Mahavidyas (Great Wisdoms) or Dasha-Mahavidyas are a group of ten aspects of the Divine

Mother Durga or Kali herself or Devi in Hinduism. The 10 Mahavidyas are Wisdom Goddesses,
who represent a spectrum of feminine divinity, from horrific goddesses at one end, to the gentle
at the other.[1]
The development of Mahavidyas represents an important turning point in the history of Shaktism
as it marks the rise of Bhakti aspect in Shaktism, which reached its zenith in 1700 CE. First
sprung forth in the post-Puranic age, around 6th century C.E., it was a new theistic movement in
which the supreme being was envisioned as female. A fact epitomized by texts like DeviBhagavata Purana, especially its last nine chapters (31-40) of the seventh skandha, which are
known as the Devi Gita, and soon became central texts of Shaktism.[

Shaktas believe, "the one Truth is sensed in ten different facets; the Divine Mother is adored and
approached as ten cosmic personalities," the Dasa-Mahavidya ("ten-Mahavidyas").[3] The
Mahavidyas are considered Tantric in nature, and are usually identified as:[4]
1. Kali The ultimate form of Brahman, "Devourer of Time" (Supreme Deity of Kalikula
systems)
2. Tara The Goddess as Guide and Protector, or Who Saves.Who offers the ultimate
knowledge which gives salvation (also known as Neel Saraswati).
3. Tripura Sundari (Shodashi) The Goddess Who is "Beautiful in the Three Worlds"
(Supreme Deity of Srikula systems); the "Tantric Parvati" or the "Moksha Mukta".
4. Bhuvaneshvari The Goddess as World Mother, or Whose Body is the Cosmos
5. Bhairavi The Fierce Goddess
6. Chhinnamasta The self-decapitated Goddess[5]

7. Dhumavati The Widow Goddess,or the Goddess of death.

8. Bagalamukhi The Goddess Who Paralyzes Enemies
9. Matangi the Prime Minister of Lalita (in Srikula systems)
10. Kamala The Lotus Goddess; the "Tantric Lakshmi"
The Mahabhagavata Purana and Brhaddharma Purana however, list Shodashi (Sodasi) as Tripura
Sundari, her another name.[1] The Guhyatiguyha-tantra associates the Mahavidyas with the ten
Avatars of Vishnu, and states that the Mahavidyas are the source from which the avatars of
Vishnu arose. All ten forms of the Goddess, whether gentle or terrifying, are worshiped as the
universal Mother.