Matrikas

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Matrikas, that is, the mothers, are a band of divinities, which always appear in a group. Some scholars believe that Matrikas were known during the Vedic period, their earliest clear description appear in some layers of the Mahabharata, and date to 1st century.

There are several Puranic versions related to the origin of Matrikas. Varaha, Matsya, and Markandeya Puranas contain references to Matrikas, and this assert their antiquity. According to one of the Puranic myths, Matrikas are Saktis of Shiva and other male gods, and are the goddesses of the battlefield. Their textual description is generally awesome, frightening and ferocious. But, in the sculptural portrayal, they are depicted quite differently as protectors and benevolent mothers. They are armed with the same weapons, wear the same ornaments, and ride the same vahanas and carry the same banners as their corresponding male deities.

In most of the relevant texts, their exact number has not been specified, but gradually their number and names became increasingly crystallized and seven goddesses were identified as matrikas, albeit some references indicate eight or even sixteen Matrikas. However, according to K.C. Aryan, their number is determined in the structure of the Devanagari alphabet. First is the (A) group which contains the vowels, then the (Ka), (Cha), (Ta), (ta), (Pa), (Ya) and (Ksha) groups. The seven mother goddesses (Saptamatrikas) correspond to the seven consonant groups; when the vocalic (A) group is added, the eight mother goddesses (Ashtamatrikas) are obtained. ^[1]

In the Tantra Shastra, the fifty or fifty-one letters of the Devanagari alphabet itself have been described as being the Matrikas themselves. It is believed that they are infused with the power of the Divine Mother herself. The Matrikas or "Little Goddesses" are considered to be the subtle form of the letters (varna). These letters combined make up syllables (pada) which are combined to make sentences (vakya) and it is of these elements that mantra is composed. It is believed that the power of mantra derives from the fact that the letters of the alphabet are in fact forms of the goddess. ^[2]

The 50 Matrika Kalas are given in the same account as follows: Nivritti, Pratishtha, Vidya, Shanti, Indhika, Dipika, Mochika, Para, Sukshma, Sukshmamrita, Jnanamrita, Apypayani, Vyapini, Vyomarupa, Ananta, Srishti, Riddhi, Smriti, Medha, Kanti, Lakshmi, Dyuti, Sthira, Sthiti, Siddhi, Jada, Palini, Shanti, Aishvarya, Rati, Kamika, Varada, Ahladini, Pritih, Dirgha, Tikshna, Raudri, Bhaya, Nidra, Tadra, Kshudha, Krodhini, Kriya, Utkari, Mrityurupa, Pita, Shveta, Asita, Ananta. ^[3]

[edit] See also

• Hindu Goddess

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Aryan (1980), p. 9
2. ^ Aryan (1980), pp. 24–28
3. ^ Woodroffe, p. 103

[edit] References

• Aryan, K.C. (1980). The Little Goddesses (Matrikas). New Delhi: Rekha Prakashan. ISBN 81-900002-7-6
• Kinsley, David (1988). Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Traditions. University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-06339-2
• Pintchman, Tracy (1994). The Rise of the Goddess in the Hindu Tradition. State University of New York Press. ISBN 0-7914-2112-0
• Woodroffe, Sir John. The Garland of Letters. Ganesh & Co. ISBN 81-85988-12-9

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