Kali, Tara, Tripura Sundari, Bhuvaneshwari, Bhairavi, Chinnamasta, Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi, and Kamala are the 10 Tantric goddesses mentioned in Devi Bhagavatam. The Navratri Mahavidya Puja gives complete fulfilment and protection. Learn about these 10 great wisdom goddesses and their mantras.
Kali, the most fierce and powerful form of Adi Parashakti, and the first of the 10 Mahavidyas, is the one who destroyed the demons Raktabeeja, Chanda, and Munda. Wearing a garland of skulls and holding a severed head, Kali is said to be the ‘Ruler of Time,’ the remover of darkness and ego. Beyond this, she is a protective mother figure who protects her devotees.
Tantric Mantra: "ह्रीं ह्रीं ह्रुं ह्रुं क्रीं क्रीं क्रीं दक्षिणकालिके क्रीं क्रीं क्रीं ह्रुं ह्रुं ह्रीं ह्रीं॥"
Tara, also called Maa ‘Tarini’, is the second form of the 10 Mahavidyas, the divine mother who represents compassion and protection. Resembling Maa Kali, Tara is depicted as fierce as Kali; however, by protecting her devotees from dangers (Ugra), she is called ‘Ugratara’. The negative effects of planet Jupiter (Brihaspati) are nullified through her worship.
Tantric Mantra: ॐ ह्रीं स्त्रीं उग्र तारे तुतारे फट्
Tripura Sundari, the third of 10 Mahavidyas, who is also called ‘Shodashi’, is the most beautiful form of Devi, who represents love, beauty, and fertility. Tripura Sundari means the eternal beauty of 3 worlds. She is depicted wearing a crescent moon on her head, holding a flower, arrows and a sugarcane. She is connected with planet Mercury (Budha), and her devotee is blessed with immense power of attraction.
Tantric mantra: क्लीं त्रिपुरादेवी विद्महे कामेश्वरी धीमहि। तन्नः क्लिन्ने प्रचोदयात् "
Bhuvaneshwari, the fourth of the Dasa Mahavidyas, is worshipped as the Goddess of the Universe, the one who is related to expansiveness and consciousness. The word Bhuv signifies ‘Earth’ and Bhuvaeshwari devi embodies mahabhutas and prakriti. Tantra Sadhana of Devi Bhuvaneshwari heals mind, body and soul. She is the ruler of Planet Moon and grants peace and wellness to her sadhaks.
Tantric mantra: ॐ ह्रीं श्रीं क्लीं भुवनेश्वर्यै नमः
The sixth goddess in the group of 10 Mahavidyas is Maa Bhairavi, the consort of Bhairava, the one who governs destruction. The meaning of Bhairavi is ‘the terrible one’, and she is depicted wearing a garland of skulls in red clothing, holding a rosary bead in one hand, and a book of the Vedas in the other, which is why she is also the most knowledgeable one.
Tantric mantra:ॐ ह्रीं भैरवी कलौं ह्रीं स्वाहा॥
Chinnamasta is the seventh form of Dasa Mahavidyas, who is depicted as holding her own severed head in one hand, drinking her own blood and standing on a copulating couple. Her other name is Prachanda Chandika, and she is the fierce form of Goddess Mahadevi. She is the life-giver, the life and the life-taker, thus governing the control of sexual energy, and the awakening of Kundalini. The malefic effects of planet Rahu can be nullified through her tantra sadhana.
Tantric mantra: ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं क्लीं ऐं वज्र वैरोचनीये ह्रीं ह्रीं फट् स्वाहा॥
Dhumavati, the eighth of the Dasa Mahavidyas, is the widow goddess who represents cosmic dissolution, resilience, adversity and pralaya. As per texts, Goddess Dhumavati swallowed her husband, Lord Shiva, because of which she emitted smoke and was called ‘Dhumavati’. She controls the effects of planet Ketu.
Tantric mantra: ॐ धूं धूमावति देव्यै स्वाहा
The ninth form of the 10 Mahavidyas is Maa Bagalamukhi, who paralyses the enemies by holding their tongue in one hand, and a club in other hand; her fierce form silences the enemies who try to harm her children or devotees. Also known by other names, Pitambari and Kalyani, Bagalamukhi is the conqueror and the most powerful one. She is the ruler of planet Mars (Mangal).
Tantric mantra: ॐ ह्लीं बगलामुखी सर्व दुष्टानां वाचं मुखं पदं स्तम्भय जिव्हां कीलय बुद्धिं विनाशय ह्लीं ॐ स्वाहा
Matangi, the ninth form of the Dasa Mahavidyas, represents speech, music, creativity and arts, and worshipping her can bestow all forms of artistic brilliance. She is described as an outcast and is associated with pollution. She is depicted wearing a crescent moon on her head, with a garland of kadamba flowers. She symbolises leadership qualities, and the planet Sun (Surya) is controlled by her.
Tantric mantra: ॐ ह्रीं क्लीं हूं मातंग्यै फट् स्वाहा
Kamala, the tenth Goddess in the series of 10 Mahavidyas, represents prosperity, abundance and growth. She is the lotus Goddess or the tantric form of Maa Lakshmi, who blesses her worshippers with luxury, wealth, comfort, fame, and continuous growth. The planet Venus (Shukra) can be pleased through her worship.
Tantric mantra: ॐ ह्रीं श्रीं क्लीं ऐं कमलवासिन्यै नमः
काली तारा महाविद्या षोडशी भुवनेश्वरी।
वगला छिन्नमस्ता च विद्या धूमावती तथा॥
मातङ्गी त्रिपुरा चैव विद्या च कमलात्मिका।
एता दश महाविद्याः सिद्धविद्याः प्रकीर्तिताः॥
भक्त्या सम्भजतां नित्यं चतुर्वर्गफलप्रदाः ।