The Essence of the Tantra of the Ten Mahavidyas

"I am present myself in the form of 'Bhairavi'."

Right here, when asked by Shiva about their greatness, Parvati explained, "By performing the worship of all these, one attains the four-fold goals, namely Dharma righteousness, Bhoga enjoyment, Moksha liberation, and Artha wealth. By their grace, one attains the perfection of the six acts referring to the six magical rituals of Tantra and the fulfillment of desired goals."

At the request of Shiva, these goddesses merged respectively into Goddess Kalika.

Lineage Tradition

Practitioners perform the worship of the Dash Mahavidyas according to their individual faith, but initiation diksha is taken to perform specific practices.

Any initiation related to the Dash Mahavidyas is divided into two different sections. These sections are called Kula lineage/family. They are known by two names: 'Kalikula' and 'Shrikula'.

Practitioners who take initiation in Goddess Kali, Tara, and Chinnamastika and consider them their chosen deity are considered practitioners of 'Kalikula'. Practitioners of all other Mahavidyas are considered practitioners of 'Shrikula'.

The Primordial Great Goddess

According to one's lineage, the worship of the Dash Mahavidyas assumes its diverse forms. The Mahavidyas are considered the primordial forms; that is, when nothing existed, these Great Goddesses were present. The indicator of the primordial is the zero. Zero means nothing. This zero-form power is Kali. This is the root element. Being of a great, attribute-less nirguna without qualities form, she is compared to darkness. This root element, due to being of a great, attribute-endowed saguna with qualities form...