Ten Aspects of Parvati

* Ten Aspects of Parvati *

Given here are the ten aspects of Parvati, termed as Dasamahavidyas. These are the representations of transcendent knowledge and power.

• The first is Kali who is the goddess of time that destroys everything.

• The second one, Tara is the power of golden embryo from which the universe evolves. She also stands for void or the boundless space.

• The third one Sodasi literally means 'one who is sixteen years old’. She is the personification of fullness and perfection.

• The fourth, Vidya Bhuvanevari represents the forces of the material world.

• The fifth one, Bhairavi stands for desires and temptations leading to destruction and death.

• The sixth Vidya Chinnamasta represents the continued state of self-sustenance of the created world in which is seen continuous self-destruction and self-renewal, in a cyclic order. She is a naked deity holding her own severed head in hand and drinking her own blood.

• Dhumavati, the seventh one personifies the destruction of the world by fire, when only smoke (dhuma) from its ashes remains.

• The eighth, Vidya Bagala is a crane - headed goddess. She represents the ugly side of living creatures like jealously, hatred and cruelty.

• Matangi, the ninth Vidya is the embodiment power of domination.

• The tenth and the last Vidya Kamala is the pure consciousness of the self, bestowing boons and allaying the fears of the supplicants. She is identified with Lakshmi, the Goddess of Fortune.