“Unlocking Mystical Powers: Exploring the Secrets of Dus Mahavidya – The Ten Mahavidyas”
Unlocking Mystical Powers: Exploring the Secrets of Dus Mahavidya – The Ten Mahavidyas
Introduction
Welcome to the mystical realm of Das Mahavidya, where ancient wisdom meets modern curiosity. Have you ever wondered about the profound energies that surround us? Dive deep into the esoteric teachings of the Ten Mahavidyas and unlock the secrets that lie within.
Table of Contents
| Sr# | Headings |
|---|---|
| 1. | Introduction |
| 2. | The Origins of Das Mahavidya |
| 3. | Understanding the Ten Mahavidyas |
| 4. | Goddess Kali: The Fierce Protector |
| 5. | Goddess Tara: The Compassionate Savior |
| 6. | Goddess Tripura Sundari: The Divine Beauty |
| 7. | Goddess Bhuvaneshwari: The Creator of the Universe |
| 8. | Goddess Bhairavi: The Fearless Warrior |
| 9. | Goddess Chhinnamasta: The Self-Decapitated One |
| 10. | Goddess Dhumavati: The Widow Goddess |
| 11. | Goddess Bagalamukhi: The Vanquisher of Enemies |
| 12. | Goddess Matangi: The Prime Minister of the Universe |
| 13. | Goddess Kamala: The Lotus Goddess of Wealth |
| 14. | The Esoteric Practices of Das Mahavidya |
| 15. | Conclusion |
The Origins of Dus Mahavidya
Delve into the ancient texts and unravel the mysterious origins of Das Mahavidya, tracing back to the Vedic and Tantric traditions. Discover how these divine energies have been revered and practiced throughout history.
Understanding the Ten Mahavidyas
Hinduism is probably the only religion in the world which talks about Shakti (the Sacred Feminine) concept as being equal in power to the Parabrahma or the Supreme Divine. According to Hinduism, the elements of Shakti (the female or the Prakruti) and Shiva (the male or the Purusha) are two parts of a whole. While they are incomplete by themselves, they form a balanced, harmonious whole together. Shakti, as the name itself suggests, means “Strength”. Lord Shiva has stated time and again that He is nothing without His companion, Goddess Shakti. This clearly depicts the important role play by the Mother Goddess in the Hindu pantheon. In this article, we bring you the story about the Ten Mahavidyas of Hindu mythology. The Dus Mahavidyas The name, “Mahavidyas”, comes from the Sanskrit roots of Maha, which means great and Vidya, meaning, Wisdom, Knowledge, Manifestation or Revelation. The Dus Mahavidyas or the Ten Goddesses are actually ten aspects of the Devi or the Divine Mother in Hinduism. These are Goddesses of Wisdom and represent an entire spectrum of divinity, right from horrific goddesses, to the most beautiful and peaceful deities. The Mahvidyas, as a group, represents a vital turning point in the history of Shaktism, as it marks the rise of Bhakti in Shaktism. This movement reached its peak in 1700 C.E. Commencing during the post-Puranic era, in about the 6th century C.E., this new theistic movement envisioned the supreme being as a female. Important Hindu texts such as the Devi-Bhagavata Purana, especially in the seventh skandha, which are known as the Devi Gita, talk about the Devi’s powers. This soon became the central texts of Shaktism. The Ten Goddesses In Shaktism, the Divine Mother is jointly worshipped as a combination of ten different cosmic personalities. She is seen as the One Truth in ten different facets – the Dus Mahavidyas. What sets the Mahavidyas from other Devi forms is that are considered Tantric nature. They take the following names and manifestations:
Goddess Kali: The Fierce Protector
Unleash the power of Goddess Kali, Kali The goddess who is the ultimate form of Brahman, and the devourer of time (Supreme Deity of Kalikula systems). Mahakali is of a pitch black complexion, darker than the dark of the dead of the night. She has three eyes, representing the past, present and future. She has shining white, fang-like teeth, a gaping mouth, and her red, bloody tongue hanging from there. She has unbound, disheveled hairs. She wears tiger skins as her garments, a garland of skulls and a garland of rosy red flowers around her neck, and on her belt, she was adorned with skeletal bones, skeletal hands as well as severed arms and hands as her ornamentation. She has four hands, two of them had the trident called the trishula and the sword and two others carried a demon head and a bowl collecting the blood dripping from a demon head.
Goddess Tara: The Compassionate Savior
Embrace the nurturing embrace of Goddess Tara, Tara The goddess who acts as a guide and a protector, and she who offers the ultimate knowledge that grants salvation. She is the goddess of all sources of energy. The energy of the sun is believed to originate from her. She manifested as the mother of Shiva after the incident of Samudra Manthana to heal him as her child. Tara is of a light blue complexion. She has disheveled hair, wearing a crown decorated with the digit of the half-moon. She has three eyes, a snake coiled comfortably around her throat, wearing the skins of tigers, and a garland of skulls. She is also seen wearing a belt supporting her skirt made of tiger-skin. Her four hands carry a lotus, scimitar, demon head and scissors. Her left foot rests on the laying down Shiva.
Goddess Tripura Sundari: The Divine Beauty
Awaken to the beauty within with Goddess Tripura Sundari, the radiant goddess of divine aesthetics. Explore the connection between outer beauty and inner harmony through her grace.
Goddess Bhuvaneshwari: The Creator of the Universe
Witness the creative force of Goddess Bhuvaneshwari,Bhuvaneshvari The goddess as the world mother, or whose body comprises all the fourteen lokas of the cosmos. Bhuvaneshvari is of a fair, golden complexion, with three content eyes as well as a calm mien. She wears red and yellow garments, decorated with ornaments on her limbs and has four hands. Two of her four hands hold a goad and noose while her other two hands are open. She is seated on a divine, celestial throne.
Goddess Bhairavi: The Fearless Warrior
Channel your inner warrior with Goddess Bhairavi, Tripura Sundari (Shodashi, Lalita) The goddess who is “beauty of the three worlds” (Supreme Deity of Srikula systems); the “Tantric Parvati” or the “Moksha Mukta”. She is the ruler of Manidvipa, the eternal supreme abode of the goddess. Shodashi is seen with a molten gold complexion, three placid eyes, a calm mien, wearing red and pink vestments, adorned with ornaments on her divine limbs and four hands, each holding a goad, lotus, a bow, and arrow. She is seated on a throne.
Goddess Chhinnamasta: The Self-Decapitated One
Embrace the transformative power of Goddess Chhinnamasta, Chhinnamasta (“She whose head is severed”) – The self-decapitated goddess.[8] She chopped her own head off in order to satisfy Jaya and Vijaya (metaphors of rajas and tamas – part of the trigunas). Chinnamasta has a red complexion, embodied with a frightful appearance. She has disheveled hair. She has four hands, two of which hold a sword and another hand holding her own severed head; three blazing eyes with a frightful mien, wearing a crown. Two of her other hands hold a lasso and drinking bowl. She is a partially clothed lady, adorned with ornaments on her limbs and wearing a garland of skulls on her body. She is mounted upon the back of a copulating couple.
Goddess Dhumavati: The Widow Goddess
Dhumavati The widow goddess. Dhumavati is of a smoky dark brown complexion, her skin is wrinkled, her mouth is dry, some of her teeth have fallen out, her long disheveled hair is gray, her eyes are seen as bloodshot and she has a frightening mien, which is seen as a combined source of anger, misery, fear, exhaustion, restlessness, constant hunger and thirst. She wears white clothes, donned in the attire of a widow. She is sitting in a horseless chariot as her vehicle of transportation and on top of the chariot, there is an emblem of a crow as well as a banner. She has two trembling hands, her one hand bestows boons and/or knowledge and the other holds a winnowing basket.
Goddess Bagalamukhi: The Vanquisher of Enemies
Bagalamukhi The goddess who paralyzes enemies. Bagalamukhi has a molten gold complexion with three bright eyes, lush black hair and a benign mien. She is seen wearing yellow garments and apparel. She is decked with yellow ornaments on her limbs. Her two hands hold a mace or club and holds demon Madanasura by the tongue to keep him at bay. She is shown seated on either a throne or on the back of a crane.
Goddess Matangi: The Prime Minister of the Universe
Matangi – The Prime Minister of Lalita (in Srikula systems), sometimes called Śyāmala (“dark in complexion”, usually depicted as dark blue) and the “Tantric Saraswati”. Matangi is most often depicted as emerald green in complexion, with lush, disheveled black hair, three placid eyes and a calm look on her face. She is seen wearing red garments and apparel, bedecked with various ornaments all over her delicate limbs. She is seated on a royal throne and she has four hands, three of which hold a sword or scimitar, a skull and a veena (a musical instrument). Her one hand bestows boons to her devotees.
Goddess Kamala: The Lotus Goddess of Wealth
Invite abundance into your life with Goddess Kamala, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Learn to attract wealth and abundance through her blessings and grace.
The Esoteric Practices of Dus Mahavidya
Explore the mystical practices and rituals associated with Das Mahavidya, from mantra chanting to yantra meditation. Dive deep into the spiritual teachings and unlock the hidden potential within.
Conclusion
The worship of the Mahavidyas in any form ultimately leads the sadhaka to liberation. Even the deities who appear fierce are in actuality, always bestowing grace on their devotees, leading them on to conquer forever higher peaks in their spiritual lives. The central aim while becoming a Devi Upasaka (follower) is to stretch one’s
consciousness beyond the conventional, to break away from binding social norms and expectations. This liberates the devotee and raises his consciousness from the inhibiting categories of proper and improper, good and bad, polluted and pure. The upasana of the supposedly “bizarre” goddesses in the group of Mahavidyas probably facilitate the devotee’s spiritual climb, by helping him shun the “approved” social norms
and open out his heart to the more esoteric, which is indeed the main prerequisite while
on the path of deep spirituality. However, here is a word of caution for those intent on seeking the grace of a Mahavidya. Though each of these Mahavidyas is very powerful and grants all the boons as desired by their devotees, Sadhakas (seekers) should understand that they should never try and misuse the powers of the special mantras attributed to these Devis. All aspects of the ritual worship should be carried out faithfully, without missing a single point. Also, they should never endeavour to do ritual worship on their own, without the
initiation and guidance of a Guru. Omitting any ritual in a certain Devi’s worship, it is
considered, will result in severe ill-effects for the devotee. This article was written by Saipriya Viswanathan. Saipriya is a teacher/performer of Bharata Natyam, Carnatic vocal music and Carnatic Veena. She is a recipient of several awards for both dance and music, including the Sur Mani and Singar Mani titles. She is a
recipient Govt. of India Merit Scholarship for dance and is a diploma holder in Carnatic vocal music.
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What are the Ten Mahavidyas?
The Ten Mahavidyas are a group of powerful Hindu goddesses who represent various aspects of divinity and cosmic energy.
How can one connect with the energies of Das Mahavidya?
You can connect with the energies of Das Mahavidya through meditation, mantra chanting, and devotional practices dedicated to each goddess.
Are the Mahavidyas worshipped individually or as a group?
While each Mahavidya is worshipped individually, they are also revered collectively as a group representing the diverse facets of the divine feminine.
What role do the Mahavidyas play in Tantra?
The Mahavidyas play a significant role in Tantric rituals and practices, where they are invoked for various purposes including spiritual evolution and empowerment.
Can anyone practice the teachings of Das Mahavidya?
Yes, the teachings of Das Mahavidya are accessible to all seekers regardless of background or beliefs. It’s about connecting with the divine energies within and embracing spiritual growth.
Unlock the mystical powers of Das Mahavidya and embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening. Embrace the wisdom of the Ten Mahavidyas and illuminate your path towards enlightenment.
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