Dasamahaviya Ganjifa
Sacred feminine power bursts forth from these ganjifa decks
Above: Bishnupur and Chikiti Map
India’s rich cultural heritage has plenty of religious texts, myths, and rituals celebrating and worshipping the sacred feminine – divine forms of the Goddess, the female power of the universe who takes multiple forms.
Dasamahaviya is a framework for understanding that sacred femininity by dividing it into ten manifestations, each with its own iconography and each representing various aspects of the goddess, often known as Devi. These ten manifestations are displayed on the extraordinary decks shown here.
These cards are not for the physically or spiritually squeamish because some of the aspects of the goddess are downright terrifying.
Chhinnamasta pradhan and pip cards from Dasamahaviya decks by Bansori Fouzdar (1996) and Appana Mahapatro (2002).
Chhinnamasta pradhan and pip cards from Dasamahaviya decks by Bansori Fouzdar (1996) and Appana Mahapatro (2002).
Chhinnamasta pradhan and pip cards from Dasamahaviya decks by Bansori Fouzdar (1996) and Appana Mahapatro (2002).
Chhinnamasta pradhan and pip cards from Dasamahaviya decks by Bansori Fouzdar (1996) and Appana Mahapatro (2002).
Above: Chhinnamasta pradhan and pip cards from Dasamahaviya decks by Bansori Fouzdar (1996) and Appana Mahapatro (2002).
Dasamahaviya cards are divided in standard ganjifa fashion: ten suits, each one containing ten pip and two court cards: the lower court card of pradhan (minister) and the upper one of raja (king). Each suit is devoted to one of Devi’s manifestations.
The ten manifestations are:
- Kali – the terrifying goddess of time, death, and destruction
- Tara – the goddess of salvation and protection
- Tripura Sundari – the goddess of beauty
- Bhuvaneshvari – the mother of the universe
- Bhairavi – the fierce goddess who represents divine wrath
- Chhinnamasta – the self-decapitated goddess of self-sacrifice
- Dhumavati – the withered widow goddess of loss and wisdom
- Bagalamukhi – the goddess who paralyzes enemies, commonly shown holding a demon by the tongue
- Matangi – the goddess of speech, music, and the arts
- Kamala – the goddess of wealth and abundance
Both decks we’re examining come from eastern India: one, by Appana Mahapatro, is from Chikiti (Odisha) and the other, by Bansori Fouzdar of the ganjifa-making Fouzdar clan, is from Bishnupur (West Bengal).
Some of the manifestations are easier to identify than others. I’ve only included names for those of whom I’m fairly confident.
Artist: Appana Mahapatro
Possibly Bhairavi raja, pradhan, and pip cards and Kali pradhan cards from Dasamahaviya deck by Appana Mahapatro (2002).
Possibly Bhairavi raja, pradhan, and pip cards and Kali pradhan cards from Dasamahaviya deck by Appana Mahapatro (2002).
Possibly Bhairavi raja, pradhan, and pip cards and Kali pradhan cards from Dasamahaviya deck by Appana Mahapatro (2002).
Possibly Bhairavi raja, pradhan, and pip cards and Kali pradhan cards from Dasamahaviya deck by Appana Mahapatro (2002).
Above: Possibly Bhairavi raja, pradhan, and pip cards and Kali pradhan card from Dasamahaviya deck by Appana Mahapatro (2002).
Tara, possibly Bhuvaneshvari, Bagalamukhi, and Dhumavati pradhan cards.
Tara, possibly Bhuvaneshvari, Bagalamukhi, and Dhumavati pradhan cards.
Tara, possibly Bhuvaneshvari, Bagalamukhi, and Dhumavati pradhan cards.
Tara, possibly Bhuvaneshvari, Bagalamukhi, and Dhumavati pradhan cards.
Above: Tara, possibly Bhuvaneshvari, Bagalamukhi, and Dhumavati pradhan cards.
Kamala pradhan and pip, unknown goddess pradhan, and possibly Tripura Sundari pradhan cards from Dasamahaviya deck by Appana Mahapatro (2002).
Kamala pradhan and pip, unknown goddess pradhan, and possibly Tripura Sundari pradhan cards from Dasamahaviya deck by Appana Mahapatro (2002).
Kamala pradhan and pip, unknown goddess pradhan, and possibly Tripura Sundari pradhan cards from Dasamahaviya deck by Appana Mahapatro (2002).
Kamala pradhan and pip, unknown goddess pradhan, and possibly Tripura Sundari pradhan cards from Dasamahaviya deck by Appana Mahapatro (2002).
Above: Kamala pradhan and pip, unknown goddess pradhan, and possibly Tripura Sundari pradhan cards from Dasamahaviya deck by Appana Mahapatro (2002).
Appana Mahapatro’s work is bold and bright, with sure strokes depicting the manifestations in vivid colors. Most of the manifestations adhere to standard iconography. The manifestations are shown on the pradhan cards while the raja cards contain the mother goddess Devi on a tiger.
Artist: Bansori Fouzdar
Kali and Tara pradhan and unknown goddess raja and pradhan cards from Dasamahaviya deck by Bansori Fouzdal (1996).
Kali and Tara pradhan and unknown goddess raja and pradhan cards from Dasamahaviya deck by Bansori Fouzdal (1996).
Kali and Tara pradhan and unknown goddess raja and pradhan cards from Dasamahaviya deck by Bansori Fouzdal (1996).
Kali and Tara pradhan and unknown goddess raja and pradhan cards from Dasamahaviya deck by Bansori Fouzdal (1996).
Above: Kali and Tara pradhan and unknown goddess raja and pradhan cards from Dasamahaviya deck by Bansori Fouzdal (1996).
Unknown goddess pradhan, unknown goddess raja and pradhan, and Dhumavati pradhan cards from Dasamahaviya deck by Bansori Fouzdal (1996).
Unknown goddess pradhan, unknown goddess raja and pradhan, and Dhumavati pradhan cards from Dasamahaviya deck by Bansori Fouzdal (1996).
Unknown goddess pradhan, unknown goddess raja and pradhan, and Dhumavati pradhan cards from Dasamahaviya deck by Bansori Fouzdal (1996).
Unknown goddess pradhan, unknown goddess raja and pradhan, and Dhumavati pradhan cards from Dasamahaviya deck by Bansori Fouzdal (1996).
Above: Unknown goddess pradhan, unknown goddess raja and pradhan, and Dhumavati pradhan cards from Dasamahaviya deck by Bansori Fouzdal (1996).
Matangi pradhan and pip, unknown goddess pradhan, and Bagalamukhi pradhan from Dasamahaviya deck by Bansori Fouzdal (1996).
Matangi pradhan and pip, unknown goddess pradhan, and Bagalamukhi pradhan from Dasamahaviya deck by Bansori Fouzdal (1996).
Matangi pradhan and pip, unknown goddess pradhan, and Bagalamukhi pradhan from Dasamahaviya deck by Bansori Fouzdal (1996).
Matangi pradhan and pip, unknown goddess pradhan, and Bagalamukhi pradhan from Dasamahaviya deck by Bansori Fouzdal (1996).
Above: Matangi pradhan and pip, unknown goddess pradhan, and Bagalamukhi pradhan from Dasamahaviya deck by Bansori Fouzdal (1996).
Bansori Fouzdal’s deck carries with it the unmistakable look of Bishnupur ganjifa (compare with Bengali dashavar deck by the same family, possibly even Bansori himself). Stylized forms and deep colors dominate the cards.
By Lev Golinkin
United States • Member since May 26, 2026
I'm a US-based author and journalist. I've been collecting playing cards since I was about 8 years old, when I got mesmerized by the various decks that were used in Soviet Ukraine, where I'm from. I collect mainly European decks such as those by Dondorf, Grimaud, and Piatnik. I love courts above all else, and am drawn toward historical and artistic decks.
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