Tilakamanjari

SR No.: 022659
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Dhanpal, Sudarshankumar Sharma
Publisher: Parimal Publications
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 504
Language: English, Sanskrit
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 15 MB

Page 389

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
375
"Şaşthījāgara namaha" is the word used by Sir Monier Williams. It is the name of a particular ceremony; this is the day on which the creator is supposed to enter the mother's chamber and write the child's destiny on its forehead.
Şaşthidevi is the name of a divine mother or goddess often regarded as a form of Durgā (supposed to protect children and worshipped on the sixth day after delivery).
"मातृकासु पूज्यतमा सा च षष्ठी प्रकीर्तिता। शिशूनां प्रतिविश्वेषु प्रतिपालनकारिणी।
तपस्विनी विष्णुभक्ता कार्तिकेयस्य कामिनी॥" is the definition given by the commentator Vijayalāvanasūri. (TM II. p.185, LL 6-7) That which is best revered among the Mātņkās is knows as Şaşthi. She is the protector of children in every sphere of the world. She is given to austerities and is a devotee of Visnu, a beloved of Kārttikeya. Sasthi being the sixth of the Mātrkās which are sometimes reckoned as seven, eight, nine and sometimes as sixteen." They are the divine mothers or personified energies of the principal deities. The seven Mātņkās are Brāhms or Brahmānī, Māhesvarī, Kaumārī, Vaisnavī Vārāhī, Indrāņi or Aindrī or Māhendrī, Cāmundā;
Eight divine mothers are :
Brāhmī, Māhesvari, Kaumārī, Vaisnavi, Vārāhī, Raudrī, Camamundā, Kālasamkarsinī;
Nine divine mothers are :
Brahmānī, Vaişnavī, Raudrī, Vārahī, Nārasimhikā, Kaumārī, Māhendrī, Cāmundā, Candikā;
Sixteen divine mothers are :
Gaurī, Padmā, Śacī, Medhā, Sāvitrī, Vijayā, Jayā, Devasenā, Svadhā, Svāhā, šānti, Pusti, Dhrti, Tusti, Ātma-devatā and Kula-devatā.
They are closely connected with the worship of Siva and are described as attending on his son Skanda or Kārttikeya to whom the first only seven Mātrs were assigned but later on innumerable number.289
Dhanapāla has mentioned these Mātrs in -
1. Skt. Eng. Dict. under Şasthijāgara. 2. Ibid. 3. Ibid. p. 807.