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{{short description|Group of ten Hindu goddesses}}
[[Image:Mahavidyas.jpg|thumb|311px|Top: [[Kali]], [[Tara (Devi)|Tara]], [[Tripura Sundari]], [[Bhuvaneshvari]], and [[Bhairavi]]<br/> Bottom: [[Chhinnamasta]], [[Dhumavati]], [[Bagalamukhi]], [[Matangi]], and [[Kamalatmika|Kamala]]]]
{{Hinduism}}
{{Saktism}}

The '''''Mahavidya''''' ({{langx|sa|महाविद्या}}, {{IAST3|Mahāvidyā}}, lit. ''Great Wisdoms'') are a group of ten [[Hinduism|Hindu]]{{sfnp|Kinsley|1997|pp=ix, 1}} [[Tantra|Tantric]] [[Devi|goddesses]].{{sfnp|Shin|2018|p=316}} The ten Mahavidyas are usually named in the following sequence: [[Kali]], [[Tara (Devi)|Tara]], [[Tripura Sundari]], [[Bhuvaneshvari]], [[Bhairavi]], [[Chhinnamasta]], [[Dhumavati]], [[Bagalamukhi]], [[Matangi]] and [[Kamalatmika]].{{sfnp|Shin|2018|p=17}}  Nevertheless, the formation of this group encompass divergent and varied religious traditions that include ''[[yogini]]'' worship, [[Shaivism]], [[Vaishnavism]], and [[Vajrayana]] [[Buddhism]].{{sfnp|Shin|2018|p=316}}

The development of the Mahavidyas represents an important turning point in the [[history of Shaktism]] 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.<ref name=dev>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OxayHczql9EC|title=The Devī Gītā: The Song of the Goddess|last=Brown|first=Charles Mackenzie|year=1998|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=9780791439401|page=23}}</ref>

==Names==
Shaktas believe, "the one Truth is sensed in ten different facets; the [[Adi Parashakti|Divine Mother]] is adored and approached as ten cosmic personalities," the Dasa-Mahavidya ("ten-Mahavidyas").<ref>{{cite book|last=Shankarnarayanan|first=S|title=The Ten Great Cosmic Powers: Dasa Mahavidyas|publisher= Samata Books |location=Chennai|year=1972|edition=4|pages=4–5|isbn=9788185208381|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I-sYAAAAIAAJ}}</ref> As per another school of thought in Shaktism Mahavidyas are considered to be forms of [[Mahakali]], in others as forms of [[Tripura Sundari]]. The Mahavidyas are considered [[Tantra|Tantric]] in nature, and are usually identified as:{{sfnp|Kinsley|1997|p=302}}
[[File:Dasha Mahavidya.jpg|thumb|419x419px|The ten mahavidyas, Rajasthan. Top: Kali. Second row (l->r): Bhairavi, Bhuvaneshvari, Tara. Third row (l->r): Bagalamukhi, Shodashi, Chhinnamasta. Last row (l->r):Kamalatmika, Matangi, Dhumavati]]

#''[[Kali]]'' The goddess who is the ultimate form of Brahman, and the devourer of time (Supreme Deity of [[Shaktism#Kalikula: family of Kali|''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 skin as her garment, a garland of skulls and a garland of red [[Hibiscus]] 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 is Chaturbhuji (having [[four hands]]), two of them carry the Khadga ([[Ram-dao]]), or a [[sword]] and the [[Trishul]] and two others carry a demon head and a bowl collecting the blood dripping from a demon head.
#''[[Tara (Devi)|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 manthan|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 [[Chaturbhuja|four hands]] carry a lotus, [[scimitar]], demon head and scissors. Her left foot rests on the laying down [[Shiva]].
#''[[Tripura Sundari]]'' (''Shodashi'', ''Lalita'') The goddess who is "beauty of the three worlds" (Supreme Deity of ''[[Shaktism#Srikula: family of Sri|Srikula]]'' systems); the "Tantric Parvati" or the "Moksha Mukta". She is the ruler of [[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.
#''[[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.
#''[[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 blue garments and is adorned with a garland of skulls around her neck. She also wears a belt decorated with severed hands and bones attached to it. She is also decked with snakes 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.
#''[[Chhinnamasta]]'' ("She whose head is severed") – The self-decapitated goddess.<ref name="Daniélou1991">{{cite book|first=Alain|last= Daniélou|title=The Myths and Gods of India: The Classic Work on Hindu Polytheism from the Princeton Bollingen Series|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1HMXN9h6WX0C&pg=PA284|year=1991|publisher=Inner Traditions / Bear & Co|isbn=978-0-89281-354-4|pages=284–290}}</ref> She chopped her own head off in order to satisfy Jaya and Vijaya (metaphors of [[rajas]] and [[Tamas (philosophy)|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 [[Maithuna|copulating couple]].
#''[[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|winnowing basket]].
#''[[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 (bludgeon)|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 (bird)|crane]].
#''[[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 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.
#''[[Kamalatmika|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 ''[[Bhagavata Purana|Maha bhagavata]] Purana'' and ''Brihaddharma Purana'' however, list Shodashi (Sodasi) as Tripura Sundari, which is simply another name for the same goddess.<ref name=maha>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hgTOZEyrVtIC|title=Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Tradition|last=Kinsley|first=David R|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publication|year=1987|pages=161–165|isbn=9788120803947}}</ref>

The Todala-Tantra associates the Mahavidyas with the [[Dashavatara]], the ten [[avatar]]s of [[Vishnu]], in chapter ten. They are as follows:{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Todala-Tantra Association between the Mahavidyas and the Dashavatara 
!No.
!Mahavidya names
!Dashavatara names 
|-
|1.
|[[Kali]]
|[[Krishna]]
|-
|2.
|[[Tara (Devi)|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
|[[Kamalatmika|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.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Guhyati Guyha-Tantra Association between the Mahavidyas and the Dashavatara 
!No.
!Mahavidya names
!Dashavatara names 
|-
|1.
|[[Kali]]
|[[Krishna]]
|-
|2.
|[[Tara (Devi)|Tara]]
|[[Rama]]
|-
|3.
|[[Tripura Sundari]] 
|[[Kalki]]
|-
|4.
|[[Bhuvaneshvari]]
|[[Varaha]]
|-
|5.
|[[Bhairavi]]
|[[Narasimha]]
|-
|6.
|[[Chhinnamasta]]
|[[Parashurama]]
|-
|7.
|[[Dhumavati]] 
|[[Vamana]] 
|-
|8.
|[[Bagalamukhi]]
|[[Kurma]]
|-
|9.
|[[Matangi]]
|[[Gautama Buddha in Hinduism|Buddha]]
|-
|10
|[[Kamalatmika|Kamala]]
|[[Matsya]]
|}

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

== Mention in Scriptures ==
Source:<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 3, 2025 |title=The Dashamahavidya: The Ten Great Wisdom Goddesses of Hindu Tantric Tradition |url=https://www.storywire.co.in/2025/04/The-Dashamahavidya-The-Ten-Great-Wisdom-Goddesses-of-Hindu-Tantric-Tradition.html |website=Story Teller}}</ref>
* '''Rudra Yamala Tantra''': Describes the origin and powers of Dashamahavidya in detail.
* '''Tantrasara''' by Abhinavagupta: Philosophical and symbolic interpretations.
* '''Devi Bhagavatam''': Especially Book 7 elaborates the divine play of Devi as Dashamahavidya.
* '''Kalika Purana''': Details the worship of Kali and other Mahavidyas.
* '''Brahmanda Purana''': Refers to Lalita Tripura Sundari as the head of all Mahavidyas.
* '''Shakta Upanishads''': Reference to the symbolic aspects of Mahavidyas, especially Matangi and Chhinnamasta.

==See also==
{{Portal|Hinduism}}
*[[Shaktism]]
*[[Navadurga]]
*[[Navaratri]]
*[[Matrikas]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Works cited===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Kinsley|first=David R.|title=Tantric Visions of the Divine Feminine: The Ten Mahavidyas|publisher= University of California Press |location=Berkeley|year= 1997|isbn=9780520204997|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gkCsrfghkZ4C}}
* {{cite book |last1=Shin |first1=Jae-Eun |year=2018 |title=Change, Continuity and Complexity: The Mahavidyas in East Indian Sakta Traditions | publisher=Routledge |place=London |ISBN=978-1-138-32690-3}}
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal |last1=Shin |first1=Jae-Eun |year=2010 |title=Yoni, Yoginis and Mahavidyas : Feminine Divinities from Early Medieval Kamarupa to Medieval Koch Behar |journal=Studies in History |volume=26 |issue=1 |pages=1–29 |doi=10.1177/025764301002600101 |s2cid=155252564 |ref=none}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
{{Shaktism}}
{{Hindu Culture and Epics}}
{{Hindudharma}}

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[[Category:10 (number)]]
[[Category:Hindu goddesses]]
[[Category:Forms of Parvati]]
[[Category:Mahavidyas| ]]
[[Category:Hindu tantric deities]]