There are 10 Devee who are called as Mahaa-vidyaa. Mahaa Vidyaa means "Great Wisdom". They are the 10 aspects of the Divine Mother or Devee. They are considered Taantrik in nature, and are usually identified as :-
(1) Kaalee - Devourer of Time (Supreme Deity of Kaalee Kul Systems)
(2) Bagalaamukhee - The Goddess who paralyzes enemies
(3) Chinnmastaa - the Self-Decapitated Goddess
(4) Bhuvaneshwaree - The Goddess as World Mother
(5) Maatangee - the Prime Minister of Lalitaa, the Taantrik Saraswatee
(6) Shodashee or Lalitaa  - The most beautiful in the three worlds (Supreme Deity of Shree Kul Systems). The Taantrik Paarvatee or Moksh Mukutaa Bhaagvat Puraan lists Shodashee as Tripur Sundaree, just her another name.
(7) Dhoomaavatee - the Widow Goddess
(8) Kamalaa or Tripur-sundaree - the Lotus Goddess, the Taantrik Lakshmee
(9) Taaraa - the Goddess as Guide and Protector
(10) Bhairavee - the fierce Goddess
 

(1) Kaalee
Kaalee is the first of the Das Mahavidyas. She is beyond time. She takes away the darkness and fills us with the light of wisdom, which is why she is the embodiment of Gyaan Shakti. She resides in the cremation grounds, where all creation dissolves. First of all Satee took the form of Kaalee. Her form was fearful, her hair untied and loose, her body the color of a dark cloud. She had deep set eyes and eyebrows shaped like curved swords. She stood on a corpse, wore a garland of skulls, and earrings made from the bones of corpses. She had four hands - on one hand she had the head of a skull, and the other a curved sword with blood dripping on it. She had mudras on her other two hands - one giving freedom from fear and the other giving blessings. She roared and the ten directions were filled with that ferocious sound. The exploits of this Goddess Kali are outlined in the Chandee Paath. She is the goddess that killed Chand and Mund Asur and also drank the blood of Raktbeej. She is known as Kaushikee (she who came from within), and is the slayer of Shumbh and Nishumbh Raakshas.

If somebody is doing MahaaKaalee Saadhanaa, or Purushcharan it is better to eat one time fruits and one time food. Among fruits any red color fruit is the best.

(2) Bagalaamukhee
She is the second Mahaavidyaa. Once Brahmaa's creation was in turmoil and being destroyed in many places. Brahmaa Jee became worried about his creation and wondered what the outcome of this turmoil would be. He then meditated to bring peace to the Universe. Not succeeding in it, he then performed severe Tap to obtain the blessings of Tripur Ambikaa - the Mother of the Three Worlds. Pleased with his austerities, She appeared before him as Mother Bagalaa in a yellow form and gave him a boon. Bagalaa grants all kinds of perfection to devotees who pray to Her.

If somebody is doing Bagalaamukhee Saadhanaa, or Purushcharan it is better to eat one time fruits and one time food. Among fruits mango is the best.

(3) Chinnamastaa
The third Mahaavidyaa is Chinnamastaa.The following story is from Pancharatn Granth. Once Paarvatee Jee went to take a bath in the Mandakini River with Her friends Daakinee and Varninee. Paarvatee was feeling very happy and a lot of love was welling up inside her. Her complexion darkened and the feeling of love completely took over. Her friends on the other hand were hungry and asked Paarvatee to give them some food. Paarvatee requested them to wait and said that she would feed them after a while, and began walking.

After a short while, her friends once again appealed to her, telling that she was the Mother of the Universe and they were her children, so they should be fed quickly. Paarvatee replied that they should wait until they got home. Her friends could not wait any longer and they should be fed immediately. The compassionate Paarvatee laughed and with her finger nail cut her own head. Immediately the blood spurted in three directions. Her two friends drank the blood from two of the directions and Paarvatee Jee herself drank the blood from the third direction. Since she cut her own head, she is known as Chinnamastaa. Cinnamasta shines like a lightning bolt from the Sun. She demonstrates the rare courage needed to make the highest conceivable sacrifice. May we imbue that very same courage from that daring goddess.

(4) Bhuvaneshwaree
She is the fourth Mahaavidyaa. Bhuvan means the Universe, and Eeshwaree means the Ruler, and therefore she is the Ruler of the Universe. She is also known as Raaj-raajeshwaree and protects the Universe. This is the story of her manifestation from "Pranatoshinee Granth".

When Brahmaa Jee had the desire to create the Universe, and he did intense Tap to invite the energy of Creation, Kriyaa Shakti. Parameshwaree, pleased with his Tap appeared as Bhoo Devee or Bhuvaneshwaree. Red in color, seated on a lotus flower, Her body is resplendent and shining with jewels. She holds a noose (Paash) and a curved sword (Ankush) in two of her hands and the other two assume the Mudraa of blessing and freedom from fear. She resides in Shiv's heart.

(5) Maatangee
The fifth Mahaavidyaa is Maatangee. This is the story of her origin. One day Maheshwaree went to Shiv to obtain permission to go to her father's house. Shiv wanted to go with her, but would not go without being invited. Paarvatee Jee laughed and said the he could go with her, but Shiv said that he would not go with her, but would come to escort her. And thus Paarvatee went to her father's house.

In her absence, Shiv began to long for her and decided to visit her in the disguise of an ornament vendor. When she had selected the ornaments and asked for the price, Shiv told her that if she fulfilled his desire, he would give her those ornaments. Paarvatee was astounded that somebody would dare suggest such a thing to her. Then she realized that the vendor was none other than her Lord Shiv. She told Shiv that she would fulfill his desire, but not just then and sent him away.

Later that evening, she went with a friend to where Mahaadev was praying. She took the form of a beautiful outcaste girl, a Chaandaalee, and approached him thinking that he would not recognize her. Seeing her, Shiv called out, "Hey beautiful lady (Shubhaangee), who are you and why have You come here?" Paarvatee said, "I am a Chaandaalee, I am here to do Tap to become a goddess, so please do not disturb me." At this Shiv said, "I am Shiv, I can give the fruit of Tapasyaa. If you marry me, I will make you like Paarvatee, without a doubt." Paarvatee understood that Shiv had seen through her disguise and bowed to him. She said, "Hey Devaadhi-dev, nobody can hide anything from You," and was very happy with this interlude." Shiva said, "Devee, you took this form because you wanted to pray to me, and so I give you the name Maatangee." Matangi is the measurement of all the limbs of creation and Supreme goddess of all desires. Anyone prays to Maatangee will attain perfection.

(6) Shodashee or Lalitaa
The sixth Mahaavidyaa is Shodashee. When Paarvatee left her form as Kaalee and assumed the form of Gauree, Shiv addressed her as Kaalee again and again. Paarvatee felt insulted and left that place. At this Shiv began to remember Paarvatee. But without seeing the her in person, he became dismayed and wondered where she had gone. At that time Naarad Muni came there. Shiv narrated this occurrence to Naarad Jee and told him that Kaalee had left him. Naarad Jee was very happy to hear of the differences between Shiv and Kaalee. In his meditation Naarad saw that Paarvatee was sitting in meditation on Sumeru Mountain in an inaccessible place. In order to increase the separation between Shiv and Paarvatee, Naarad Jee went to Paarvatee and said that Shiv was entering into a relationship with another woman. It will be proper for you to stop him.

When the Goddess heard this from Naarad Jee, she filled with rage and in this rage, she assumed the form of the most beautiful young girl of sixteen years, Shodashee, and presented herself before Shiv. Seeing her own shadow reflected upon Shiv's chest, and thinking it to be another woman, she became even angrier, and said, "When we were married, you gave your heart to me for my residence. How can you now give your heart to another woman?"

When Shiv heard Kaalee's words, he replied, "Look closely at my heart. The woman you see in my heart is your reflection." When the goddess looked at the reflection closely, with great satisfaction she asked, "The woman that I just saw in your heart, by what name shall She be known?" Hearing Kaalee's question, Shiv replied, "This new form of yours is one of the Mahaavidyaa, and she will be called as Shodashee. In this form you will manifest excellence!" Shodashe unites the sixteen syllables of Shiv and Shakti.

(7) Dhoomaavati
The seventh Mahaavidyaa is Dhoomaavati. One day Mahaadev was sitting in Kailaash Parvat and Paarvatee was on his lap. She told Shiv that she was very hungry and requested him to get her some food. Shiv asked her to wait a while and so saying went back into meditation. Paarvatee once again asked Shiv, "Hey Father of the Universe, please give me some food, I cannot wait any longer". When Shiv asked her to wait for a second time, Paarvatee was so hungry that she became aggressive. The third time this happened, Paarvatee could bear no more and she ate Shiv to appease her hunger. Immediately smoke started to come from her body. Shiv opened his third eye inside her body and said to Paarvatee, "Without me, there is no Purush in the Universe, only Prakriti, as only you exist." For this reason, this is the widow form of the Goddess known as Dhoomaavati. Dhoom means smoke, and she is depicted without any ornaments and in widow apparel. Dhoomaavati demonstrates renunciation and removes all frustration and agitation, and is free from disrepute.

(8) Tripur Sundaree or Kamalaa
The eighth Mahaavidyaa is Tripur Sundaree, also known as Kamalaa. Tri means three, and Pur means city, and Sundaree means beautiful maiden. Thus Tripur Sundaree is the beautiful maiden of three cities, or all the threes. She manifests the perfection of compassion in all Nature. A form of Mahaa Lakshmee, she symbolizes wealth. Her body is golden in color and she is seated on a golden lotus.

One day, Indra saw Rambhaa and was lost watching her beauty. At that time, the fierce Rishi Durvaasaa appeared and gave a garland to Indra. But Indra, still mesmerized by Rambhaa, did not realize what he was doing and threw that garland on his elephant Airaavat. Airaavat dropped it on the ground and crushed it under his feet. Seeing the insult of his garland Durvaasaa got very angry and he cursed Indra, "You are the King of the gods, but yet you are playing with women. You will lose Lakshmee soon. She will leave your kingdom." Goddess Lakshmee, true to the curse, left the heavenly regions.

All the Gods were saddened, and led by Indra went to Vishnu to get his counsel. Vishnu suggested that Lakshmee would appear if they churned the ocean of milk (Ksheer Sagar). Both Devtaa and Asur arrived at the ocean of milk. They used Mount Mandar as the central axle and Vaasuki Naag as a rope to move the mountain. Lord Vishnu took the form a large tortoise (Koorm or Kashchap Avataar) to support the mountain. The Asur and the Devtaa together churned the ocean. As they churned, a lot of beautiful beings and objects manifested including Ucchaishravaa (the Divine horse), Dhanvantari (the God of Medicine), the Sudarshana Chakra, the Paarijaat flower tree. And then came Lakshmee.

When they saw Lakshmee, the gods offered her an Aasan with the greatest respect. They did her Abhishek, offered her a lotus garland and entreated her to stay with them, to which she agreed. She became known as Tripur Sundaree.

(9) Taaraa
When Lord Shiv bade Satee not to attend her Father's Yagya, Satee became furious and assumed the fearful form of Kaalee causing Shiv to flee in another direction. Satee then assumed the form of the ninth Mahaavidyaa Taaraa. Taaraa is blue, her tongue is fearfully sticking out, and her face is terrifying. Her hair is tangled like snakes sticking straight up and she is dressed in a tiger's skin. There are five half moons on her head. She has three eyes, four arms, a large protruding belly, and stands on a corpse. She has four arms in which she holds a lotus, a sword, a drinking bowl, and a bell. Taaraa is the illuminator, She illuminates all our attitudes.

(10) Bhairavee
The tenth form of Mahaavidyaa is Bhairavee. She has many names including Tripur Bhairavee, Sampat Pragyaa Bhairavee, Kaulesh Bhairavee, Siddhida Bhairavee, Bhaya Vidhwansee Bhairavee, Chaitanya Bhairavee, Kaameshwaree Bhairavee, Nitya Bhairavee and Rudra Bhairavee. Her body is the color of the rising Sun. She wears a pearl necklace around her neck, has red breasts and has four hands in which she holds a Jap Maalaa, a Pustak (book), and displays the Mudraa of blessings and freedom from fear. She has three eyes that are red in color and wears a Moon on her forehead. Bhairavee is the form of Kaalee that killed Chand and Mund Raakshas. She is free from all fear and frees us from all fear.