Das Mahavidya Mantras

The Das Mahavidyas (Daasha Mahaavidyaa / Dasa Mahavidya) are the ten beautiful and ferocious Great Wisdom Goddesses of the Hindu Shakta tradition.

They are powerful as individual Goddesses, and as a group they may be considered emanations of Kali, among whose many identities is Sri Sri Kamakhya Devi.

At the Sri Sri Kamakhya Temple complex on Nilachal Hill in Assam, Northeast India, there are many temples. Chief amongst them are the temples to Kamakhya herself, and to each of the Mahavidyas.

Worship of these Mahavidyas at Kamakhya is unique and unlike other Tantric traditions, and here at the Sri Kamakhya Mahavidya Mandir in Northern California, we use this same approach with the blessing of the elders at the Sri Sri Kamakhya Temple.

While much of their worship is unknown to those outside the tradition, there are a number of ways to approach these powerful Devis as a simple devotee – particularly through song and mantra. Each Devi has at least one (sometimes two) pranama mantra – that is, a mantra that is used for offering reverence and respect to a particular form of Devi. If you have a small shrine to any or all of the Das Mahavidya in your home, use these mantras to invoke the particularly potent energies of these Devis as they are manifested at our beloved Sri Sri Kamakhya Temple.

NOTE: The Das Mahavidyas are listed here in their name and order of emanation according to the Kamakhya tradition. This may be similar or very different to lists you have seen elsewhere, and most or even all of these mantras may be new to you in some way. Worship at Kamakhya is ancient and unique, and so these differences are to be expected. Every parampara (guru lineage) has its own recognized versions mantras and stotras that have been passed down through the ages.

Consider this set of mantras a divine gift from Kamakhya Devi to add to your understanding and love of MAA!

Update (October 2011): Due to popular demand, we updated and included the devanagari and diacritic spelling of these mantras in image format so that all platforms can access it; however, we apologize that some spelling errors have been made in the devanagari. These have been noted and are being fixed as we get time to work on it… please refer to the transliteration for most accuracy. Jai MAA!

1. Kali (She Who is Black and Beyond Time)

and/or

2. Tara (She Who Helps One to Cross Over)

and/or

3. Kamakhya (The Renowned Source and Fulfillment of Desire)

Kamakhya is closely identified with Shodashi (She Who is Sixteen)/Maha Tripura Sundari (Great Beautiful One of the Three Cities/Qualities), and is also closely identified with Kali in the Kalika Purana, Yogini Tantra, and Kamakhya Tantra.

and/or

4. Bhuvaneshwari (Beloved Goddess Whose Body is the Earth)

5. Bhairavi (The Terrible One)

6. Chinnamasta (She Who Severs Her Own Head)

and/or

7. Dhumavati (She Who Emanates Smoke)

8. Bagalamukhi / Bagala (She Whose Face is Captivating)

9. Matangi (The Elephant or Outcaste Goddess)

Matangi is closely identified with and is the Tantric form of Sarasvati (She Who Flows Continuously). While the energies of Sarasvati are focused externally on learning, academics, language, and the arts, Matangi’s energies are focused intensely inward, on deeper wisdom.

10. Kamala (The Lotus)

Kamala is closely identified with and is the Tantric form of Lakshmi (She Who Achieves All Objectives).

This is the first time these mantras have appeared together online for the sake of all devotees everywhere in the world. Many thanks to Sri Jadu Nath Sarma for his work in compiling these mantras for publication.