________________
THE DIVINE MOTHERS (SAPTA-MATRIKAS)*
BRAHMANI
MAHESHVARI
INDRANI
CHAMUNDA
Symbols
Rosary, ladle, vase, vase
Bow, arrow, bow. wheel and bow
KAUMARI VAISHNAVI
VARAHI Sakti (spear) in both Wheel, mace, conch, Staff, conch, wheel hands lotus
and mace
Thunderbolt and thunderbolt (AGP)
Javelin, kåtri, skullcup, pattisa (steel staff with sharp end) (AGP) Corpse or owl Four or ten
Vehicle
Goose
Bull
Bull
Elephant
Peacock Two, four or twelve
Fagle Four or six
Four, six or ten
Four or ?
Hands Face
Four or six Four
Crown Variations |--Boon-giving.
vase, rosary and protection pose (AB)
11- Akšasutra and
ladle in two lower hands and ladle and akcasūtra in two
upper hands (RM) 111-Six-handed:
boon-giving pose ladle, book, vase and protection pose (VIK)
(Varaha-mouth)
Boar-face Jaţă mukuta 1- Sūla, protection, 4-handed: boon- 1-Boon-giving, |--Plough, boon- 1- Four-handed: 1-Boon-giving pose, boon-giving and giving, spear, cock conch, wheel and giving, spear, boon-giving,
skull-cup, sula rosary. 3 eyes and protection protection (AB) protection
spear, thunder and protection Jatā crown (AB) pose (AB)
(AB) bolt and pro
Pose (AB) lection pose. 11-Śakti on head Three eyes (AB) Munda), skull
cup (MTP) 1--Sūla, boon- 11-Vara, spear, 11-Six-handed: 11-Shränga
11--Vajra, ankusa I-Ten-handed: giving, protection goad and pro- boon-giving, (dhanus), pro- (DP)
wooden pestle, and rosary. 3 lection pose. 3 mace, lotus
tection, plough, 111-Vajra, Sula. gadā, kavacha (proeyes (PK) eyes (PK) garland, conch, wooden pestle, sword (?)
tective, metal wheel and pro- and boon-giving Many eyes.
covering), tection pose (VIK) pose (PK) IV-Six-handed: arrow, goad,
vara, rosary, sword, shield, 111--Skull-cup. Küla. 111--Sūla, spear, cock III-Four-handed: 111-Bell, skin, mace vajra, kalasa. noose, bow, staff
ritual wand and and cock (MTP) whcel, conch, and wheel (MTP) patra, abhaya and axe (VIK) boon-giving (MTP) IV-Sūla, spear. flag or skull- IV-Six-handed:
(VIK)
IV-sala, khadga IV-Six-handed: mace, ? (RM) cup, ?--chains, boon-giving pose,
(sword), head. boon-giving, V--Twelve-handed: (SR)
staff, sword.
skull-cup, garrosary, drum, boon-giving, IV-Four-handed: shield, noose
land of heads sūla, bell, prospear, flag pose Boon-giving pose, and protection
(SR) tection. 3 eyes, (patákā), staff, conch, wheel, pose. Boar-face 5 faces (VIK) bowl, arrow, mace (RM)
(VIK) V-Ten-handed:
how, bell, lotus, sword, thunder- cock, battle-axe, bolt, trident,
and protection. battle-axe, pro- Six faces (VIK) tection, boongiving, noose. bell, cobra and goad. Five faces, 3 eyes (ST)
• In Indian sculpture, the Seven Matrikas are all shown usually with one face. They are recognized by their vehicles carved below on the pedestal. They are shown seated or standing and sometimes carry children on their laps or by their sides. They are flanked on the two sides by Virabhadra and Ganesa.
