Worship the 10 Mahavidyas in Gupt Navratri

In our scriptures, the mention of the ten Mahavidyas is found. These ten goddesses hold special significance in tantra practices. Worshipping and meditating upon these ten Mahavidyas brings special blessings. These goddesses are considered the ten avatars of Goddess Durga, known to grant siddhis. By worshipping these Mahavidyas, one attains all material comforts and gets liberated from bondage. This worship is practiced by tantric practitioners to please the deities. The ten Mahavidyas are: Kali, Tara, Chhinnamasta, Shodashi, Bhuvaneshwari, Tripura Bhairavi, Dhumavati, Baglamukhi, Matangi, and Kamala. Special worship of these Mahavidyas is done during Secret Navratri. The first Gupt Navratri of 2026 begins on January 19.

Ten Mahavidyas:

Kali

Among the ten Mahavidyas, Kali is considered the foremost. Goddess Durga assumed this form to destroy demons. The worship of this form is performed for spiritual attainment. Just as Lord Shiva is quick to please and to anger, Kali too has a similar nature. Therefore, any devotee wishing to meditate on her must have a pure and focused mind. There are miraculous temples of Kali in Kolkata, Ujjain, and Pavagadh, Gujarat.

Tara – Second Mahavidya

Maharishi Vashistha first worshipped Tara. She is the main goddess of tantrics. Worshipping her brings financial prosperity and liberation. Tara’s worship by Maharishi Vashistha in Birbhum district of West Bengal led to his attainment of many siddhis. There is also a famous temple dedicated to Tara in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.

Tripura Sundari

She is also known as Lalita, Raj Rajeshwari, and Tripura Sundari. The sacred place of Tripura Sundari is in Tripura. Here, Goddess has four arms and three eyes. During Navratri, chanting the mantra “Ain Hreem Shreem Tripura Sundariye Namah” with Rudraksha beads can be done. A special temple of Tripura Sundari is in Kamakhya.

Bhuvaneshwari for Fame, Wealth, and Children

Worship of Goddess Bhuvaneshwari is believed to bring fame, wealth, and children. She is also known as Shatakshi and Shakambhari. Worshipping this goddess brings intense energy like the Sun and bestows respect and honor.

Chhinnamasta – Goddess of Compassion and Sacrifice

Her form is represented by a severed head and three streams of flowing blood. Worshipping this goddess with a calm mind brings peace, while performing her ritual in her fierce form gives visions of her wrathful aspect. Chhinnamasta’s temple is in Ranchi, Jharkhand, which is the second most popular Shakti Peeth after Kamakhya.

Bhairavi – Dispeller of Fear

Worshipping Bhairavi frees one from all fears and bonds. She brings progress in business and wealth. Bhairavi also bestows ease in obtaining material wealth. Her temples are found in Kamakhya and Varanasi.

Dhumavati – Dispeller of Struggles

Goddess Dhumavati is considered the one who removes hardships and lacks. She has no husband, and worshipping her makes one a prominent and powerful personality. In the Rigveda, she is called ‘Sutra.’ A famous temple of Dhumavati is in Datia.

Baglamukhi for Speech and Victory over Enemies

The worship of Baglamukhi is performed for success in speech and to win over enemies. Those who worship her during Navratri achieve success in every field. During the Mahabharata war, Krishna and Arjuna worshipped Baglamukhi to defeat the Kauravas. There are three major temples of Baglamukhi in India, located in Datia and Nalkheda (Madhya Pradesh) and Kangra (Himachal Pradesh).

Matangi for Prosperity in Family Life

Those who seek to make their family life prosperous and successful should worship Goddess Matangi. She is also a name for Lord Shiva. Worshipping the Mahavidya of Matangi leads to mastery in arts, music, and talents, allowing one to gain control over the world. The special temple of Matangi is located in Modheshwar, Gujarat.

Kamala for Wealth

Kamala’s worship brings wealth, prosperity, and success in education and offspring. Worshipping her makes one rich in both wealth and wisdom. Her temple is located in Maharashtra, and the Kamakhya temple in Assam has her sanctum sanctorum.