Bahuchara is the Hindu Goddess of castration. She is particularly worshipped by the hijra of India, the transgender and “third sex” community. There are several stories telling of her origin, but one says that she was once a maiden who was attacked by outlaws while traveling. Fearing that she would be raped, Bahuchara cut off her own breast and offered it to the outlaws. She also cursed the outlaws with impotence, a curse that was only lifted when they began to dress as women and worship her. In the present day, impotent and transgender men self-castrate as part of their worship of her. Bahuchara is depicted riding on a rooster, carrying a sword, a trident, and a book of sacred writings. Her name is also seen as Bahuchara Mata, Bahucharaji, Bahuchari, and Bahucara.

Sarama is the Vedic Goddess of intuition and dogs. She serves as a messenger for Indra, Lord of the Gods, and is the mother of the Sarameyas, two dogs who served Yama, God of death. Sarama was the only one able to find the sacred cows that had been stolen from the Angirasas, the fire priests, by following the path of truth, guided by her intuition. Sarama’s name means “the fleet one,” and she was also called Devashuni (divine bitch) and the Hound of Heaven.

Gauri is the Hindu Goddess of purity. She is an avatar of the Goddess Parvati. When Parvati first sought out Shiva to seduce him, Shiva found her dark skin to be unattractive. Parvati retreated into the forest, where she lived a very austere life, developing her spiritual powers. Brahma took notice of Parvati’s mastery of her physical self, and decided to grant her one wish. Parvati asked that her dark skin be taken away, so that Shiva would love her. Brahma took the darkness and created the Goddess Kali with it, leaving Parvati with golden skin, and she became the Goddess Gauri.

Gauri is usually depicted with light or golden skin. Because of her color, she is also associated with rice and grains, taking on the role of a fertility Goddess. Gauri’s name means “golden,” and her 108 name hymn includes the following names:
Shree gauri
Ganesha-janani
Guhambi-ka
Jaga-nnetri
Giritanu-bhava
Veera-bhadra-prasuve
Vishva-vyapini
Vishva-rupini
Ashta-murtyat-meka
Ashta-daridrya-shamani
Shiva
Shambha-va
Shan-kari
Balaa
Bhavani
Haima-vati
Parvati
Papa-nasini
Narayanam-shajaa
Nitya
Nirma-laa
Ambi-ka
Hemadri-jaa
Vedanta-lakshana
Karma-bramha-ma
Ganga-dhara-kutumbini
Mrudani
Muni-samsevya
Manini
Menakat-majaa
Kumari
Kanyaka
Durga
Kalidosha-vighatini
Katya-yani
Bhadra-daeni
Mangalya-daeni
Sarva-mangala
Manju-bhashini
Mahe-shvari
Maha-maya
Mantra-radhya
Maha-bala
Sati
Sarva-ma
Soubhagya-da
Kama-kala-na
Kamkshi-tardha-prada
Chandrarka-yuta-tatamka
Chidambara-shareerini
Sree chakra-vasini
Devi
Kameshva-rapati
Kamala
Murari priyardhamgi
Putra-poutra-vara-prada
Punya
Krupa-prurna
Kalyani
Anchit-ya
Tripura
Trigunam-bika
Purushardha-prada
Satya-dharma-rata
Sarva-sakshini
Shashamka-rupini
Sarasvati
Viraja
Svaha
Svadha
Pratyamgi-rambika
Aarya
Daksha-eni
Deeksha
Sarvotta-motta-ma
Shivabhi-nama-deya
Sree-vidya
Prana-vardha-svarupini
Hrinkari
Naada-rupa
Sundari
Shoda-shakshara-devata
Maha-gouri
Shyama-la
Chandi
Bhaga-malini
Bhaga-la
Matru-ka
Shulini
Amala
Anna-purna
Akhila-gama-samstut-ya
Amba
Bhanu-koti-samdya-ta
Para
Seetamshu-kruta-shekha-ra
Sarva-kala-sumangali
Soma-shekhari
Amara-samsev-ya
Amrutai-shvari
Sukha-sachi-chudara-sa
Balya-radita-bhutida
Hiranya
Sukshma
Haridra-kumkuma-radhya
Sarva-bhoga-prada
Markandeya-vara-prada
Sree-nitya-gouree-devata

Tara is the Hindu Goddess of liberation. She is one of the Mahavidyas, the Wisdom Goddesses. The Hindu Tara is usually depicted as fierce and horrifying, in contrast to the beautiful and compassionate Tara of Buddhism. She sits on a white lotus, and holds a knife or a pair of scissors, a skull, a sword, and blue lotus. Her complexion is often shows as blue, and she has three red eyes. Tara wears snakes and a tiger skin, and is seated on the heart of a corpse. Her depiction is very often like that of Kali, and she shares many names with Kali.

The Hindu Tara is also associated with cremation. She sits or stands on a corpse, which is often shown being cremated or there are cremation fires in the background. In this context, cremation represents the transition from life to death and the soul’s liberation from the body. The sword and scissors that she carries symbolize the cutting of ties that bind one to ignorance and prevent freedom.

Tara’s name comes from a root which means “to carry,” and her other names and epithets include:
Ugra-Tara
Mahacinakrama-Tara
Smasana-bhairavi (terrible one of the cremation ground)
Jalesvari (mistress of rain)
Jagaddhatri (world nurse)
Prthivi (earth)
Vasudha (earth)
Vrksamadhyani-vasini (she who dwells in trees)
Sarvavamayi (she who creates everything)
Samsaratarini (she who carries across the ocean of samsara)
She who likes blood
She who is smeared with blood
She who enjoys blood sacrifice
She who likes fresh flowers

Kamala is the Hindu Goddess of consciousness and creation. She is one of the Mahavidyas, the wisdom Goddesses. Kamala is depicted as a beautiful woman with golden skin, seated or standing on a lotus. She holds two more lotuses, symbols of both fertility and purity. She is accompanied by elephants, who pour jars of nectar on to her, also symbolizing fertility. Kamala is the Mahavidya form of Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth and beauty. As a Mahavidya, she represents the unfolding of inner consciousness into the fullness of creation. Her greatest power is the removal of poverty, both material and spiritual. Kamala’s name, which means “she of the lotus,” is also seen as Kamalatmika, and her other names and epithets include:
Mahasakti
Mahamaya
Pranasakti (the life principle)
Narasimhi
Varahi
Durga
Siva
Raudri
Gauri
Sati
Kapali
Kalaratri
Ghora (awful)
Bhima (terrible)
Tamasi (darkness)
Matangi
Dhumavati
Tarini
Bhadrakali
Mahakali
Bhairavi
Mother of the World
Creator of all the Gods
Mistress of all
She who is situated in the middle of countless universes
Whose form is the creation
Who is the cause of creation
Who is without support
Who is the form of highest spiritual bliss
Who is the three gunas
Who creates all
Whose form is everything
Slayer of Madhu and Kaitabha
Slayer of Sumbha and Nisumbha
She whose bliss is Siva
She who is dear to the one who does the Tandava dance
She who wears a garland of skulls
She whose form is very terrible

Bhuvanesvari has some fierce aspects, as with all of the Mahavidyas, because she protects the world, her creation. She holds a noose and a goad, intended to control evil. Her hand gestures represent the offering of favors and fearlessness. Bhuvanesvari’s name, which means “mistress of the world,” is also seen as Bhuvanesi, Bhuvaneswari, and Bhubanesvari, and her other names and epithets include:
Jagaddhatri (she who nurses the world)
Mahamaya (great Maya)
Prapancesvari (mistress of the fivefold world)
Rajarajesvari (queen of queens)
Sarvarupa (she whose form is all)
Sarvesi (mistress of all)
Vagesvari (mistress of speech)
Visvarupa (she whose form is the world)
She who makes all the worlds
She who dwells in the five basic elements
She who makes the basic elements
She who is the cause of Mahapralaya
She who wanders in the physical world
She who wanders in the void
Slayer of Mahisasura
Slayer of Sumbha and Nisumbha
Destroyer of Raktabija
Destroyer of Madhu and Kaitabha