Dasha Mahavidyas — the 10 Great Wisdom Goddesses

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Origin — the Daksha-yajna story

Brihaddharma Purana + Devi Bhagavata Purana + various Tantras

King Daksha-prajapati announced a great yajna + invited all the devas + rishis — EXCEPT Shiva (his despised son-in-law). Sati (Daksha's daughter, Shiva's wife) was determined to attend. Shiva refused permission, warning of the insult that awaited her. Sati, in supreme wrath, manifested her shakti as TEN DASHA-MAHAVIDYAS — each blocking Shiva on one of the 10 directions (8 compass + zenith + nadir). Shiva, unable to flee in any direction, finally consented. (The story explains why the 10 Mahavidyas exist + why they are simultaneously Shiva-related + independent — they are Sati's own untamed dasha-shaktis.)

★ Message — The Dasha Mahavidyas represent 10 modes of cosmic shakti — from the most-terrifying Kali to the most-auspicious Kamala. ALL are aspects of the ONE Devi. Tantric sadhakas worship one as ishta-devata + recognise the other 9 as her dependent aspects. The 10 together form the supreme Shakta upasana.

The 10 Mahavidyas

№ 1

Kali · काली

Bija: क्रीं (Krim)

The Black One. The Devourer of Time. The first + supreme Mahavidya.

Appearance — Dark-blue / black complexion. Hair flowing wild. 4 arms — sword + severed head of demon in left; abhaya + varada mudras in right. Tongue out (the demon-blood-tongue). Garland of 51 freshly-severed heads (the matrika-letters). Standing on Shiva — symbolic of Shakti as the active principle over Shiva as the passive.

Direction: East (the rising of the destructive-creative force)

Observance: Kali Chaudas (Krishna Chaturdashi of Kartika — eve of Diwali). Kali Puja (Diwali night in Bengal). Every Tuesday + Saturday.

Grants — Cuts through ego + time. Destroys avidya (ignorance). The supreme moksha-shakti. Used in destruction of enemies, lawsuits, black magic. Tantric sadhakas aspire to her directly.

★ Significance — Kali = time (kala) personified. She devours all that is temporal — body, mind, ego, the universe itself. Her terrifying form is precisely WHY she is auspicious: she terrifies the small-self into letting go. The supreme goal of all tantra-sadhana.

Mantra

ॐ क्रीं कालिकायै नमः॥ (Om Krim Kalikayai Namah)

Initiation required — Mahavidya mantras (especially Kali, Tara, Chinnamasta, Bagalamukhi, Dhumavati) require guru-diksha. Without it, the mantras may be inert at best, adverse at worst. Tripura Sundari + Bhuvaneshvari + Kamala mantras are gentler + can be approached cautiously by householders. See also Devi Mahatmya / Chandi Saptashati, Yantras (Sri-Yantra), Lalita + Durga Sahasranamas, 51 Shakti Pithas.