The Yoniverse
About the Yoniverse | Keywords » Dakini Yogini Central
back up

Mahamaya

This goddess is mainly known from the Kalika Purana in which she is regarded as the central and most exalted of all deities. It seems that she is a successor to the High-goddess Shiva, a name now is used exclusively for one of the male deities of the Hindu pantheon; although in earlier times Shiva seems to have been a female figure.

devoted to an exposition of her worship. The Kalika Purana tells us of five aspects of Mahamaya, which have the following names:

  1. Kamakhya, or Kamaksa
    This is the physical aspect of Mahamaya when she is prepared for sexual enjoyment, and it is also this goddess who is thought to reside at the Yoni Pitha in Assam. She is usually depicted with a reddish-yellow body - arousing desire - standing on a red lotus; a garland in her hand. Her steeds are both the Lion and the Bull.
    But Kamakhya also has her so-called terrible side which is connected to graveyard-meditations, death and sacrifice.
  2. Kameshvari
  3. Mahotsaha
  4. Sarada (i.e., Sarasvati as the goddess of speech)
  5. Tripura(sundari)
A text named after her, the Mahamaya Tantra, is one of the "Five Tantras" important to the Shangpa school.