Ten Mahavidyas is a Tantric practice where the personification of Goddess Shakti which covers the whole range of female spirituality is worshipped. Ten Mahavidyas, also known as "Das Mahavidyas" are Wisdom Goddesses who are considered as the forms of Divine Mother Kali, who is the first of the then Mahavidyas. Each Wisdom Goddess has her own name, story, quality and mantras. These aspects of Shakti are the essence of the entire creation. In Tantra, Shakti is also known by the names of "Vidya" or "Mahavidya". The same Shakti has been conceived in ten aspects and hence they are collectively termed Ten Mahavidyas.
The following are the ten incarnations:
Goddess Kali
Goddess Kali, which literary means the black one, is the Hindu mother goddess. She is associated with eternal energy. She is considered as the goddess of time and transformation. Kali is worshipped as the ultimate reality. She is represented as the wife of Lord Shiva.
Goddess Tara
Goddess Tara is one who guides through troubles. She has several forms that have been described in Hindu religious texts. However, Goddess Tara gained importance in the Buddhist tradition first and later in Hindu Tradition. According to Buddhist text and iconography, Goddess Tara belongs to the family of Dhyani Buddha"s Amoghasiddhi.
Goddess Tripura Sundari
Goddess Tripura Sundari is the third goddess of the Ten Mahavidyas who is associated with the Hindu religion. The goddess is described as being the consort of Lord Shiva. Goddess Tripura Sundari is often referred to as "Goddess Shodasi"
Goddess Bhuvaneshwari
Goddess Bhuvaneshwari is considered as the fourth of the Ten Mahavidya goddesses in Hinduism. She is an incarnation of Goddess Shakti. Bhuvaneshwari means the queen or ruler of the universe, the realm of being.
Goddess Chhinnamastika
Goddess Chhinnamastika is the goddess who has severed her head. Chhinnamastika is one among the Ten Mahavidyas. She is the goddess of courage and discernment. She is traditionally portrayed as a scantily dressed woman striding on the bodies of Kama and his wife Rati.
Goddess Bhairavi
Goddess Bhairavi is a violent and terrifying aspect of the Devi that resembles Goddess Kali. She is the "warrior" Goddess, who with her power of Divine speech and spiritual fire eliminates all obstacles to the reveal of true awareness. She is the consort of Bhairava, the fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva.
Goddess Dhumavati
Goddess Dhumavati is regarded as the smoky form of Shakti. Dhumavati represents the fearsome aspect of Devi, the Hindu Divine Mother. She is also known as the eternal widow, the Shakti without Lord Shiva.
Goddess Bagalamukhi
Goddess Bagalamukhi is one of the ten Mahavidyas who smashes the devotee`s misconceptions and illusions by her cudgel. Bagala Puja is performed as Vedic ritual. It is performed to defeat the enemies. Worshipping the deity protects the worshipper from the enemies and the evils.
Goddess Matangi
Goddess Matangi is one of the Ten Mahavidyas. She is a primary form of the all-powerful Goddesses. The goddess is Siddha Vidya or Tantra personified, thus commanding occult power. According to Hindu Mythology, she is believed to be the daughter of Sage Matanga.
Goddess Kamala
Goddess Kamala is known as the wisdom Goddesses. She is also the Hindu Goddess of consciousness and creation. Goddess Kamala is represented as a beautiful woman adorned with golden skin and seated or standing on a lotus.
However in some Tantras, the Mahavidyas are divided into two groups; those belonging to "Kalkula" and to "Srikula". Kali, Tara, Chinnamasta and Bhuvaneshwari belong to Kalkula. Tripura Sundari, Bhairavi, Bagala, Kamala, Dhumavati and Matangi belong to Srikula.
