Saptamatrikas
Also called: Seven mothers · Topic: Early Indian Art and Architecture: Stupas, Rock-cut Caves, Temples · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 5 "The Rise of Empires"
Meaning
The Saptamatrikas, or "seven mothers", are a group of seven mother goddesses. Each one is the female power of a male god: Brahmani of Brahma, Maheshvari of Shiva, Kaumari of Kartikeya, Vaishnavi of Vishnu, Varahi of Varaha, Indrani of Indra, and Chamunda, a fierce form of the goddess. Mother goddesses were worshipped in India from very early times. The group of seven, however, took a fixed form in sculpture from the Kushana period. It then became a regular theme in Gupta and early medieval temples and caves.
Example
Small panels of seated mother goddesses appear in Kushana-period Mathura sculpture. Later, full rows of the seven mothers are carved in the Brahmanical caves at Ellora (Maharashtra), usually with Ganesha and Shiva beside them.
Don't confuse with
- Gajalakshmi: the Saptamatrikas are a set of seven goddesses. Gajalakshmi is a single goddess of good fortune, bathed by elephants.
Related concepts
- Vessantara Jataka
- Aniconic representation of the Buddha
- Dharmachakra
- Shalabhanjika
- Gajalakshmi
- Mithuna
- Yaksha and yakshi
- Didarganj Yakshi
- Parkham Yaksha
- James Fergusson