The ten great learnings are related with Sati, Shiva and Parvati, all synonymous of the same Shakti (power). She is also known as Navdurga, Chamunda, Vishnupriya etc and is worshipped. The origin of this ten great knowledge is as follows.

Daksha Prajapati, the father of Sati, once performed a religious sacrifice (Yagya) in which he invited all the deities and sages, except his own Son-in-law lord Shiva, because of his jealousy towards him.

Sati wanted to be present at that occasion but Lord Shiva refused to give permission, thinking it was improper for her to go without the invitation. But she was unmoved:
. She said "I will certainly got to the Yagya performed by Daksha Prajapati, I would either get the fortune of that religious sacrifice for my dearest, deity of the deities, husband or else I would destroy that religious sacrifice itself."

Sati's eyes became red. She looked at Lord Shiva violently, her lips began to flutter, and her complexion became dark. The fire of her anger made her appearance look frightened and violent.

Such an appearance of Sati was frightening even for Lord Shiva. Her appearance, which had the blaze and radiance of crores of mid-noon-suns, made her so fearful that he just ran away.

To stop Lord Shiva from running away in all the possible ten directions, Sati manifested herself in to ten different forms. These ten Shaktis (powers) of Sati are known as the ten great knowledge's.

They are:-

1) KALI
2) TARA
3) CHHINNAMASTA
4) SHODASHI
5) BHUVANESHWARI
6) TRIPURA - BHAIRAVI
7) DHUMAVATI
8) BAGLAMUKHI
9) MATANGI
10) KAMALA

Among all the ten great learnings, Kali is the main. All the other nine are nothing but the violent and Sombre appearances of Kali. These ten appearances of Mahakali are called the ten great learnings. These are considered as the powers of Lord Shiva, the Lord of all the knowledges. Though these ten great learnings are worshipped in many other forms and appearance, but these ten forms mentioned above are the main.

The method of worship of all these ten forms is different. KALI, TARA, CHHINNAMASTA, BAGALAMUKHI AND DHOOMAVATI are apparently violent but in reality they are most merciful, where as BHUVANESHWARI, SHODASHI, TRIPUR, BHAIRAVI, MATANGI and KAMALA are the sombre appearances. These ten great learnings are the most valuable wealth of the Sadhakas (accomplishers) which give infinite accomplishments and also are capable of introducing the infinity to them.