The great primeval Goddess Aditi, mother of ancient Gods of the Vedas, manifests the Universe through her infinite powers and rules the Cosmos through her children, the Adithyas – divine forces born from Goddess Aditi who carry her light, guide people, rule the space and provide conscious lifeforms the opportunities to act and expand. The Great Mother is worshipped as Adi-Sakthi (Primal Power) by Gods, humans, and other sentient beings of the Universe. In Sanskrit, the word Aditi means “boundless”, “limitless” and “Innocence”. Aditi represents no limits and no errors. She represents space, the expanse of thought, the infinity and 100% efficiency. In a society she represents freedom, symbolizes purity, innocence, and inclusiveness. In Rig Veda, the great primordial Mother Aditi is mentioned more than 250 times.

Rig-Veda 8:47 says:

Let Aditi safeguard us, let Aditi extend the shelter, She the mother of Mitra, the rich Aryaman, and Varuṇa.
Favors by you all, are incomparable, your aids favor well.
That shelter, O Devas, that which is refuge, happiness, doesn’t collapse, That three-fold shelter – do you stretch out over us!
Favors by you all, are incomparable, your aids favor well.

Tantric literature celebrates the Great Primordial Mother’s ten (Dasha) manifestations as “Maha-Vidyas” (Great Sciences) which hold the universe in their respective celestial rhythms. It is believed that once Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvati had a disagreement and things got out of hand. What had started in jest turned into a serious matter with an incensed Lord Shiva threatening to walk out on Goddess Parvati. No amount of coaxing or cajoling by Goddess Parvati could reverse matters. Left with no choice, Goddess Parvati multiplied herself into ten different forms blocking all ten directions. Lord Shiva using all his powers tried to escape from his beloved Goddess Parvati. But he found her standing as a guardian in all 10 directions, guarding all escape routes. Each of the Devi’s (Goddess) manifested forms made Lord Shiva realize the essential truths of the Cosmos and Creation, made him aware of the eternal nature of their mutual love and most significantly established for always in the cannons of Indian thought, the Goddess’s superiority over her male counterpart. Not that Lord Shiva in any way felt belittled by this awareness, but only spiritually awakened. The ten manifestations of the primordial Goddess worshipped as “Maha-Vidyas” (Great Sciences or Knowledge systems) are as follows.

KAALI – Goddess of Eternal Night
TAARA – Goddess of Compassion
SHODASHI (TRIPURASUNDARI) – Goddess who is always Sixteen Years Old
BHUVANESHVARI – Goddess who creates the Universe
CHINNAMASTA – Goddess who cuts off her Own Head
TRIPURABHAIRAVI – Goddess of Decay

DHUMAWATI – Goddess who widows herself
BAGALAMUKHI – Goddess who seizes the Tongue
MATANGI – Goddess who Loves Pollution
KAMALA – Goddess who is Bliss and Harmony personified

Each of these 10 manifestations of the great Primordial Mother represent a particular cosmic function in the Universe. Worship and “Sadhana” (spiritual penance) of one of the 10 manifestations bring forth experiential realizations (Anubhava) of the ONE ultimate reality of the universe. The might of Goddess
KAALI, the sound force of Goddess TAARA, the beauty and bliss of Goddess TRIPURASUNDARI, the vast vision of Goddess BHUVANESHWARI, the effulgent charm of Goddess BHAIRAVI, the striking force of Goddess CHINNAMASTA, the silent inertness of Goddess DHUMAVATI, the paralyzing power of Goddess BHAGALAMUKHI, the expressive play of Goddess MATANGI and the concord and harmony of Goddess KAMALA are the distinct manifestations of the Supreme Goddess that has made creation possible.

Goddess DHUMAVATI presides over the Non-Being (Asat). When creation starts, Goddess KAALI is Time and Goddess BHUVANESWARI is Space. The flaming Word (Naada or Sound) Supreme turned towards manifestation is Goddess TRIPURABHAIRAVI, the perceiving “Naadha” (Sound) is Goddess TAARA and the expressed “Naadha” (Word) is Goddess MATANGI. The primordial luminous desire is Goddess TRIPURASUNDARI while the delightful sublime beauty is Goddess KAMALA. Goddess CHINNAMASTA combines Light and Sound in her thunder-clap and Goddess BAGALAMUKHI stifles free flow of things. 

The ten Maha-Vidyas of the Great Goddess are categorized into three groups based on the qualities and attributes of the respective Goddess. “Soumya Koti” manifestations such as Goddess Shodashi (Goddess Tripurasundari), Goddess Bhuvaneshwari, Goddess Maatangi and Goddess Kamala are gentle, mild and pleasant. “Ugra Koti” manifestations such as Goddess Kaali, Goddess Chinnamasta, Goddess Dhumavati and Goddess Bagalamukhi are fierce manifestations of the great primordial mother. “SoumyoGra Koti” manifestations such as Goddess Tara and Goddess Tripura-Bhairavi are considered both gentle and fierce and the same time. Worldly people in general worship the blissful manifestations of the primordial Mother mentioned under the soft category. Spiritual exercises related to Goddesses under the aggressive category are always secretively performed by tantric yogis who have renounced worldly life. Here is a small description about each of these 10 great manifestations of the Goddess known in Hindu cultural ethos as “Dasha Maha Vidya” (10 Great Sciences).