The Dasha Mahavidya, were explained to Shivji by Sati, when she appeared as the Mahavidyas. Shivji asked her about each one of them. She introduced them to him & told him to make people aware about their importance, rituals, mantras, stotras etc, they will be known as Aagamas.
The Shaiva Agama perceives its texts were generated from Shiva as
| " | Shivena devya datham Devya dathamthu Nandhine Nandhina Brahmana Datham Brahmana Rishi Dhathakam Rishinaam Maanusha Datham Athyethe agamodhbavam |
" |
meaning,
| " | From Shiva to Devi From Devi to Nandhi |
" |
The Saiva Agamas are found in four main schools - Kapala, Kalamukha, Pashupata and Saiva -- and number 28 in total as follows:
The Shakta Agamas
The Vaishnava Agamas are found into two main schools -- Pancharatra and Vaikhanasas. While Vaikhanasa Agamas were transmitted from Vikhanasa Rishi to his disciples Brighu, Marichi, Atri and Kashyapa, the Pancharatra Agamas are considered to be revealed and handed down in three ways --
The Soura or Saura Agamas
The Paramanada Tantra mentions the number of sectarian tantras as 6000 for Vaishnava, 10000 for Shaiva, 100000 for Shakta, 1000 for Ganapatya, 2000 for Saura, 7000 for Bhairava, and 2000 for Yaksha-bhutadi-sadhana.[3]
