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दश महाविद्या
Tantric Shakta (Mahabhagavata Purana, Brihadnila Tantra, Todala Tantra)
Ten transcendent forms of Devi, each representing a distinct path to liberation. Origin myth: when Sati was forbidden by Shiva from attending Daksha's yajna, she manifested in ten fierce forms to assert her power, and Shiva surrendered.
#1
Time / Black / Death-conqueror
Black or dark blue; four arms; severed head, sword, abhaya, varada mudras; garland of skulls; standing on Shiva
#2
She who carries across (the ocean of samsara)
Blue; four arms; crescent moon in hair; fierce yet compassionate; standing in pratyalidha pose on a corpse
#3
Beautiful one of the three cities (worlds)
Red / golden; four arms; bow of sugarcane, arrows of flowers, noose, goad; seated on Shiva atop a lotus
#4
Empress of the worlds
Red; four arms; goad, noose, varada, abhaya; crowned; the seat of all manifestation
#5
Fierce / terrifying
Red; four arms; akshamala, book, varada, abhaya; sometimes head of an enemy
#6
She whose head is severed
Severed her own head; holds it in one hand while three streams of blood flow from neck — feeding her two attendants and her own severed head; standing on a copulating couple
#7
The smoky one
Old, ugly, widow-like; on a chariot with crow banner; trembling hand; symbolizes dissolution and the void after creation
#8
Crane-headed / paralyser
Yellow; four arms; club, tongue of an enemy held between fingers; seated on golden throne
#9
She of the elephant (Matanga)
Dark green; four arms; veena, sword; seated on jewelled throne
#10
The lotus / Lakshmi
Identical to Lakshmi — golden, four arms; lotuses; flanked by elephants pouring water from trunks