10 Tantric Goddesses
The Dasha Mahavidyas — 'the ten great wisdoms' — are the supreme tantric manifestations of the Divine Mother. Each represents a different path to liberation, from the terrifying Kali to the beneficent Kamala. Their worship is the heart of the Shakta tantric tradition.
काली
Kali is the first of the ten Mahavidyas — the tantric 'great wisdoms' or supreme forms of the Divine Mother.
तारा
Tara is the second Mahavidya — the 'star' or 'saviouress'.
त्रिपुर सुन्दरी
Tripura Sundari — 'the beautiful one of the three worlds' — is the third Mahavidya.
भुवनेश्वरी
Bhuvaneshwari is the fourth Mahavidya — 'the queen of the worlds' (bhuvana = worlds, ishvari = queen).
भैरवी
Bhairavi is the fifth Mahavidya — the fierce female counterpart of Bhairava (Shiva).
छिन्नमस्ता
Chhinnamasta is the sixth Mahavidya — 'the self-decapitated one'.
धूमावती
Dhumavati is the seventh Mahavidya — 'the smoky one'.
बगलामुखी
Bagalamukhi is the eighth Mahavidya — 'the crane-faced goddess' or 'the goddess who paralyses'.
मातङ्गी
Matangi is the ninth Mahavidya — the outcaste goddess who grants mastery over speech, music, and knowledge.
कमला
Kamala is the tenth and final Mahavidya — 'the lotus one'.