Mahamaya (also called Mahadevi) is the Hindu goddess of illusion. She creates and destroys the illusion (Maya) that makes us believe that this world is real and keeps us attached to the world. Shaivites believe she is a form of Goddess Durga, while Vaishnavites say she is a form of Goddess Lakshmi.
Meaning of Mahamaya:
“Maha” means Great or Big, and “Maya” means “an illusion that makes us believe that this world is real”. Therefore, the word Mahamya means Great or Big Illusion.
Origin:
The stories about Goddess Mahamayas are mentioned in different Puranas and epics.
Devimahatmyam:
“Oh, the best among men! Don’t you feel why we all Human beings are attached to our children and expect a greed of help from them in return?
Even so, men are drawn into the whirlpool of delusion created by Mahamaya, the creator of the world.
This Mahamaya is Yoganidra, who puts Vishnu, the Lord of the world into a deep Yogic slumber. It is due to Her influence that the Jivas are deluded. This Mahamaya even attracts the minds of the wise and throws them into delusion.
She creates the whole Universe, both animate and inanimate. It is She, who when pleased bestows Moksha.
She is Brahmavidya personified. The cause of Moksha, the cause of attachments of transmigrations and the Supreme Sovereign.”
“She is unborn, eternal, and blemishless, embodied as the universe. She is the universe and the universe is Her.
Whenever She manifests to accomplish the tasks of Devas, She is said to be born into this world, Though She is eternal.”
Stories:
Birth of Balarama:
Kamsa killed the first six infants born to Devaki and Vasudeva because of a prophecy that their eighth child would kill him. Per some texts, Balarama was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. When Devaki was about to conceive the seventh time, Lord Vishnu plucked a white hair from his head, and with his divine powers, the white hair was conceived inside the womb of Devaki.
To protect the child from Kamsa, Lord Vishnu instructed Goddess Mahamaya (per some texts, it was Goddess Yogamaya) to transfer the fetus into the womb of Vasudeva’s first wife. Goddess Mahamaya transferred Devaki’s fetus into Rohini’s womb on Lord Vishnu’s instruction. Eventually, Balarama was born from the womb of Rohini.
Madhu and Kaitabha:
According to the Devi Bhagavata Purana, Madhu and Kaitabha originated from Lord Vishnu’s earwax, and performed a long period of tapasya devoted to the Goddess Mahadevi, employing the Vāgbīja mantra. The goddess granted them the boon of death befalling them only with their consent, which was granted. The proud asuras then started attacking Brahma, stole the Vedas, and hid in Patala Loka. Brahma sought Vishnu’s help and eulogized the deity to awaken him. The two Asuras then fought against Vishnu and were undefeated. Upon advice from Mahadevi, Vishnu employed deceit to destroy the two asuras. Vishnu praised the powers of the two asuras and said that he would be pleased to grant them boons. Laughing, the boastful asuras, proud of their victories against Vishnu, said they would grant him boons instead. Lord Vishnu cleverly asked Madhu and Kaitabha for the boon of slaying them.
Defeated, the asuras requested Vishnu to be slain at any location except in the water, believing that they would still be invincible upon the land. They were subsequently vanquished by Vishnu with his Sudarshana Chakra.
Lord Vishnu instantly raised his thighs which were enlarged to a great extent over the water as solid earth seeing which the Asuras enlarged their bodies to the extent of a thousand yojanas. But Lord Vishnu enlarged his thighs further, caught hold of Madhu and Kaiṭabha, laid them on his thighs, and cut off their heads with his discus.
Temples:
Mahamaya Temple in Chhattisgarh is the temple dedicated to the goddesses Durga and Mahalakshmi. It is one of the 52 Shakti Peethas. It seems because Goddess Mahamaya is believed to be a form of either Goddess Durga or Goddess Lakshmi, the temple is dedicated to both goddesses.
Mahamaya Mantra:
ॐ महामायां हरेश्चैषा तया संमोह्यते जगत्, ज्ञानिनामपि चेतांसि देवि भगवती हि सा। बलादाकृष्य मोहाय महामाया प्रयच्छति।।
Benefits of Worshipping Goddess Mahamaya:
1. Removes illusion and grants Moksha to the devotee.
2. Protects from black magic and other negative powers.
3. Fulfills all desires.
4. Cures all diseases.