: Kali.
blue garments and is adorned with a garland of Second row (l->r): Bhairavi, Bhuvaneshvari, Tara.
skulls around her neck. She also wears a belt Third row (l->r): Bagalamukhi, Shodashi,
decorated with severed hands and bones Chhinnamasta. Last row (l->r):Kamalatmika,
attached to it. She is also decked with snakes Matangi, Dhumavati
and serpents too as her ornamentation – rarely
is she seen wearing any jewelry on her limbs.
Of her four hands, two are open and two hold a rosary and book.
6. Chhinnamasta ("She whose head is severed") - The self-decapitated goddess.[7] She chopped
her own head off in order to satisfy Jaya and Vijaya (metaphors of rajas and tamas - part of the
trigunas). Chinnamasta has a red complexion, embodied with a frightful appearance. She has
disheveled hair. She has four hands, two of which hold a sword and another hand holding her
own severed head; three blazing eyes with a frightful mien, wearing a crown. Two of her other
hands hold a lasso and drinking bowl. She is a partially clothed lady, adorned with ornaments
on her limbs and wearing a garland of skulls on her body. She is mounted upon the back of a
copulating couple.
7. Dhumavati The widow goddess. Dhumavati is of a smoky dark brown complexion, her skin is
wrinkled, her mouth is dry, some of her teeth have fallen out, her long disheveled hair is gray,
her eyes are seen as bloodshot and she has a frightening mien, which is seen as a combined
source of anger, misery, fear, exhaustion, restlessness, constant hunger and thirst. She wears
white clothes, donned in the attire of a widow. She is sitting in a horseless chariot as her
vehicle of transportation and on top of the chariot, there is an emblem of a crow as well as a
banner. She has two trembling hands, her one hand bestows boons and/or knowledge and the
other holds a winnowing basket.
8. Bagalamukhi The goddess who paralyzes enemies. Bagalamukhi has a molten gold
complexion with three bright eyes, lush black hair and a benign mien. She is seen wearing
yellow garments and apparel. She is decked with yellow ornaments on her limbs. Her two
hands hold a mace or club and holds demon Madanasura by the tongue to keep him at bay.
She is shown seated on either a throne or on the back of a crane.
9. Matangi - The Prime Minister of Lalita (in Srikula systems), sometimes called Śyāmala ("dark in
complexion", usually depicted as dark blue) and the "Tantric Saraswati". Matangi is most often
depicted as emerald green in complexion, with lush, disheveled black hair, three placid eyes

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and a calm look on her face. She is seen wearing red garments and apparel, bedecked with
various ornaments all over her delicate limbs. She is seated on a royal throne and she has four
hands, three of which hold a sword or scimitar, a skull and a veena (a musical instrument). Her
one hand bestows boons to her devotees.
10. Kamala (Kamalatmika) she who dwells in lotuses; sometimes called the "Tantric Lakshmi".
Kamala is of a molten gold complexion with lush black hair, three bright, placid eyes, and a
benevolent expression. She is seen wearing red and pink garments and apparel and bedecked
with various ornaments and lotuses all over her limbs. She is seated on a fully bloomed lotus,
while with her four hands, two hold lotuses while two grant her devotees' wishes and assures
protection from fear.
All these Mahavidyas reside in Manidvipa.

The Maha bhagavata Purana and Brihaddharma Purana however, list Shodashi (Sodasi) as
Tripura Sundari, which is simply another name for the same goddess.[8]

The Todala-Tantra associates the Mahavidyas with the Dashavatara, the ten avatars of Vishnu, in
chapter ten. They are as follows:

Todala-Tantra Association between the

Mahavidyas and the Dashavatara
No. Mahavidya names Dashavatara names

1. Kali Krishna

2. Tara Matsya
3. Tripura Sundari Parashurama

4. Bhuvaneshvari Vamana

5. Bhairavi Balarama
6. Chhinnamasta Narasimha

7. Dhumavati Varaha

8. Bagalamukhi Kurma
9. Matangi Rama

10 Kamala Buddha

The Guhyati guyha-tantra associates the Mahavidyas with the Dashavatara differently, and states
that the Mahavidyas are the source from which the avatars of Vishnu arise.

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Guhyati Guyha-Tantra Association between the

Mahavidyas and the Dashavatara
No. Mahavidya names Dashavatara names

1. Kali Krishna

2. Tara Rama
3. Tripura Sundari Kalki

4. Bhuvaneshvari Varaha

5. Bhairavi Narasimha
6. Chhinnamasta Parashurama

7. Dhumavati Vamana

8. Bagalamukhi Kurma
9. Matangi Buddha

10 Kamala Matsya

Note: In the above list do not get confused the names of Matanga Bhairava with Matanga Rishi,
and Narada Bhairava with Narada Rishi.

See also
Navadurga

References
1. Kinsley (1997), pp. ix, 1.
2. Shin (2018), p. 316.
3. Shin (2018), p. 17.
4. Brown, Charles Mackenzie (1998). The Devī Gītā: The Song of the Goddess (https://books.goo
gle.com/books?id=OxayHczql9EC). SUNY Press. p. 23. ISBN 9780791439401.
5. Shankarnarayanan, S (1972). The Ten Great Cosmic Powers: Dasa Mahavidyas (https://book
s.google.com/books?id=I-sYAAAAIAAJ) (4 ed.). Chennai: Samata Books. pp. 4–5.
ISBN 9788185208381.
6. Kinsley (1997), p. 302.
7. Daniélou, Alain (1991). The Myths and Gods of India: The Classic Work on Hindu Polytheism
from the Princeton Bollingen Series (https://books.google.com/books?id=1HMXN9h6WX0C&p
g=PA284). Inner Traditions / Bear & Co. pp. 284–290. ISBN 978-0-89281-354-4.
8. Kinsley, David R (1987). Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu
Religious Tradition (https://books.google.com/books?id=hgTOZEyrVtIC). Motilal Banarsidass
Publication. pp. 161–165. ISBN 9788120803947.

Works cited
Kinsley, David R. (1997). Tantric Visions of the Divine Feminine: The Ten Mahavidyas (https://b
ooks.google.com/books?id=gkCsrfghkZ4C). Berkeley: University of California Press.
ISBN 9780520204997.

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Shin, Jae-Eun (2018). Change, Continuity and Complexity: The Mahavidyas in East Indian
Sakta Traditions. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-138-32690-3.

Further reading
Shin, Jae-Eun (2010). "Yoni, Yoginis and Mahavidyas : Feminine Divinities from Early Medieval
Kamarupa to Medieval Koch Behar". Studies in History. 26 (1): 1–29.
doi:10.1177/025764301002600101 (https://doi.org/10.1177%2F025764301002600101).
S2CID 155252564 (https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:155252564).

External links
Media related to Mahavidya at Wikimedia Commons

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