The Mahavidya (Sanskrit: महाविद्या, IAST: Mahāvidyā, lit.

Great Wisdoms) are a group of ten

aspects of Adi Parashakti in [ Sanatan Dharm & Hinduism ]. They are all forms of Goddess
Parvati. After the decline of Buddhism in India, these forms of the Goddess began to be
attested in the Kaula Tantrika literature.[1]

The development of Mahavidyas represents an important turning point in the history of

Shaktism as it marks the rise of Bhakti aspect in Shaktism, which reached its zenith in 1700
CE. First sprung forth in the post-Puranic age, around 6th century C.E., it was a new theistic
movement in which the supreme being was envisioned as female.[citation needed] 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.[2] In a story from the Shakta Maha-Bhagavata Purana, which narrates the creation
of all the Mahavidyas, Sati, the daughter of Daksha and first wife of god Shiva, feels insulted
that she and Shiva are not invited to Daksha's yagna ("fire sacrifice") and insists on going
there, despite Shiva's protests. After futile attempts to convince Shiva, the enraged Sati
transforms into the Mahavidyas, who surround Shiva from the ten cardinal directions.

The Mahabhagavata Purana and Brhaddharma Purana however, list Shodashi (Sodasi) as
Tripura Sundari, which is simply a different name for name for the same goddess.[6] The
Guhyatiguyha-tantra associates the Mahavidyas with the ten Avatars of Vishnu, and states
that the Mahavidyas are the source from which the avatars of Vishnu arose. All ten forms of
the Goddess, whether gentle or terrifying, are worshiped as the universal Mother. All ten
forms of the Goddess is concluded and worshipped in the Sri Chakra and Tripura Sundari is
considered as the Adi Parashakti.

Kali is of a pitch black complexion, darkest than the dark of the Death-Night. She had 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 open, disheveled
hairs. She was wearing 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 were empty and two others carried a sword and demon head.

Goddess Bagalamukhi has a molten gold complexion with three bright eyes, lush black hair
and a benign mien. She is seen wearing yellow garments and apparels. She is decked with
yellow ornaments on her limbs. Her two hands held a mace and the tongue of demon
Madanasur, as he's in paralysis. She is depicted seated on either a throne or on the back of a
crane.

Matangi is depicted as emerald green in complexion, with lush, disheveled black hairs, three
placid eyes and a calm look on her face. She is seen wearing red garments and apparels and
bedecked with various types of ornaments all over her delicate limbs. She is seated on a royal
throne and she has four hands, three of which holds a sword or scimitar, a skull and a veena
as a musical instrument. Her one hand bestows boons to her devotees.She is sometimes
compared with an incarnation or incarnate of Goddess Nila Saraswati. An angry (Ugra) form
of Goddess Saraswati.

Kamala is of a molten gold complexion with lush black hair, three bright, placid eyes, and a
benevolent mien on her face. She is seen wearing red and pink garments and apparels and
bedecked with various types of ornaments and lotuses all over her limbs. She is seated on a
fully bloomed lotus and has four hands, two of which held lotuses while two others granted
her devotees' wishes and assures protection from fear.

Tara is of a light blue complexion. She has disheveled hairs, 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, ornamented with a garland of skulls. She is also seen wearing a
belt, supporting her skirt made of tiger-skin. Her four hands carried a lotus, scimitar, demon
head and scissor. She had her left foot rested on the corpse of an unconscious male.

Devi 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, bow and arrow. She is seated on a throne.