18
votes
Accepted
In which scriptures can we find the original stories of the Mahavidyas?
First of all it's a very very long answer.
PurAnic accounts of how the DashamahAvidyAs manifested
The following account appears in Devi PurAna, however the same appears also in the BhAgavata PurAna (...
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8
votes
Accepted
What are the Mahavidya deities?
Mahavidya are Shakti of Dash Avatara of Shiva. Most people are only aware about Dashavatara of Lord Vishnu. However Shiva Purana Shat Rudra Samhita also gives Dashavatara of Lord Shiva along with ...
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8
votes
Accepted
Who is Bagalamukhi?
Is Bagalamukhi Parvati's different incarnation or other form of
Sakthi?
Goddess Bagalamukhi is one among the 10 Mahavidyas ( Great Knowledge or Vidya). She is the 8th Mahavidya. When a spiritual ...
- 112k
8
votes
Which scripture mentions Vasishth praying to Tantrik Goddess Tara?
Quoting from Arthur Avalon's book Shakti and Shakta's chapter 8, named Cinachara:
Most important however in the alleged Buddhist connection is the story
of Vashishtha to be found in the Tantras. ...
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7
votes
Difference between Bhuvaneswari and Lalitha devi & their location
Both Bhuvaneshwari & Lalita also known as Tripura Sundari & Shodashi, belong to the group of goddesses known as the Dash Mahavidyas. The story of their origin can be found from this question ...
- 19.4k
7
votes
Accepted
Are the 10 Mahavidyas an expansion of Goddess Sati or that of Goddess Shakambhari?
As shown in this answer, the Devi PurAna account gives the widely known 10 MahAvidyAs. The account from the Devi BhAgavatam, on the other hand, does not include the origin of 2 MahAvidyas namely- ...
- 112k
7
votes
Accepted
Questions about the image of goddess Chhinnamasta?
ChinnamastA means the one with severed head. In the shAkta tradition, she is the sixth cosmic goddess of the ten "mahAvidyAs". Her form is very fierce and hence has attracted many ...
- 19.2k
6
votes
What is the connection between Kali and Kaliyug?
In Hinduism (or Sanatana Dharma), there is a beautiful concept where even the non living things and abstract ideas also exist in personified form. It is because Consciousness runs everything as ...
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6
votes
Accepted
Is there a connection between the Navadurga and the Dashmahavidya?
The Nava Durga, if you properly notice are forms of Parvati. As Wikipedia mentions:
The nine manifested forms of Goddess Durga (Gauri) or (Parvati) are: Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, ...
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5
votes
Accepted
Putting Mata Shodasi Mahavidya picture with other gods and recite mantras
Sri Vidya mantras (particularly the Shodashi or Shodakshari mantra) are the most secretive among all mantras. So, the rule is to recite only after getting initiated from a Guru of that Parampara (of ...
- 112k
5
votes
Accepted
About Goddess Ashvaroodha Devi
AswArudha Devi is mentioned in the 3rd UllAsha (3rd Chapter) of the Nityotsava. This chapter is called Shri Krama. So, AswArudhA worship is done as an Anga-UpAsanA of Shri VidyA.
I do not know ...
- 112k
4
votes
What is the relation between Dash Mahavidyas and Dashavatar?
In the last chapter of Todal tantra Parwati Devi asks Shiva about true nature of Das Avataras of the Adi Shakti and then He explains the analogy of Shakti incarnations with Vishnu Avataras.
This ...
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4
votes
Accepted
Goddesses with skull-cup in one hand
please enlighten me, who are the Goddesses,having skull-cup in one
hand
Goddess KAli:
Goddess Kali has numerous forms such as GuhyakAli, SmashAna KAli, Bhadra KAli, ShyAmA KAli, Dakshina KAli etc. ...
- 112k
3
votes
Who is Goddess Shyamala?
ShyAmalA is one of the chief Tantric goddesses in the Sri vidya krama. She is also one of the mahA-vidyAs of the shakta tradition as she is the mahAvidyA mAtangi herself.
She is known with many ...
- 19.2k
3
votes
What is the story of Devi Chhinamastika?
I have discussed about the picture and iconography of the goddess in my another answer. It is well known that she is one of prime goddesses in the shakta tradition. She is one of the cosmic ...
- 19.2k
3
votes
Is Goddess Kali ever represented in the form of a child?
Indeed there is a Bala form of Bhadrakali (and not Kali).
Her description is found in Kerala Agams. Mostly Bhadrakali temples in Kerala worship her in Bala form as in that way it is easy to control ...
- 2,409
2
votes
Difference between Bhuvaneswari and Lalitha devi & their location
Manidweepa is like an abode of goddess. Bhuvaneshwari is one of the ten mahavidyas and lalita is also considered as supreme goddess. So in both cases its true that they reside in mani dweepa. For ...
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2
votes
In which scriptures can we find the original stories of the Mahavidyas?
Rickross not mentioned about Bhairavi. I will answer about the mention of Bhairavi.
Devi Bhairavi is mentioned in third chapter of Devi Mahatmya. The third chapter of Devi Mahatmya mentiones her ...
- 1,795
2
votes
About Goddess Ashvaroodha Devi
Ashvaroodha is a goddess which has a horse as her vehicle. She is popular in the region of Kerala.
Her upasana can be daily as well as for special purposes. She is normally worshiped as an anga ...
- 19.2k
1
vote
Is their an association between Chhinnamasta & Indra and/or Vairochan Buddha?
There is no direct connection between Sri Chinnamasta (vajra-vairochani) and Lord Sri Indra. But Vajra has meaning apart from the powerful weapon.
Vajra is a Sanskrit word meaning both thunderbolt ...
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1
vote
What is the connection between Kali and Kaliyug?
There is a connection between Kali and Kali yuga, but Kali in this regard is not a goddess but is the personality of Kali, who is the cause of all irreligion, the master of Kali-yuga, who was lower ...
- 3,065
1
vote
Who is Goddess Shyamala?
Raja Shyamala Devi or Raja Matangi mata is a goddess in Sri Vidya Upasana. A higher expertise can be achieved by her upasana. She is also mentioned in the Lalita Sahasranama. She is also a source of ...
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