Lord Shiva is one of the Tridevas. While Lord Brahma is considered the creator of the universe, Lord Vishnu is considered the preserver, and Lord Shiva is considered the destroyer.
In Hinduism, Lord Vishnu is called Haru, and Lord Shiva is called ‘Har.’ In religious texts, 24 incarnations of Hari (Lord Vishnu) are described, and 19 incarnations of ‘Har’ (Lord Shiva) are mentioned.
Many incarnations of Lord Shiva are described in Shiv Puran, but very few people know about these incarnations. Today, we are telling you about the 10 major incarnations of Lord Shiva. The list of 10 major Avatars of Lord Shiva includes– Mahakaal, Tara, Bal Bhuvanesh, Shodash Shrividyesh, Bhairav, Chinnamastaka, Dhumaavan, Dhumaavan, Matang, and Kamal Avatar.
10 Major Avatars of Lord Shiva and Their Spiritual Significance
In this section, we will explain the 10 major Avatars of Lord Shiva and the spiritual significance of each Avatar. These 10 major Avatars of Lord Shiva are:
1. Mahakaal
2. Tara / Tarakeshwar
3. Bal Bhuvanesh
4. Shodash Shrividyesh
5. Bhairav
6. Chinnamastaka
7. Dhumaavan
8. Dhumaavan
9. Matang
10. Kamal
1. Mahakaal
The first incarnation among the ten major incarnations of Shiva is known as Mahakaal. The Mahakaal form of Lord Shiva is the ultimate Kalyani who provides enjoyment and salvation to his devotees. The power of this incarnation is considered to be Mother Mahakali.
Mahakaal is known as the Lord of Time, who represents Shiva’s destructive side and the one who has the full power to control the time. Mahakala is also seen as a strong protector of followers and the guardian of dharma.
The Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, located in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas Mantras dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is believed to be the southernmost of the Jyotirlingas and holds immense spiritual significance. Devotees visit Mahakaleshwar to seek blessings for peace, prosperity, and liberation. The mantra associated with Mahakaleshwar is *“Om Mahakaleshwaraya Namah”*, which invokes the mighty Lord Shiva in his form as Mahakal, the ruler of time and death. Chanting this mantra is said to remove all fears and bestow divine protection and blessings.
2. Tara / Tarakeshwar
The second avatar of Lord Shiva among his ten major avatars is known as Tara or Tarakeshwar. Lord Shiva’s Tara form gives both devotion and salvation to his devotees. The power of this avatar is considered to be Tara Devi.
In this incarnation, his power is Mata Tara. This incarnation is related to Tarakasur. When Tarakasur got the boon that he could be killed only by Mahadev’s son, he crossed all limits of cruelty, considering himself immortal. Ultimately, over time, he was killed by Shiva’s son Kartikeya.
When he was dying and was taking his last breaths, he regretted his actions. In his last moments, he had a desire to see Mahadev. Then Bholenath appeared to him in the form of Tarakeshwar incarnation and also gave the boon that, over time, people will worship him in his name. Today, the temple of Tarakeshwar Mahadev is in Uttarakhand and West Bengal.
3. Bal Bhuvanesh
The third Avatar among the ten major incarnations of Shiva is known as Bal Bhuvanesh. The Bal Bhuvanesh form of Lord Shiva provides happiness, prosperity, and peace to his devotees. The power of this incarnation is considered to be Bala Bhuvanesh.
In this Avatar, Lord Mahadev appeared in his child form, which is why he is also called Bal Bhuvanesh. His power is mother Bal Bhuvaneshwari. According to a story, in this incarnation, Mahadev saved a Bhil named Bhuvanesh. In this incarnation, Mahadev protects and nurtures 14 Bhuvans. There is a temple of Lord Bhuvaneshwar in Kotdwar, Uttarakhand. It is believed that the capital of Odisha, Bhuvaneshwar, is also named after this incarnation of Mahadev.
4. Shodash Shrividyesh
The fourth Avatar among the 10 major avatars of Lord Shiva is known as Shodash Shri Vidyesh. The Shodash Shrividyesh form provides happiness, enjoyment, and salvation to the devotees. The power of this incarnation is considered to be Goddess Shodashi Shri Vidya.
Lord Shodash Shrividyesh is the fourth in Shiva Dashavatara. His power is Shodash Shrividyesh, who is also known as Tripursundari. We all know that there are 16 types of art. In this incarnation, Lord Shiva is endowed with all his 16 arts, which is why he is called Shodash Shrividyesh. In this incarnation, Mahadev provides happiness, prosperity, and salvation to humans.
5. Bhairav
The fifth avatar among the ten major incarnations of Lord Shiva is known as Bhairav. The Bhairav form of Lord Shiva grants desired results to his devotees. The power of this incarnation is considered to be Bhairavi Girija.
This incarnation is very scary to look at, and that is why he is called Bhairav. Bhairav means one who is very scary to look at and protects the devotees from fear. Though there are many Bhairavas, the eight Bhairavas are the most important. Among them, Kaal Bhairav is the most famous.
He cut off the fifth head of the Supreme Lord Brahma, who used to criticize Mahadev. Bhairav is also considered to be the Gan of the Mother. When Shri Hari cut the mortal body of Mata Sati into 51 pieces with his Sudarshan, which were called Shaktipeeths, then Mahadev created many Bhairavs from his body and made them the protectors of all those Shaktipeeths.
6. Chinnamastaka
The sixth avatar among the 10 major avatars of Lord Shiva is known as Chinnamastaka. The Chinnamastaka form of Lord Shiva fulfills the wishes of his devotees. The power of this incarnation is considered to be Goddess Chinnamastaka.
This fierce incarnation of Mahadev is headless, and so is his wife. He holds his severed head in his hand and holds a trident in his other hand. There is a story that when Mata Sati killed the demons in the Chinnamastika incarnation, her army was not satisfied with drinking blood. On this, she cut off her head, which satisfied her army. Then Mahadev also took the Chinnamastaka incarnation and cut off his head with his trident. Worship of both of them is mandatory, especially for Aghoris and Tantrikas.
7. Dhumaavan
The seventh avatar among the ten major incarnations of Lord Shiva is known as Dhumaavan. The Dhumaavan form of Lord Shiva gives the best fruits to his devotees in every way. The power of this incarnation is considered to be Goddess Dhumavati.
The seventh incarnation of Mahadev is also called Dyumvan. His power is Mata Dhumavati, who is the presiding deity of death and widows. She is Mata Lakshmi’s sister, and one of her names is Alakshmi. In this form, Mahadev is considered to be like smoke, which is why he has this name. The form of Lord Dhoomravan is also said to be fierce, but even in this form, he is benevolent and removes the fear of his devotees.
8. Baglamukh
The 8th avatar among the 10 major avatars of Lord Shiva is known as Baglamukh. The Baglamukh form of Lord Shiva gives ultimate bliss to his devotees. The power of this incarnation is considered to be Goddess Baglamukhi.
Lord Baglamukh is the eighth in the Dashavatara. He is considered to be the fiercest form of Lord Shiva, but he gives joy to his devotees. His form is yellow, and in this incarnation, Lord Shiva gives the fruits of his deeds to all his devotees. There are three major temples of his wife, Mata Baglamukhi, out of which the temple of Kangra (Himachal Pradesh) is most recognized. Dev Baglamukh also resides with him in those temples.
9. Matang
The ninth incarnation among the ten major incarnations of Lord Shiva is known as Matang. The Matang form of Lord Shiva fulfills all the desires of his devotees. The power of this incarnation is considered to be Goddess Matangi.
Lord Matang is the ninth in the Dashavatara. The color of Lord Matang’s avatar is green. Because he has conquered even death, one of his names is Mrityunjay. According to Ramayana, it is believed that Mahadev took this form after being pleased with Maharishi Matang’s penance. The Shivling of Matangeswar Mahadev is established in the Khujraho temple of Madhya Pradesh. It is believed to be the only living Shivling that moves one finger up and down every year. It is believed that when this Shivling reaches the netherworld, Kaliyug will end.
10. Kamal
The 10th avatar of Lord Shiva is known as Kamal. The lotus form of Lord Shiva provides devotion and salvation to his devotees. The power of this incarnation is considered to be Goddess Kamala. His power is Mata Kamala, who is imbued with the qualities of Mata Lakshmi.
In this incarnation, Mahadev is imbued with all the 64 Vidyas. It is said that the divine and complete lotus flower also has a total of 64 petals. Hence, this incarnation of Mahadev is known as Kamal. Just as Mata Kamala has the qualities of Mata Lakshmi, Lord Kamal is also imbued with the qualities of Narayan.
Conclusion
The 10 major avatars of Lord Shiva and Mool Shakti are described in the ancient Hindu scriptures and Puranas. The ten Mahavidyas inspire the 10 Rudravatars of Lord Shiva. These Mahavidyas provide happiness, prosperity, enjoyment, and salvation to humans and protect the person from all ten directions with their power.
The entire universe gets energy from the ten Mahavidyas, and the powers of the gods and goddesses are also inherent in them. Even Lord Shiva is considered to be like a corpse without their powers. Shiva is zero without Shakti.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.1 What are the 10 major avatars of Lord Shiva?
A. Lord Shiva is one of the Tridevas. The 10 major Avatars of Lord Shiva are– Mahakaal, Tara, Bal Bhuvanesh, Shodash Shrividyesh, Bhairav, Chinnamastaka, Dhumaavan, Dhumaavan, Matang, and Kamal Avatar.
Q.2 Which is the most powerful avatar of Lord Shiva?
A. Rudravatar is the most powerful incarnation of Lord Shiva.
Q.3 What is the significance of the 10 major avatars of Lord Shiva?
A. The 10 Rudravatars of Lord Shiva are inspired by the ten Mahavidyas. These Mahavidyas provide happiness, prosperity, enjoyment, and salvation to humans and protect the person from all ten directions with their power.
Q.4 Why did Lord Shiva take Matang’s avatar?
A. According to Ramayana, it is believed that Mahadev took this form after being pleased with Maharishi Matang’s penance.
