The Mahavidya Ashtottara is a collective 108-name mantra (ashtottara shatanamavali) that honors all ten Mahavidyas—the ten great wisdom goddesses of Tantric Hinduism. This stotram is traditionally compiled from various Tantric sources, most notably the Mahavidya Tantras and the Ashtottara texts dedicated to the Dasha Mahavidyas. The ten goddesses are Kali, Tara, Tripura Sundari (Shodashi), Bhuvaneshvari, Bhairavi, Chhinnamasta, Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi, and Kamala. Each name in the ashtottara invokes a specific attribute or epithet of one of these goddesses, thereby encompassing the full spectrum of their powers—from fierce protection to supreme wisdom.
The mantra is chanted for the combined blessings of all Mahavidyas, aiming at spiritual growth, comprehensive protection, and the removal of obstacles. According to the Mantra Mahodadhi (a key Tantric compendium), collective stotras of this kind are considered highly efficacious for those seeking mastery over the senses and liberation (moksha). The beej-aksharas (seed syllables) embedded in the names, such as 'krīm', 'hrīm', and 'strīm', are believed to activate specific cosmic energies. Traditionally, the Mahavidya Ashtottara is recited during Navaratri, especially in Bengal and Assam, where Tantric worship is prominent.
The recommended chanting count is 108 times, ideally in a single sitting, facing east or north, after a ritual bath. Practitioners often use a rudraksha or crystal mala. While the mantra is generally safe for sincere seekers, it is advised to receive initiation (diksha) from a qualified guru before regular practice, as the combined energy of the ten goddesses is intense. The Devi Mahatmya (Markandeya Purana) and the Shaktisangama Tantra also reference the collective worship of these goddesses, underscoring the mantra's ancient roots.
The iconography of the Mahavidyas varies, but each name in the ashtottara evokes a specific visual form—for instance, Kali stands on Shiva, while Chhinnamasta holds her severed head. Chanting this stotram is said to harmonize the ten directions and grant the practitioner all-round grace.
Salutations to the great wisdom goddesses.
The collective mantra does not have a single beej; however, individual names in the ashtottara contain seed syllables like krīm, hrīm, strīm.