Muni's PlayVedic Upasana: Vedic and Upanishadic Integration of the Ten Mahavidyas
This note collates the specific sutras from Kavyakantha Ganapati Muni’s Mahavidya Sutram that establish the correlation between the Mahavidyas and the Vedic deities and Upanishadic Vidyas.
1. Kali
Devanagari (Mahavidya Sutras)
‘‘वर्षन्तु ते विभावरि दिवो अभ्रस्य विद्युतः । रोहन्तु सर्वबीजान्यवब्रह्म द्विषो जहि।।’’ इत्यात्रेयेण सप्तवध्रिणा दृष्ट्या वैदिक्याऽनुष्टुभा विद्यया वा ।। 64।। ‘‘ओर्वप्रा अमर्त्या निवतो देव्युद्वतः । ज्योतिषा बाधते तमः।। ’’ इति भारद्वाज्या रात्र्या दृष्ट्या गायत्रया वा।। 65।। इयं संवर्गविद्योपनिषत्सु गीयते ।। 73।। कैश्चिद्प्राणविद्या ।। 74।। परैर्मुख्यप्राणोद्गीथविद्या ।। 75।।
Translation (Mahavidya Sutras)
- Through the Vedic Anushtubh verse of Atreya: “O Night, let the clouds of heaven rain… let all seeds grow… kill the haters of prayer.”
- Or by the Gayatri verse of Bharadvaja regarding the Night: “The immortal Goddess has pervaded the wide space… She drives away darkness with light.”
- This is sung in the Upanishads as the “Samvarga Vidya” (The Science of Absorption).
- It is considered the “Prana Vidya” (The Science of the Life-Force) by some.
- And by others as the “Mukhya-Prana-Udgiitha Vidya” (The Science of the Principal Breath and Chant).
Vedic Reference: Sri Suktam (Rig Veda Khila)
Sanskrit (Accents & Plain)
वर्षन्तु ते विभावरि दिवो अभ्रस्य विद्युतः ।
रोहन्तु सर्वबीजान्यव ब्रह्म द्विषो जहि ॥२३॥
Transliterated
Varssantu Te Vibhaavari Divo Abhrasya Vidyutah |
Rohantu Sarva-Biija-Anyava Brahma Dvisso Jahi ||23||
Meaning
23.1: O Mother, Please Shower Your Light of Grace like Lightning in a Sky filled with Thunder-Cloud …
23.2: And Ascend All the Seeds of Differentiation to a higher spiritual plane; O Mother, You are of the nature of Brahman and Destroyer of all Hatred.
Vedic Reference: Rig Veda 10.127.2 (Ratri Suktam)
Sanskrit (Accents & Plain)
ओर्व॑प्रा॒ अम॑र्त्या नि॒वतो॑ दे॒व्यु१॒॑द्वत॑: । ज्योति॑षा बाधते॒ तम॑: ॥
ओर्वप्रा अमर्त्या निवतो देव्युद्वतः । ज्योतिषा बाधते तमः ॥
Transliterated
orv aprā amartyā nivato devy udvataḥ | jyotiṣā bādhate tamaḥ ||
English Translation
“The immortal goddess has filled the expanded (firmament), the low places and the high places, she fights the darkness with lustre.”
2. Tara
Devanagari (Mahavidya Sutras)
यस्तन्न वेद किमृचा करिष्यतीति मन्त्रवर्णोऽत्र भवति ।। 21।। ‘‘गौरीर्मिमाय सलिलानि तक्षत्येकपदी द्विपदी सा चतुष्पदी । अष्टापदी नवपदी बभूवुषी सहस्राक्षरा परमे व्योमन्।।’’ इत्यौचथ्येन दीर्घतमसा दृष्ट्या वैदिक्या जगत्या विद्यया वा ।। 45।। ‘‘गौर्धयति मरुतां श्रवस्युर्माता मघोनाम् । युक्ता वज्री रथानाम् ।।’’ इत्याङ्गिरसेन बिन्दुना दृष्ट्या गायत्रया वा ।। 46।। इयमक्षरविद्योपनिषत्सु गीयते ।। 60।। कैश्चिदुद्गीथविद्या ।। 61।।
Translation (Mahavidya Sutras)
- There is a Vedic verse (Mantra) here: “What will one do with the Rig-Veda who does not know that (the Imperishable)?”
- Through the Vedic Jagati meter or knowledge, as seen by Dirghatamas: “The Cow (Gauri) lowed, fashioning the waters…”
- Through the Gayatri meter as seen by Angirasa: “The Cow (Gauri) sucks the mother of the Maruts…”
- This is sung in the Upanishads as the Knowledge of the Imperishable (Akshara Vidya).
- This is the “Knowledge of the Chant” (Udgitha Vidya) according to some.
Vedic Reference: Rig Veda 1.164.41
Sanskrit (Accents & Plain)
गौ॒रीर्मि॑माय सलि॒लानि॒ तक्ष॒त्येक॑पदी द्वि॒पदी॒ सा चतु॑ष्पदी । अ॒ष्टाप॑दी॒ नव॑पदी बभू॒वुषी॑ स॒हस्रा॑क्षरा पर॒मे व्यो॑मन् ॥ गौरीर्मिमाय सलिलानि तक्षत्येकपदी द्विपदी सा चतुष्पदी । अष्टापदी नवपदी बभूवुषी सहस्राक्षरा परमे व्योमन् ॥
Transliterated
gaurīr mimāya salilāni takṣaty ekapadī dvipadī sā catuṣpadī | aṣṭāpadī navapadī babhūvuṣī sahasrākṣarā perame vyoman ||
English Translation
“The sound (of the clouds) has been uttered, fabricating the waters, and being one-footed, two-footed, four-footed, eight-footed, nine-footed, or infinite in the highest heaven.”
Vedic Reference: Rig Veda 8.94.1
Sanskrit (Accents & Plain)
गौर्ध॑यति म॒रुतां॑ श्रव॒स्युर्मा॒ता म॒घोना॑म् । यु॒क्ता वह्नी॒ रथा॑नाम् ॥ गौर्धयति मरुतां श्रवस्युर्माता मघोनाम् । युक्ता वह्नी रथानाम् ॥
Transliterated
gaur dhayati marutāṃ śravasyur mātā maghonām | yuktā vahnī rathānām ||
English Translation
“The cow (Prisni), the food-desiring mother of the wealthy Maruts, drinks (the Soma)— she is worthy of all honour, who yokes (the mares) to their chariots.”
3. Sundari
Devanagari (Mahavidya Sutras)
तस्य भासा सर्वमिदं विभातीति श्रुतिरत्र भवति ।। 44।। ‘‘अयं स शिङ्क्ते येन गौरभीवृता मिमाति मायुं ध्वसनावधिश्रिता । सा चित्तिभिर्नि हि चकार मर्त्यं विद्युद्भवन्ती प्रति वव्रिमौहत’’।। इति दीर्घतमसा दृष्ट्या वैदिक्या जगत्या विद्यया वा ।। 76।।
Translation (Mahavidya Sutras)
- Here the Vedic scripture applies: “By Her light, all this shines.”
- (Vedic Verse): “This is that which sounds… the lightning becoming…” This is seen through the vision of the sage Dirghatamas, in the Jagati meter, or through the Vedic Vidya.
Vedic Reference: Rig Veda 1.164.29
Sanskrit (Accents & Plain)
अ॒यं स शि॑ङ्क्ते॒ येन॒ गौर॒भीवृ॑ता॒ मिमा॑ति मा॒युं ध्व॒सना॒वधि॑ श्रि॒ता । सा चि॒त्तिभि॒र्नि हि च॒कार॒ मर्त्यं॑ वि॒द्युद्भव॑न्ती॒ प्रति॑ व॒व्रिमौ॑हत ॥ अयं स शिङ्क्ते yeन गौरभीवृता मिमाति मायुं ध्वसनावधि श्रिता । सा चित्तिभिर्नि हि चकार मर्त्यं विद्युद्भवन्ती प्रति वव्रिमौहत ॥
Transliterated
ayaṃ sa śiṅkte yena gaur abhīvṛtā mimāti māyuṃ dhvasanāv adhi śritā | sā cittibhir ni hi cakāra martyaṃ vidyud bhavantī prati vavrim auhata ||
English Translation
“He, too, bellows, and the cow utters inarticulate sounds, as, encompassed by him, she repairs to her stall; (influenced) by her instrumental acts, she acts like a human being, and, radiant, manifests her nature.”
4. Bhuvaneshwari
Devanagari (Mahavidya Sutras)
आकाशे खलु गार्गीति श्रुतेः ।। 54।। अदितिर्जातमदितिर्जनित्वमितीच्छाशक्तेः ।। 65।। यमो ह जातो यमो जनित्वमिति कालात्मिकायाः क्रियाशक्तेः ।। 66।। पुरुष एवेदं सर्वमिति ज्ञानशक्तेः ।। 67।। ‘‘अदितिर्द्यौरदितिरन्तरिक्षमदितिर्माता स पिता स पुत्रः। विश्वे देवा अदितिः पञ्च जना अदितिनिर्जातमदितिर्जनित्वम् ।।’’ इति राहूगणेन गोतमेन दृष्ट्या वैदिक्या त्रिष्टुभा विद्यया वा ।। 86।। इयं परोवरीयसी विद्योपनिषत्सु गीयते ।। 102।। इयमुपनिशत्सु दहरविद्योच्यते ।। 108।।
Translation (Mahavidya Sutras)
- As stated in the Shruti (Upanishad): “In Akasha, O Gargi…”
- “Aditi is what is born, Aditi is what is to be born”—this refers to the Power of Will (Iccha-shakti).
- “Yama is what is born, Yama is what is to be born”—this refers to the Power of Action (Kriya-shakti) in the form of Time.
- “Purusha is all this”—this refers to the Power of Knowledge (Jnana-shakti).
- According to the Vedic vision of Gautama Rahugana, with the Trishtubh verse: “Aditi is the sky, Aditi is the atmosphere, Aditi is mother, father, and son…”
- This is the “Parovariyasi” (higher than the high) Vidyā sung in the Upanishads.
- In the Upanishads, this is called Dahara-Vidya.
Vedic Reference: Rig Veda 1.89.10
Sanskrit (Accents & Plain)
अदि॑ति॒र्द्यौरदि॑तिर॒न्तरि॑क्ष॒मदि॑तिर्मा॒ता स पि॒ता स पु॒त्रः । विश्वे॑ दे॒वा अदि॑ति॒: पञ्च॒ जना॒ अदि॑तिर्जा॒तमदि॑ति॒र्जनि॑त्वम् ॥ अदितिर्द्यौरदितिरन्तरिक्षमदितिर्माता स पिता स पुत्रः । विश्वे देवा अदितिः पञ्च जना अदितिर्जातमदितिर्जनित्वम् ॥
Transliterated
aditir dyaur aditir antarikṣam aditir mātā sa pitā sa putraḥ | viśve devā aditiḥ pañca janā aditir jātam aditir janitvam ||
English Translation
“Aditi is heaven; Aditi is the firmament; Aditi is mother, father and son; Aditi is all the gods; Aditi is the five classes of people; Aditi is generation and birth.”
5. Bhairavi
Devanagari (Mahavidya Sutras)
‘‘जातवेदसे सुनवाम सोममरातीयतो नि दहाति वेदः । स नः पर्षदति दुर्गाणि विश्वा नावेव सिन्धुं दुरिताऽत्यग्निः ।। ’’ इति मारीचेन कश्यपेन दृष्ट्या वैदिक्या त्रिष्टुभा विद्यया वा ।। 34।। ‘‘इहेन्द्राणीमुपह्वये वरुणानीं स्वस्तये । अग्नायीं सोमपीतये ।।’’ इति काण्वेन मेधातिथिना दृष्ट्या वैदिक्या गायत्रया विद्यया वा ।। 63।। इयमुपनिशत्सु ज्योतिर्विद्योच्यते ।। 71।।
Translation (Mahavidya Sutras)
- Or [she is worshipped] through the Vedic Trishubh mantra seen by Kashyapa: “Jatavedase sunavama somam…” (the Durga Suktam verse).
- Or [she is worshipped] through the Vedic Gayatri mantra seen by Medhatithi: “Ihendranim upahvaye…” (calling upon Indrani, Varunani, and Agnayi).
- In the Upanishads, this is called the Jyotir-Vidya (Science of Light).
Vedic Reference: Rig Veda 1.99.1 (Durga Suktam)
Sanskrit (Accents & Plain)
जा॒तवे॑दसे सुनवाम॒ सोम॑मरातीय॒तो नि द॑हाति॒ वेद॑: । स न॑: पर्ष॒दति॑ दु॒र्गाणि॒ विश्वा॑ ना॒वेव॒ सिन्धुं॑ दुरि॒तात्य॒ग्निः ॥ जातवेदसे सुनवाम सोममरातीयतो नि दहाति वेदः । स नः पर्षदति दुर्गाणि विश्वा नावेव सिन्धुं दुरितात्यग्निः ॥
Transliterated
jātavedase sunavāma somam arātīyato ni dahāti vedaḥ | sa naḥ parṣad ati durgāṇi viśvā nāveva sindhuṃ duritāty agniḥ ||
English Translation
“We offer oblations of Soma to Jātavedas, may he consume the wealth of those who feel enmity against us; may he transport us over all difficulties; may Agni convey us, as in a boat over a river, across all wickedness.”
6. Chinnamasta
Devanagari (Mahavidya Sutras)
व्यपोह्य शीर्षकपाले इति shrutir-atra bhavati ।। 22।। वैरोचनीं कर्मफलेषु जुष्टामिति श्रुत्युक्ते दुर्गाविशेषणे अत्र भवतः ।। 36।। ‘‘संहोत्रां स्म पुरा नारी समनं वाव गच्छति । वेधा ऋतस्य वीरिणीन्द्रपत्नी महीयते विश्वस्मादिन्द्र उत्तरः ।।’’ इत्यैन्द्रेण वृषाकपिना दृष्ट्या वैदिक्या पङ्क्त्या विद्यया वा ।। 94।। इयमुपनिशत्स्वक्षिपुरुषविद्योच्यते ।। 104।। परैः प्रत्यगात्मविद्या ।। 107।।
Translation (Mahavidya Sutras)
- The Vedic scripture states: “Having cleared the two halves of the skull…”
- The two attributes of Durga mentioned in the Vedas are “Vairochana” (Sun-like/Radiant) and “cherished in the fruits of actions.”
- Through the Vedic “Vrishakapi” hymn or the “Pankti Vidya,” one sees Her through the Vedic vision.
- In the Upanishads, this is called the “Vidya of the Person in the Eye.”
- Others call it “Pratyagatma Vidya” (Knowledge of the Inward Self).
Vedic Reference: Rig Veda 10.86.10
Sanskrit (Accents & Plain)
सं॒हो॒त्रं स्म॑ पु॒रा नारी॒ सम॑नं॒ वाव॑ गच्छति । वे॒धा ऋ॒तस्य॑ वी॒रिणीन्द्र॑पत्नी महीयते॒ विश्व॑स्मा॒दिन्द्र॒ उत्त॑रः ॥ संहोत्रं स्म पुरा नारी समनं वाव गच्छति । वेधा ऋतस्य वीरिणीन्द्रपत्नी महीयते विश्वस्मादिन्द्र उत्तरः ॥
Transliterated
saṃhotraṃ sma purā nārī samanaṃ vāva gacchati | vedhā ṛtasya vīriṇīndrapatnī mahīyate viśvasmād indra uttaraḥ ||
English Translation
“The mother who is the instrumental tutress of the ceremony, the mother of male offspring, the wife of Indra, goes first to the united sacrifice to battle, (and) is honoured (by the praisers); Indra is above all (the world).”
7. Dhumavati
Devanagari (Mahavidya Sutras)
‘‘मो षु णः परापरा निर्ऋतिर्दुर्हणा वधीत् । पदीष्ट तृष्णया सह।।’’ इत्याङ्गिरसेन कण्वेन दृष्ट्या गायत्रया वा ।। 14।। इयं भूमविद्योपनिषत्सु गीयते ।। 29।।
Translation (Mahavidya Sutras)
- Or with the Gayatri verse seen by the Rishi Kanva: “Mo shu nah para para nirritir durhana vadhit…” (May the cruel Nirriti not strike us…).
- This is sung in the Upanishads as Bhuma-Vidya (The Knowledge of the Infinite).
Vedic Reference: Rig Veda 1.38.6
Sanskrit (Accents & Plain)
मो षु ण॒: परा॑परा॒ निॠ॑तिर्दु॒र्हणा॑ वधीत् । प॒दी॒ष्ट तृष्ण॑या स॒ह ॥ मो षु णः परापरा निॠतिर्दुर्हणा वधीत् । पदीष्ट तृष्णया सह ॥
Transliterated
mo ṣu ṇaḥ parā-parā nirṛtir durhaṇā vadhīt | padīṣṭa tṛṣṇayā saha ||
English Translation
“Let not the most powerful and indestructible Nirṛti destroy us; let him perish with our (evil) desires.”
8. Bagalamukhi
Devanagari (Mahavidya Sutras)
‘‘तदिदास भुवनेषु ज्येष्ठं यतो उग्रस्त्वेषनृम्णः । सद्यो जज्ञानो नि रिणाति शत्रूननु यं विश्वे मदन्त्यूमाः ।।’’ इत्याथर्वणेन बृहद्दिवेन दृष्ट्या त्रिष्टुभा वा ।। 18।। इयं धु्रवा स्मृतिरुपनिशत्सु तप इत्येव गीयते ।। 71।।
Translation (Mahavidya Sutras)
- [The worship is done] through the Atharvanic hymn seen by the seer Brihaddiva: “Tad id asa bhuvaneshu jyeshtham…” (That indeed was the eldest/greatest in the worlds…).
- This Dhruva Smriti is sung in the Upanishads as Tapas itself.
Vedic Reference: Rig Veda 10.120.1
Sanskrit (Accents & Plain)
तदिदा॑स॒ भुव॑नेषु॒ ज्येष्ठं॒ यतो॑ ज॒ज्ञ उ॒ग्रस्त्वे॒षनृ॑म्णः । स॒द्यो ज॑ज्ञा॒नो नि रि॑णाति॒ शत्रू॒ननु॒ यं विश्वे॒ मद॒न्त्यूमा॑: ॥ तदिदास भुवनेषु ज्येष्ठं यतो जज्ञ उग्रस्त्वेषनृम्णः । सद्यो जज्ञानो नि रिणाति शत्रूननु यं विश्वे मदन्त्यूमाः ॥
Transliterated
tad id āsa bhuvaneṣu jyeṣṭhaṃ yato jajña ugras tveṣanṛmṇaḥ | sadyo jajñāno ni riṇāti śatrūn anu yaṃ vśve madanty ūmāḥ ||
English Translation
“That was the chiefest in all worlds, from whence the fierce one, the rich in radiance, was born; as soon as born, he destroys the foes, he in whom all living beings delight.”
9. Matangi
Devanagari (Mahavidya Sutras)
‘‘महो अर्णः सरस्वती प्र चेतयति केतुना। धियो विश्वा वि राजति ।।’’ इति वैश्वामित्रेण मधुच्छन्दसा दृष्ट्या वैदिक्या गायत्रया विद्यया वा ।। 41।। शंसेदुक्थं सुदानव उत द्युक्षमित्यादयो निगमा अत्र भवन्ति ।। 47।।
Translation (Mahavidya Sutras)
- As seen in the Vedic Gayatri Vidya by Madhuchhandas: “Saraswati, the mighty flood, illumines with her banner; she shines over all thoughts.”
- There are Vedic verses here, such as “Praise the hymn, O bountiful ones…”
Vedic Reference: Rig Veda 1.3.12
Sanskrit (Accents & Plain)
म॒हो अर्ण॒: सर॑स्वती॒ प्र चे॑तयति के॒तुना॑ । धियो॒ विश्वा॒ वि रा॑जति ॥ महो अर्णः सरस्वती प्र चेतयति केतुना । धियो विश्वा वि राजति ॥
Transliterated
maho arṇaḥ sarasvatī pra cetayati ketunā | dhiyo viśvā vi rājati ||
English Translation
“Sarasvatī, makes manifest by her acts a mighty river, and (in her own form) enlightens all understandings.”
10. Kamalatmika
Devanagari (Mahavidya Sutras)
‘‘तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि। धियो यों नः प्रचोदयात् ।।’’ इति गाधिजेन विश्वामित्रेण दृष्ट्या वैदिक्या गायत्रया विद्यया वा ।। 18।। इयं मधुविद्योपनिषत्सु गीयते ।। 25।।
Translation (Mahavidya Sutras)
- Through the Vedic Gayatri Vidyā seen by Vishvamitra: “Tat savitur vareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi, dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt.”
- This is sung as the Madhu Vidya in the Upanishads.
Vedic Reference: Rig Veda 3.62.10
Sanskrit (Accents & Plain)
तत्स॑वि॒तुर्वरे॑ण्यं॒ भर्गो॑ दे॒वस्य॑ धीमहि । धियो॒ यो न॑: प्रचो॒दया॑त् ॥ तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि । धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥
Transliterated
tat savitur vareṇyam bhargo devasya dhīmahi | dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt ||
English Translation
“We meditate on that desirable light of the divine Savitā, who influences our pious rites.”
Index: index