about classifications of Mahavidyas

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93

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.

 

Notes about Mahavidya classification.

 

To begin with, there are three basic divisions of Shakti, originating

in Her three aspects. She is Trika-devi, Her essence is Trinity. This

Trinity is signified differently in corresponding traditions, however

the matter is same (thus, in Mahavidya system it is Kalika (or

Kamala), Tara and Tripurasundari; in Sri-vidya it is Sauh, Aim and

Klim; in Mahanirvana-tantra it is Krim, Shrim and Hrim; in philosophy

it is Ananda, Chit and Sat or Ichchha, Jnani and Kriya).

 

Thus, as Para-shakti or Adya-kali She is One in Three. Then, as

Kalika She is 10 (or 9); as Tara She is 13 (or 12); as Tripura She is

16 (or 15). First divisions brings up 10 Mahavidyas or 9 Kalis of

Kaula-shaktism; second – 13 Kalis of Krama and Kubjika systems;

third – 16 Nityas of Sri-vidya and Kali-vidya. These three branches

correspond to Agni and 10 letters from Ya to Ksha; Surya and 12 pairs

of consonants plus letter Ma; Soma and 16 vowels from A to Ah.

In Kaushika-darshana these three are Kalika, Matangi and Bhairavi.

For those who need, in kularchana this three are represented by bija

(shukra), khapushpa (rakta) and salila (ambu). Besides, these three

have two variations each.

 

This is the general idea of Shakti-bheda. Coming to Mahavidya

classification, we can see that basic list is of 10 Vidyas. In fact

it is the most common in tantric scriptures. We can see it in

Chamunda-, Shaktisangama-, Mundamala- and Todala-tantras (in this one

the list contains 11 MV – Durga is added), in Mahakala-samhita and in

many compendiums and commentaries (Pranatoshini, Mantra-maharnava,

Shakta-pramoda etc.). The original mandala is of these 10: Kali being

in the center and 9 other around Her (variations of this are Navayoni-

chakra and Navatmaka-bhairava). Same Vidyas are represented in

Mahakala-samhita, Todala-tantra, Pranatoshini and Agamatattva-vilasa

as 9 Kalis. These 9 Vidyas are present in 9 triangles of Kaushiki-

yantra, 9 avaranas of Sri-chakra and 9 chakras of body.

These 9 come into being in the following way:

Kali is divided into 3: Kamala, Tara and Tripura; then each of these

is subdivided into three again. Thus, Kamala into Shrilakshmi,

Dhumavati (aka Siddhilakshmi or Jyeshthalakshmi) and Bhuvaneshi (aka

Mahalakshmi); Tara into Ugratarika, Ekajata (aka Chhinnamasta or

Ekavira) and Nilasarasvati (aka Matangini or Kurukulla); and Tripura

into Bala (aka Sundari), Bhairavi and Bagala (aka Varahi). They are

forming mandala of 9 units going in the following order: Tara,

Bhairavi, Chhinna, Sundari, Bhuvaneshi, Bagala, Lakshmi, Matangi,

Dhuma.

If we add Kali (transcendent Shakti, Para) they are 10; if we add

Chandi or Durga (immanent Trika-shakti) they are 11. Thus number 11

signifies totality (Purnata) of Godhead, both transcendent and

immanent, nirguna and saguna.

Then, each of these 11 has an additional aspect, Upavidya. For this

reason complete list of Mahavidyas contains 22 (as in Rudra-yamala;

Kokilarnava-tantra gives 20, omitting 2). These 22 Vidyas are

represented by Mahamantra of Kali consisting of 22 letters.

Also from mandala of 9 Vidyas upamandala of 6 is formed (thus making

shatkona): Tara, Durga (Chhinna+Bhairavi), Tripura, Maheshvari

(Bagala+Bhuvaneshi), Kamala, Sumukhi (Matangi+Dhuma). Then in this

star of 6 rays Kamala is connected with Durga (Ichchha-shakti, Agni,

rajas), Tara with Maheshi (Jnana-shakti, Surya, sattva) and Tripura

with Sumukhi (Kriya-shakti, Chandra, tamas).

In connection with sadhana these 6 are set in the following order:

[Kali], Tara, Maheshi, Durga, Sumukhi, Tripura, Kamala (it is sadhana-

krama). Three Amshavidyas out of these, Maheshi, Durga and Sumukhi,

correspond to three parts of 108-lettered Paramavidya given in

Tripuratapini-upanishat (that is Tatsaviturvarenyam etc., Jatavedase

sunavama etc., Tryambakam yajamahe etc.).

 

Besides these, some Tantras give other classifications. For example,

Niruttara-tantra lists 18 Vidyas etc. However all variations can be

traced to the basic one, which is Dashamahavidya and then to Trika.

 

"O Devi, all Vidyas are Your aspects; in this world You are

manifested in women" (Devi-mahatmya).

 

Love is the law, love under will.

 

Arjuna Taradasa

[Guest guest]

WOW!

 

Thanks for the heavy-duty ontology! A "print and save" moment for

sure! Nice to see you back ...

 

DB

 

, "Arjuna Taradasa"

<bhagatirtha@m...> wrote:

> 93

> Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.

>

> Notes about Mahavidya classification.

>

> To begin with, there are three basic divisions of Shakti,

originating

> in Her three aspects. She is Trika-devi, Her essence is Trinity.

This

> Trinity is signified differently in corresponding traditions,

however

> the matter is same (thus, in Mahavidya system it is Kalika (or

> Kamala), Tara and Tripurasundari; in Sri-vidya it is Sauh, Aim and

> Klim; in Mahanirvana-tantra it is Krim, Shrim and Hrim; in

philosophy

> it is Ananda, Chit and Sat or Ichchha, Jnani and Kriya).

>

> Thus, as Para-shakti or Adya-kali She is One in Three. Then, as

> Kalika She is 10 (or 9); as Tara She is 13 (or 12); as Tripura She

is

> 16 (or 15). First divisions brings up 10 Mahavidyas or 9 Kalis of

> Kaula-shaktism; second – 13 Kalis of Krama and Kubjika systems;

> third – 16 Nityas of Sri-vidya and Kali-vidya. These three

branches

> correspond to Agni and 10 letters from Ya to Ksha; Surya and 12

pairs

> of consonants plus letter Ma; Soma and 16 vowels from A to Ah.

> In Kaushika-darshana these three are Kalika, Matangi and Bhairavi.

> For those who need, in kularchana this three are represented by

bija

> (shukra), khapushpa (rakta) and salila (ambu). Besides, these

three

> have two variations each.

>

> This is the general idea of Shakti-bheda. Coming to Mahavidya

> classification, we can see that basic list is of 10 Vidyas. In

fact

> it is the most common in tantric scriptures. We can see it in

> Chamunda-, Shaktisangama-, Mundamala- and Todala-tantras (in this

one

> the list contains 11 MV – Durga is added), in Mahakala-samhita and

in

> many compendiums and commentaries (Pranatoshini, Mantra-maharnava,

> Shakta-pramoda etc.). The original mandala is of these 10: Kali

being

> in the center and 9 other around Her (variations of this are

Navayoni-

> chakra and Navatmaka-bhairava). Same Vidyas are represented in

> Mahakala-samhita, Todala-tantra, Pranatoshini and Agamatattva-

vilasa

> as 9 Kalis. These 9 Vidyas are present in 9 triangles of Kaushiki-

> yantra, 9 avaranas of Sri-chakra and 9 chakras of body.

> These 9 come into being in the following way:

> Kali is divided into 3: Kamala, Tara and Tripura; then each of

these

> is subdivided into three again. Thus, Kamala into Shrilakshmi,

> Dhumavati (aka Siddhilakshmi or Jyeshthalakshmi) and Bhuvaneshi

(aka

> Mahalakshmi); Tara into Ugratarika, Ekajata (aka Chhinnamasta or

> Ekavira) and Nilasarasvati (aka Matangini or Kurukulla); and

Tripura

> into Bala (aka Sundari), Bhairavi and Bagala (aka Varahi). They

are

> forming mandala of 9 units going in the following order: Tara,

> Bhairavi, Chhinna, Sundari, Bhuvaneshi, Bagala, Lakshmi, Matangi,

> Dhuma.

> If we add Kali (transcendent Shakti, Para) they are 10; if we add

> Chandi or Durga (immanent Trika-shakti) they are 11. Thus number

11

> signifies totality (Purnata) of Godhead, both transcendent and

> immanent, nirguna and saguna.

> Then, each of these 11 has an additional aspect, Upavidya. For

this

> reason complete list of Mahavidyas contains 22 (as in Rudra-

yamala;

> Kokilarnava-tantra gives 20, omitting 2). These 22 Vidyas are

> represented by Mahamantra of Kali consisting of 22 letters.

> Also from mandala of 9 Vidyas upamandala of 6 is formed (thus

making

> shatkona): Tara, Durga (Chhinna+Bhairavi), Tripura, Maheshvari

> (Bagala+Bhuvaneshi), Kamala, Sumukhi (Matangi+Dhuma). Then in this

> star of 6 rays Kamala is connected with Durga (Ichchha-shakti,

Agni,

> rajas), Tara with Maheshi (Jnana-shakti, Surya, sattva) and

Tripura

> with Sumukhi (Kriya-shakti, Chandra, tamas).

> In connection with sadhana these 6 are set in the following order:

> [Kali], Tara, Maheshi, Durga, Sumukhi, Tripura, Kamala (it is

sadhana-

> krama). Three Amshavidyas out of these, Maheshi, Durga and

Sumukhi,

> correspond to three parts of 108-lettered Paramavidya given in

> Tripuratapini-upanishat (that is Tatsaviturvarenyam etc.,

Jatavedase

> sunavama etc., Tryambakam yajamahe etc.).

>

> Besides these, some Tantras give other classifications. For

example,

> Niruttara-tantra lists 18 Vidyas etc. However all variations can

be

> traced to the basic one, which is Dashamahavidya and then to Trika.

>

> "O Devi, all Vidyas are Your aspects; in this world You are

> manifested in women" (Devi-mahatmya).

>

> Love is the law, love under will.

>

> Arjuna Taradasa