Dus Mahavidya: The Ten Divine Wisdom Goddesses in Tantra
Explore the mysteries of Dus Mahavidya – the Ten Tantric Goddesses in Hinduism. Learn their divine stories, mantras, sadhanas, yantras, Bhairava forms, and Ganesh aspects that guide the seeker to liberation.
The Dus Mahavidya are the ten powerful forms of the Divine Mother, representing cosmic wisdom and energy in their most intense and liberating aspects. Rooted in Tantric tradition, these goddesses are not just worshipped for material blessings, but to destroy ego, dissolve illusions, and awaken the dormant Kundalini. From fierce Kali to serene Kamala, each goddess has a unique story, mantra, yantra, and mode of worship that unfolds a deeper spiritual truth. Let’s explore the mystic essence of these ten Mahavidyas and their sadhana methods and other details.
Before we start, I would also like to explain that worshipping the Mahavidya with their respective Bhairava and Ganesh, ensures success. Also, Understand that this time you are about to worship someone, who is above Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva and so you need to be in the purest state of mind and having a Guru will always be helpful. When you try to reach the ultimate, journey will not be easy and there will me uncounted hurdles in you way.
One thing that you must also understand is that, one lifetime is very less to get closest to one Mahavidya so do not fool yourself and try to get for all. They are all same and also if you get the blessing from any one you become superior to any being on the planet. I will explain about the multi life an how we can carry our sadhana from life to other in some other post coz this is already going to be too long. And where one life seems to be too short for one, how can one single blog cover it all. so let's begin with introduction only.
1. Kali – The Devourer of Time
Story: In a time when demonic forces were out of control, the universe cried out for help. From the third eye of Goddess Durga emerged Kali, dark as the void, wild and terrifying. She roared into battle, drinking every drop of the blood of Raktabija to stop him from multiplying. Her dance of destruction became so intense that Shiva himself lay in her path to calm her. She stepped on him and her tongue rolled out in realization. Kali is the goddess of time, death, and transcendence.
Mantra (Beej): “ॐ क्रीं कालिकायै नमः॥”
Ganesh: Heramba Ganapati
Sadhana: Best performed at midnight on Amavasya. Use black cloth, a skull bowl (kapala), and chant the mantra 108 times with a Rudraksha mala.
Offerings: Black sesame, red hibiscus, alcohol, and meat (in tantric rituals)
Auspicious Tithi: Kali Chaudas, Amavasya
2. Tara – The Rescuer
Story: During the churning of the ocean, when Shiva drank the Halahala poison, he lost consciousness. Tara, appearing in a blue form, took him in her arms and nursed him like a child, bringing him back to life. Tara teaches us that divine compassion rescues us when knowledge fails. She is the goddess who guides across the turbulent ocean of life.
Mantra (Beej): “ॐ ह्रीं स्त्रीं हूं फट्॥”
Ganesh: Uchchhishta Ganapati
Sadhana: Performed at dawn near water bodies. Use blue flowers, chant with a conch shell mala facing north.
Offerings: Coconut, curd, honey, banana
Auspicious Tithi: Chaturdashi, Guru Purnima
3. Tripura Sundari – The Divine Beauty
Story: Known as Shodashi, she is the youthful beauty who destroyed Bhandasura with her sugarcane bow and flower arrows. She sits on a throne with Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, and Indra as her servants. She is the embodiment of bliss, aesthetics, and ultimate reality as beauty.
Mantra (Beej): “ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं क्लीं सौः॥”
Ganesh: Shakti Ganapati
Sadhana: Morning puja facing east with crystal mala and Sri Yantra.
Offerings: Sweets, rose petals, sandal paste
Auspicious Tithi: Friday, Purnima
4. Bhuvaneshwari – The Cosmic Queen
Story: She appeared when the universe was in chaos. With her gentle smile, she spread calmness and order, becoming the space in which creation resides. She is the goddess of space, nurturing all beings with her grace.
Mantra (Beej): “ॐ ह्रीं श्रीं क्लीं भुवनेश्वर्यै नमः॥”
Ganesh: Srishti Ganapati
Sadhana: Conducted on a yellow cloth with yellow lotus, facing east in early mornings.
Offerings: Milk sweets, turmeric, yellow fruits
Auspicious Tithi: Navratri, Sundays
5. Bhairavi – The Fierce Ascetic
Story: During Kali’s war with demons, Bhairavi emerged to devour the enemies of truth. She wears a garland of skulls and is the inner power of tapas (austerity). She represents discipline, willpower, and the destruction of desires.
Mantra (Beej): “ॐ ह्रीं भैरव्यै नमः॥”
Ganesh: Vighna Ganapati
Sadhana: Done at dusk with red flowers, using a red coral mala on red cloth.
Offerings: Pomegranate, honey, red cloth
Auspicious Tithi: Tuesdays, Ashtami
6. Chinnamasta – The Self-Decapitated Goddess
Story: In a surprising act of self-sacrifice, she cut her own head to feed her attendants, symbolizing ego destruction and divine flow. Blood flows from her neck and nourishes her companions. She shows that spiritual growth often comes through loss and surrender.
Mantra (Beej): “ॐ ह्रूं चिन्नमस्तायै नमः॥”
Ganesh: Uchchhishta Ganapati
Sadhana: Requires tantric initiation. Done on eclipses, with red rice and wine in cremation grounds.
Offerings: Red lotus, meat, red sandal
Auspicious Tithi: Eclipse days, midnight
7. Dhumavati – The Widow Goddess
Story: When Sati swallowed Shiva in anger and was cursed, she became the widow goddess Dhumavati. She rides a crow and represents the smoky void – the space after destruction but before creation. She is the energy of suffering, old age, and moksha.
Mantra (Beej): “ॐ धूं धूं धूमावत्यै नमः॥”
Ganesh: Durga Ganapati
Sadhana: Performed alone, in silence, during dark moon nights.
Offerings: Black sesame, dry fruits, bread
Auspicious Tithi: Krishna Paksha Ashtami
8. Baglamukhi – The Stunner of Speech
Story: When demons caused havoc through lies and manipulation, Baglamukhi emerged from the Haridra Sarovar (turmeric lake) and silenced their speech. She grants power over enemies and speech control.
Mantra (Beej): “ॐ ह्लीं बगलामुख्यै नमः॥”
Bhairava: Pitambara/ Ekavaktra Bhairava
Ganesh: Haridra Ganapati
Sadhana: Performed on yellow cloth, with turmeric mala, chanting 108 times facing east.
Offerings: Yellow sweets, turmeric, ghee lamp
Auspicious Tithi: Thursday, Navratri
9. Matangi – The Outcast Goddess
Story: Matangi was born from leftover food offered to Devi. She represents nonconformity, music, inner voice, and unconventional wisdom. She accepts what society rejects, revealing beauty in the discarded.
Mantra (Beej): “ॐ ह्रीं ऐं क्लीं मतङ्ग्यै नमः॥”
Bhairava: Chinteshwar Bhairava
Ganesh: Uchchhishta Ganapati
Sadhana: Done at night with songs and chants. Use green cloth, mango leaves, and fruits.
Offerings: Leftovers, raw mango, music performance
Auspicious Tithi: Tritiya, Poornima
10. Kamala – The Tantric Lakshmi
Story: She sits on a lotus, showering golden blessings. Unlike regular Lakshmi, Kamala holds the spiritual richness and detachment of a yogini. She grants both worldly and divine wealth.
Mantra (Beej): “ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं क्लीं कमलायै नमः॥”
Ganesh: Lakshmi Ganapati
Sadhana: Perform early morning with lotus petals and chanting with a lotus seed mala.
Offerings: Kheer, saffron, lotus
Auspicious Tithi: Fridays, Diwali
The Dus Mahavidyas are fierce, graceful, and transformative aspects of the Divine Mother. Their sadhanas are powerful tools for spiritual awakening and liberation. With the blessings of their Bhairavas and Ganesh forms, the practitioner gains strength to dissolve karma, overcome inner darkness, and realize the supreme truth.
Getting their blessing could be the most difficult task but even the smallest fraction would change your entire world. you will have the power to bend the reality and in such a scenario, as said you have a great responsibility too as what is given can be taken back. This sadhana is the ultimate thing and when doing this you need to be prepared. Also never forget the rules of kwacha, asana and mala that I shall explain in the upcoming blogs.
