Arghya Writes

Matangi , the ninth Mahavidya, governs over vaak (speech), knowledge, music & other arts. She is regarded as the tantric form of Saraswati . Once Shiva & Parvati organised a feast for Vishnu & Lakshmi . While eating the gods dropped some of the food which on touching the ground transformed into a beautiful maiden of emrald complexion, Matangi . She asked the gods for their leftovers which they did offer her as prasada. Then, Shiva declared that those who repeat her mantra and worship her will have their material desires satisfied, declaring her the giver of boons. Devi Matangi has two forms - Ucchishta Mantangi (holds a noose , sword , goad & club ) & Raja Matangi (plays a veena ). Her consort is the Matanga form of Lord Shiva .

Bagalamukhi is the eighth goddess of the Dasa Mahavidyas. Lord Vishnu invoked her to stop a great storm that once threatened the entire creation. Devi Bagla had defeated a demon named Madanasura , who by his Vaak Shakti (speech power) created havoc in the three worlds. Her dhyan mantra describes her as having yellow complexion & wearing yellow garments. Her association with yellow gives her the name ' Pitambara '. Devi holds a holding a mudgara (mallet) in one hand & tongue of the enemy in other. A sarus crane is her mount while she's also depicted seated on a golden throne amidst an ocean. Her consort is Lord Shiva in the form of Bagalamukha .

Dhumavati is the seventh mahavidya in the Dasa Mahavidya pantheon. Once Devi Sati out of immense hunger asked Lord Shiva for food. Shiva, busy in meditation, made her wait for a long time. Sati felt ignored & being extremely hungry, she gulped down her husband. On Shiva's request, she disgorged him later. An angry Shiva cursed her to live like a widow & left. That's how, the Hindu pantheon of goddesses got its first & only widow goddess. Breaking the stereotypes of a typical Indian goddess, Dhumavati is an old widow who is of smoke-like complexion. Hence the name, Dhumavati. She sits on a abandoned chariot , surrounded by crows . As a goddess, she represents the mostly ignored facets of life like old age, widowhood, death etc. There's only one temple dedicated to Devi Dhumavati in all of India.

Devi Chinnamasta    is the sixth Mahavidya. Her name translates to 'she whose head is severed'. The story goes, once Parvati was bathing accompanied by her attendants, Jaya & Vijaya . Jaya & Vijaya asked Parvati for some food. Parvati promised to provide food once they reach home. Both of them kept asking for food again & again. Then, Parvati tore her own head using her nails & fed her attendants the jet spray of blood that came out of her head. Chinnamasta is depicted as a sixteen year old girl, having the complexion of red hibiscus flower. She holds a scimitar in one hand & her severed head in the other. She wears a snake as Yagnopavita , meaning she possesses Brahmavidya . Chinnamasta is associated with self-realization, awakening of the kundalini & the concept of life & death. Her consort is Lord Kabandha , form of Shiva .

The fifth vidya is Bhairavi . Her name means the one who's fierce or awe-inspiring. Bhairavi is an Ugra deity who's undistinguishable from Kali. Bhairavi's two left hands display Abhaya mudra & hold a scripture . While on the right hands she has a rosary & shows Varada mudra. She sits over a lotus flower. The Durga Saptashati , refers to her as Devi Chamunda , the slayer of demons Chanda & Munda . Her consort is Lord Bhairava .

Devi Bhuvaneshvari is the fourth among the Mahavidyas. She is the highest form Adi Parasakhti , the primordial goddess. Bhuvaneswari is similar to Shodashi in many aspects. Her dhyan mantra describes her as having the complexion of rising sun, the crescent moon adorns her hair & she is trinayanam . Bhuvaneshvari holds a pasha & akusha in her left hands while other two display the Abhaya & Varada mudra. She lives in Manidvipa (island of gems) with her consort Lord Tryambaka .