Maha-Vidya means great knowledge. The Mahavidyas are thus ten insights covered by ten mysteries about 10 essential energies, that are also 10 goddesses.
Kali is the first and foremost Mahavidya, which is the energy of Time. The related avidya or mystery is that Time, which is life, seems temporary. The truth or vidya is that time and life are never-ending. Death, the apparent end to life and time, is an illusion. To conquer the fear of death, worship of Kali is very effective, using the Kali mantra, yantra and an image of the goddess. However, one should never worship Mahavidya lightly. Worship of Kali should only happen if one is ready to give up attachment to the body.
In the Tantric vision, the Universe has a vibratory structure much like a pyramid. Different worlds are placed on different levels or strata. Each stratum has a definite rate of vibration and expresses a definite level of consciousness.
At the top of this gigantic pyramid like structure there are certain Cardinal Focuses of Energy (Vidya-s) symbolically called “Cosmic Powers” or “Goddesses”, which have a paramount role in creating, maintaining and re-absorbing the Cosmos. The disciplines that have an inner communion with these Cosmic Powers are known as Maha Vidya Yoga or Shri Vidya Yoga.
These are the supreme fundamental ways (paths) of profound knowledge and wisdom. The Tantric tradition is characterised by the central place given to Everlasting Female Archetypes, to the Supreme Goddess, the Mother of the Universe, i.e. the essential femaleness as a creative and dynamic Power which complements the stillness of the Consciousness. In this vision, each female is a Shakti. She embodies and manifests the secret fundamental subtle forces which animate and control the Cosmos.
The Tantric adepts see the whole Cosmos, with its visible and invisible worlds, as a Supreme Mother Goddess ( Parashakti ), which holds ultimate and omnipotent power over cosmic manifestation and over all creatures. On a human scale, all women are part of the Cosmic Goddess. The Ultimate Consciousness ( Shiva ) is grasped through Shakti.
It can be said that the Ten Great Feminine Cosmic Powers (Dasha Maha Vidya-s) are the ten fundamental aspects of the Supreme Cosmic Mother’s personality. Nevertheless, each Goddess has a specific cosmic function in universal harmony.
The traditional sequence of the ten Goddesses is:
KALI – The Power of Time and The Night of Eternity
TARA – The Power of Void and The Night of Anger
TRIPURA SUNDARI – The Power of Absolute Splendor
BHUVANESHWARI – The Power of Space and The Night of Perfect Realization
TRIPURA BHAIRAVI – The Power of Death and The Night of Destiny
CHINNAMASTA – The Power of Sacrifice and The Night of Courage
DHUMAVATI – The Power of Deprivation and The Night of Frustration
BAGALAMUKHI – The Power of Instantaneously Stopping
MATANGI – The Power of Domination and The Night of Illusion
KAMALATMIKA – The Power of Perfect Happiness and The Night of Paradise
The cluster of the ten Maha Vidya-s reflects the dynamic unity of existence, in which all aspects of life – the darkest, the purest, the most forceful and the inert – are combined to form a whole, a vision of unity in diversity.
“WORSHIP” The esoteric Tantric Tradition states that ‘The highest form of worship (Param Puja ) is not offering flowers, fruits, etc., to any image, but it is the grasp of the true nature of [the Deity as being the Self. It does not need any definite place or time: it is to be performed wherever and whenever possible’.This way, worship leads to spiritual knowledge, which implies the unification of subject and object by relation of identity (samyama ).
In fact Maha Vidya Yoga consists of ten different ways (paths) of understanding ourselves and the Universe through identification with ten fundamental energies-consciousness of the Cosmos. Therefore our purpose is self-knowledge through specific ways which are related to our affinity i.e., which best fit our personality. Tantra reveals that the Supreme Being can be reached through any of these Cosmic Focuses of Power.
