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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]
The development of the Mahavidyas represent 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. [4]
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]
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:[ citation needed]
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.[ citation needed]
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.
Part of a series on |
Shaktism |
---|
Hinduism portal |
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]
The development of the Mahavidyas represent 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. [4]
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]
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:[ citation needed]
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.[ citation needed]
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.