Das Mahavidya

Daksha is the son of Brahma and Aditi.   

Daksha’s daughter Sati, also known as Dakshayini marries to Shangkar popularly revered as Mahadeva.

Daksha had given his daughter in marriage to Mahadev on the advice of his father, Brahma.  

But Daksha did not have a good opinion on Mahadev who is self-born and has no family name, has no desire, and does not own anything.  

Daksha had intent to inflict indignity on Mahadev.  With this intent in mind, Daksha organised a Yajnya, the spiritual performance.  He invited all but not Mahadev and Sati.

Sati heard the news over the celestial grapevine and she felt sad.  She pleaded with Mahadev for permission to attend the Yajnya of her father.  

Mahadev foresaw death of Sati in Sati’s going to Yajnya uninvited.  Hence Mahadev dissuaded and forbade Sati from attending the Yajnya.

There arose anger in Sati against Mahadev for not letting her to attend her father’s Yajnya.  

Sati came to a conclusion that Mahadev is under the influence of vanity.  With this thought in mind, Sati transformed herself into wrathful Jagadamba to smash vanity and pride of Mahadev.

Jagadamba thought both Mahadev and Daksha are arrogant and proud.  She said to herself that I shall abandon both of them and revert to my own state of being, the Kaivalya, the state in which mind is standstill and self abides alone in its nature; the blissful state of splendid isolation.

Seeing Jagadamba, Mahadeva lost self-control and fear crept in him.

Mahadeva’s fear heightened and he took flight.  Jagadamba then assumed the form of Das Mahavidya blocking the exit in all ten directions.

Knowing that he cannot rescind Jagadamba, Mahadev sat down and momentarily shut his eyes.  When he opened his eyes, he found Syama having effulgent black body and four hands standing in front of him.

Mahadev questions as to who she is and where is his Sati.

Syama replies: "My Lord Mahadev, I am Sati, your consort.  Don't you know me? Why do you look so confused?"

Mahadev replies: "Unlike Sati, you look different and you have induced fear in me.  You don't look like my consort, Sati.  Who are these fearful beings who stand in my ways in all ten directions?"

Sati-Syama replies: "I am subtle beyond speech and comprehension.  I am Sati, your consort.  I don't mean any harm to you.

I assumed the form of Jagadamba to destroy hat is not right and I was trying to block your exit only out of love for you."

Mahadev says: "Forgive me, O Paramesvari.  The great illusion blocked my vision. Now tell me who these ten fearful forms are."

Sati-Syama replies: "O Mahadev, consider yourself at the centre.  In front of you are Kali and Tara, behind you are Bagala Mukhi and Bhairavi; to your right is Chinnamasta; to your left is Bhuvanesvari; to your northeast is Sodasi; to your southeast is Dhumavati; to your south west is Kamala; and to your northwest is Matangi.

These ten forms are Das Mahavidya, ten wisdoms.  They are the best among all my manifestations.

The universe pulsates with the energies of these Das Mahavidya occupying ten equal spaces of the universe.  Their natures are:

1. Kali

Kali is Kal, the time, the Kalchakra, the wheel of time.  She is the embodiment of the three dimensions of time. 

With time every being dissolves into the darkness of time, where they repose in peace, tranquillity, and bliss.

She is the primal who emanated from darkness in the beginning, when there was no existence of universe.

She embodies both, the creative and destructive nature. 

She is savior of goodness as a benign mother and a destroyer of evil.

She reflects attitude, intention, and emotion of the one who approaches her. 

If Kali is approached with love, she assumes the form of Laxmi.  If she is approached for knowledge and wisdom, she assumes the form of Saraswati. 

But if she is approached with evil intention; she assumes the wrathful form within and destroys the persons itself having evil intent.

Mahakal, the wrathful form of Shiva, is her consort.

2. Tara

Tara is the compassionate Savior.  She embodies protective qualities, loving kindness and compassion.

When the ocean was churned for ambrosia, the poison came out first and it was going to destroy the world.  Seeing the danger, Shiva drank that poison.  Though with yogic power, Shiva sustained the effect, but he fell unconscious. 

It was Tara who nursed Shiva with her breast milk which neutralized the poison.

Tara severs all forms of attachments and brings about transformation from the lower to the higher state of being, and unites with absolute. 

Tara ferries sentient beings cross Samsara -the sensual and psychological world.   She removes ignorance that ties to Samsara and obstacles that make suffering, and guides along the creative path. 

Tara manifests in three main forms, Ugra Tara, Neel Saraswati and Ekjata.

Tara as Ugra-Tara saves from radical dangers and unforeseen miseries. 

As Nila Saraswati, Tara imparts Jnana -knowledge. 

Ekjata embodies spiritual awakening and removes fear, and unites sentient beings with absolute. 

Akshovya Shiva is the consort of Tara.

3.          Sodasi

Sodasi is timeless maiden of three worlds.  She is Tripur-Sundari and she is Sri Vidya. 

Tripur Sundari embodies pure perception, compassion and knowledge.  She imparts awareness on the three-fold processes of creation, sustenance and destruction which involves body, mind and consciousness.

Tripur Sundari shares her attributes with Saraswati. 

She represents Swaha –the life beyond all fallacies, thoughts and descriptions.

She represents totality, vigor, and perfection.  She posses the power of Kali and Knowledge of Tara. 

Just as Shiva is Tripura constituted of Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra, Tripur Sundari too is Tripura because her body is made of three Brahmani, Vaisnavi, and Raudri Shakti.

She transcends three qualities: goodness, passion, and ignorance.

She rules three bodies: causal, subtle and gross.  She is the self in all states of consciousness.

Rudra-Shiva is her consort.

4.          Bhuvaneshvari

Bhuvaneswari is the Cosmic Mother of all existence and she resides in the heart of Shiva. 

She represents the power of creation and nourishment.  

Bhuvaneshvari is the power of love and space, and through her power comes forth the creation. 

In the vast expanse of space, Bhuvaneswari creates the myriad of primordial worlds, sustains them and nourishes them. 

Bhuvaneswari resides in the heart of people and constantly reminds not to fall into illusions but see across and beyond to oneness among all beings. 

She bestows her divine blessing for equanimity and assists in connecting heart and mind of people with the world of divinity.

Sada-Shiva, one who is in every element is the consort of Bhuvaneswari

5.          Chinnamasta

Chinnamasta is embodiment of courage and fearlessness, and truthfulness.

She is the embodiment of rare courage needed to make highest sacrifice.

She signifies that consciousness alone is absolute and all else is impermanent. 

Chinnamasta severing her own head, the seat of human consciousness, symbolizes severing the egotistic "I" which is the first step towards merging human soul with the supreme soul.  

Chinnamasta, in a single frame, makes a stunning presentation of varying and conflicting aspects of life and death; the joy of transcending the body and not the pain of losing it; and the joy of giving up the ego to attain wisdom and freedom.  

She grants blessing of self-control and the courage to face death without fear.  

Vikral-Shiva is the consort of Chinnamasta.

6.          Bhairavi

Bhairavi is the principle of destruction.  Creation is not possible without Destruction.  Creation and destruction are the two essential nature of the phenomenal world which continues to happen naturally

Bhairavi is responsible for emancipation and liberation of individual soul and involution of matter into primordial substance from which it came.

Bhairavi is the power of Kal-Bhairav and she is half of Shiva in the form of Ardhanarisvara.  

She personifies fire that burns imperfections and removes impediments to victory and successes. 

Bhairavi, in the form of Kali, destroys the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha -the embodiment of Ego and attachment.

Bhairavi is Chamundeshwari who kills the demons Chanda and Munda -the embodiment of psychic energies of aversion, lustfulness and unclear vision.

Bhairavi is Kalratri, the fiercest wrathful form of Durga.  

Maheswar-Shiva is the consort of Bhairavi.

7.          Dhumawati

Dhumavati represents negative aspects of life.  She represents the forces of poorness, unauspiciousness, misfortunes and extreme vagaries of life.  She is dissolution and manifests at the time of cosmic dissolution.  

She personifies extreme poverty, troubles and tribulations one may encounter in life.  

Being positioned in negative aspect, she reminds for being aware of potential extremes and signifies the importance of awareness and mindfulness of negative forces. 

She creates awareness on bad luck, misfortunes and inauspiciousness, and with the power of discriminating awareness, she guides to the spiritual path.

She appears as widow and hence she does not have consort.

The Goddess as Dhumawati tells us that we should build our capacity and have the power to accept failures and sustain suffering.

8.          Bagala Mukhi

Bagala Mukhi is the manifestation of divine speech. 

She symbolizes the removal of impurities associated with speech and the tongue involved in telling lies or concealing the truth.  

She command and control speech, and removes misconception and illusion. 

She is Pitambara, yellow in colour and represents right speech and truth. 

She signifies failure hidden in success, death hidden in life, joy hidden in sorrow, and vice versa.  She is the secret presence of the opposites.

Mritunjay Shiva is her consort.

9.          Matangi

Mantangi is the embodiment of thought, talent and skills. 

She signifies the importance of inner purity over external cleanliness.  

Matangi takes care of those who are discreminated, degraded, and lacking equanimity.   

It is you, Mahadev, who makes conscious contact with those who are ostracized and support them with transformative spiritual skills.

Matangi symbolizes devotion that rises above purity and impurities, and above all pettiness and differences. 

She grants control over enemies and direct people for self introspection for gaining supreme knowledge of self.

Mantangi enables to discern purity and impurity; auspicious and inauspicious; and puritanical notion and unrestrained indulgence with sense objects. 

She instills faith that all existence is pervaded by the Supreme Being. 

Dakshinamurti Shiva is her consort.

10.        Kamala

Kamala is auspicious welcome manifestation.  She is the power of Vishnu.

Kamala is the embodiment of auspiciousness, wealth, prosperity, good luck and fertility, and benign and desirable qualities.  

Kamala shares her attributes with Laxmi.  

She removes poverty, both material and spiritual and grants divine support for success on worldly activities and aspirations.  

Kamala tells that the pursuit of material wealth and success should be for seeking divinity inherently present within. 

Vishnu is her consort.

Sati-Syama, having explained the nature of Das Mahavidya once again sought permission saying; “You should let me go to attend the Yajnya being performed by Daksha.

Every sacrifice demands the presence of Mahadev and offering to Shiva. Offering for the rise of wealth over spirit, in the absence of Shiva is inauspicious.  Hence I should go.”

Mahadev replies: "You are Shakti, who am I to stop you from going?  Do as you please."

Mahadev consented in spite he foresees death of Daksha and Sati, if Sati attends the Yajnya.

Thus against the advice of Mahadev, Sati goes to attend Yajnya of Daksha uninvited.

As Sati arrives her father’s palace, Daksha and his followers did not greet and receive Sati. 

Seeing disrespect, Sati refused to take the exalted seat.  She noted sacrificial offerings were not allotted to Rudra which is compulsory according to the canons of sacrifice.

Sati was raged and said Brahmanas and Daksha have more regard to wealth over soul. They failed to recognize and praise the greatest soul of the universe, Lord Shiva.  

Absence of Mahadev in any Yajnya is against all canons of sacrifice.  No sacrifice was and is complete without Shiva.

She told Daktsa in the assembly that she is ashamed to own the body born of him, who has offended the most exalted soul, Shiva.

Sati transformed into Adi Para-Shakti and cursed Daksha to be killed by Shiva.

She offered her final salutations to Mahadev, and her mother, and then she prayed that she be reborn to a father, whom she could respect.

Sati then went into deep meditation to remove the body inherited from her father Daksha and the last impurities from her soul. 

She raised her divine body in the space and commanded air and fire to come to her mortal body.  

Instantly her body went into flames.

Mahadev sow what was destined has happened.  

From outraged Mahadev there emanated Virabhadra and Bhadrakali whom Mahadev directed to destroy Daksha and his Yajnya. 

Virbhadra beheaded Daksha and threw his head in the fire of sacrifice.  All Gods including Vishnu present if the Yajnya were defeated and the Yajnya was destroyed. 

Seeing the destruction Brahma along with all Gods took refuge in Mahadev and began praying for pardon and pleaded to give life to Daksha.

Mahadev yielded to the plea of Brahma and brought Daksha to life by placing a head of a goat on the torso of the dead body of Daksha.  Coming to life Daksha repented on his action in ignorance and prayed for forgiveness for his sinful immoral act.  Mahadev forgave and blessed Daksha saying; “Salvation cannot be attained merely by performing rituals.  If you are desirous of salvation then engage yourself in virtuous action.” 

Himself immersed in sorrow, Mahadev then picks up and carries the lifeless burnt physical body of Sati and wanders all over the universe.  It created imbalance in the planetary system. 

Vishnu then deployed his Dharma Chakra, the discus and cuts the dead body of Sati into 51 parts.

The places where the body parts of Sati fell, they became holy Shakti Pith.  When the burden was cast off, Mahadev retired to Kailas for meditation.

Eons later, Sati was reborn as Parvati and marries with Mahadev. 

Om Namah Shivaya !