According to a mythological story in
DEVI PURAN {Maha-Bhagwat}, Daksha Prajapati invited all deities except
his son-in-law Lord Shiva, on the occasion of performing
Brihaspati Yajna at Kandhal near Haridwar.
Sati
sought permission for participating in the yajna, but Lord Shiva turned down the request, since He himself
was not invited by Prajapati Daksha. This enraged Maa Sati and she began to stare Lord Shiva ferociously.
At this time, her divine face shone like millions of midday Suns. Having seen Sati in such ferocious mood,
Shiva started running in all directions out of fear. In order to stop the running of Lord Shiva, Devi
created ten
Devis out of her body.
These self-created Shaktis are known as
ten Mahavidya (Das Mahavidya).
In chapter {8/62-63} of Devi Puran, it is described as -
"Na pashyashi mahadev sateem maam purtah isthtaam
kali, tara cha lokeshee kamla bhuvneshwari
chinnmasta shodshi cha sundari baglamukhi
dhumavati cha matangi, namanyasamimani cha."
In Devi Puran, the location of ten Mahavidyas has been described. Bhagwati
"Kali Devi" stands in front of
Lord Shiva, Mahavidya
"Tara" in the upper part, Bhagwati
"Chhinnamasta" on the right side,
Bhagwati
"Bhuvneshwari" on the left, Devi
"Bagla" in the back, Mahavidya
"Dhoomavati" in the
Agnikon,
"Tripusundari" in
Nairityakon, MatangKanya
Mahavidya
"Matangi" in
Vayavyakon, Mahavidya
"Shodshi" in
Ishankon.
"Kamla" is seated on lotus and Bhagwati herself in ferocious
"Bhairavi".
Thus
Mahakali is the main deity and the ten Mahavidyas are her own creations with ferocious
and gentle nature. In other workds, the ten main creations of Mahakali are known as ten Mahavidyas. Of these ten
Mahavidya, Kali, Tara, Chhinnamasta, Bagla & Bhoomavati are apparently harsh but internally kind, whereas
Bhuvneshwari, Shodshi (Lalita), Tripurbhairvi, Matangi and Kamla are Her gentle creations.
Mathematically, the number of ten Mahavidyas indicates the primacy of the number of ten. However there are only
nine numbers. Tenth number indicates perfection which is synonymous with zero. The conversion of zero to one and
vice-versa is a spiritual journey from perfection to perfection and re-perfection.