Dus MahaVidya

Mahavidyas (Great Wisdoms) or Dasha-Mahavidyas are a group of ten aspects of devi Parvati or Goddess Shakti in Hinduism. The 10 Mahavidyas are Wisdom Goddesses, aspects of devi Parvati, who represents a spectrum of feminine divinity, from horrific goddesses at one end, to the gentle at the other.

The development of Mahavidyas represents an important turning point in the history of Shaktism as it marks the rise of Bhakti aspect in Shaktism, which reached its zenith in 1700 CE. First sprung forth in the post-Puranic age, around 6th century C.E., 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.

The name Mahavidyas comes from the Sanskrit roots, with maha meaning ‘great’ and vidya meaning, ‘revelation, manifestation, knowledge, or wisdom.

Significance of Das Mahavidya:-

Navratri is a festival dedicated to the worship of the Goddess. Apart from nine roopas of Durga, some sadhaks also propicate 10 form of Godess Kali popularly known as Dus Mahavidya. The worshiping of these mahavidya can bestow devotees with numerous
Navratri is a festival dedicated to the worship of the Goddess. The nine days of Navratri are extremely auspicious for the spiritual sadhaka (aspirant) or devotees, as the Goddess showers divine blessings on devotees and removes difficulties in their paths.

Apart from worshiping the nine roopa’s of Goddess Durga some sadhaks also propicate 10 form of Godess Kali popularly known as Dus Mahavidya. The worshiping of Dus Mahavidya is known for destroying negative tendencies. It can also be performed for fulfillment o desires, like to attain victory in court cases, for abundance of wealth, to cure any sort of disease, to defeat rivals, to remove poverty for to bring luck and money and to safeguard oneself against any type of black magic. The worship of these mahavidya also safeguards one against evil planetary effects.

In Chamunda Tantra we find the names of Dus Mahavidya as-

Kali Tara Mahavidya Shorashi Bhuveneshwari
Bhairavi Chinnamasta cha Vidya Dhumavati tatha
Vagala Sidhdhavidya cha Matangi Kamalatmika
Ete dus mahavidya sidhdhavidya prakirtita.

Fierce of ultimate prosperity giver in nature these mahavidya are identified as-

KALI- This “Devourer of Time” is worshipped as the very essence of the Brahman or the Supreme Self. Kali is regarded as the Supreme Deity of Kalikula systems

TARA- the Goddess is worshiped as guide and protector and savior the one who gives ultimate knowledge which gives salvation (also known as Neel Saraswati

LALITA TRIPURA Sundari – Also known as shodashi, she is the one who is “most beautiful in the Three Worlds” (Supreme Deity Srikula systems); the “Tantric Parvati” or the “Moksha Mukta”.

BHUVANESHWARI- the Goddess as World Mother, or Whose Body is the Cosmo

BHAIRAVI- the fierce warrior Goddess

CHINAMMASTIKA- The self-decapitated Goddess, who holds her neck in her hands

DHUMAVATI- The Widow Goddess or the Goddess of death.

BAGALAMUKHI-The Goddess Who Paralyzes Enemies

MATANGI- the Prime Minister of Lalita (in Srikula systems); the “Tantric Saraswati”

KAMALA-The Lotus Goddess; the “Tantric Lakshmi”

Origin of Mahavidya:- 

The “Brihat Dharma Purana” describes the mythology of how these ten “figures” appeared. According to this mythology, Sati, wife of Lord Shiva, wanted to go to her father’s house, because her father, Daksha, was organizing a huge “yagya” (fire sacrifice). Daksha invited everyone except Lord Shiva and daughter Sati.

Furious, Sati insisted on attending the sacrifice, in spite of Shiva forbidding her from doing so. Her anger transformed Sati into a terrible presence, which multiplied into the ten Mahavidya. These Goddesses jointly subdued Shiva’s resistance and thereby, Sati proceeded ahead to attend the sacrificial ritual.

As per another legend Lord Shiva and Parvati are believed to have played numerous love games with each other. On one such occasion, things went a bit too far with a mock fight, with Shiva threatening to walk out on Parvati. Goddess tried to pacify him but lord Shiva refused to listen to her and tried to move on

On this goddess decided to take ten different forms of her, each facing one of the ten directions, trying to stop Shiva. This made Shiva realize the true degree of their eternal love and endless powers of herself,

Thus originated Dus Mahavidya- the great Goddesses of Wisdom. These Mahavidya guide us, inspiring us to search for and find the spiritual beings lying dormant within us.
Dus Mahavidya

Ma Kali- The Eternal Night:-

“Kali Kali Mahakali Kalike Papanasini 
Khadgahaste Mundahaste Kali Kali Namostu Te” 

Fiercest among deities, Goddess Ma Kali maintains the principal position among all the ten significant Dus Mahavidya. The name Kali comes from Sanskrit word kala, which means black, time, death or lord of death. Kali slays the ego of person.

Kali is depicted with four arms. In two hands, she holds a sword and a freshly severed head, representing the fierce battle in which she destroyed the demon Raktabija. The other two hands bless her devotees, granting them liberation in this life and in the next. Kali wears a garland of 52 skulls and a skirt of dismembered arms because the ego comes out of identification with the body. Her black or dark blue skin represents the womb from which all creation springs forth and into which all of creation will ultimately return. She is the pure, un-manifested energy, the Adishakti. Goddess Kali is depicted placing one foot on Lord Shiva, who is pure formless awareness Sat-Chit-Ananda. Here, Kali represents “form” eternally supported by pure awareness.


By propitiating Goddess Kali one can be blessed with all Asht sidhis. Kali sadhana can safeguard native against prolonged illness, incurable diseases, evil spirit and black magic, debts, professional stagnation and uncertainty, regular and recurring problems & defamation originating through unknown causes and from bad influence of planet Saturn.