The Seven Mother Goddesses (Saptamatrika)

Probably Belur district. Compare with cat. no. 62, in P Pal (Ed) "Dancing to the Flute", 1997.

Lintel from a Shiva temple.

Figures in order from left to right: Virabhadra, Brahmani, Maheshvari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani (Aindri), Chamunda. Generally regarded as extensions or forms of Devi (Durga). Maternal yet malevolent deities.

The powerful sense of rhythm evoked in this relief of Hindu deities suggests an infinity of figures, yet there are just eight principal images. Shiva, the supreme master of music and dance, is depicted on the far left above his vehicle, Nandi the bull. To his right are the seven mother goddesses or 'matrikas', the female counterparts of the most important male Hindu gods. Appearing in sequence from left to right are: Brahmani, the four-headed counterpart of Brahma, the maker of the universe; Maheshvari, the female counterpart of Shiva; Kaumari, the counterpart of Kumara, the warrior son of Shiva and Parvati; Vaishnavi, the counterpart of Vishnu, the principal god of preservation; the boar-headed Varahi, counterpart of Varaha, an incarnation of Vishnu; Indrani, the counter-part of Indra, the war and rain god of the 'Vedas'; and finally, on the far right, is Chamunda, the only goddess who is not the counterpart of a male god, but represents a female form of Shiva's power. This beautiful and intricately carved panel is typical of the reliefs found on Hoysala period temples of the Deccan region of central India.

Art Gallery Handbook, 1999. pg. 290.

This intricately carved panel is typical of the reliefs found on Hoysala period temples of the Deccani region of India. It depicts the Seven Mother Goddesses, an esoteric group of deities that represents the powers of the gods and has a protective function. Usually the group is associated with Shiva, indeed Shiva in the form of Virabhadra leads the group. From left to right following Virabhadra, the goddesses are: Brahmani, the four-headed counterpart of Brahma, the maker of the universe; Maheshvari, the counterpart of Shiva; Kaumari, the counterpart of Kumara, the warrior son of Shiva and Parvati; Vaishnavi, the counterpart of Vishnu, the preserver or protector; the boar-headed Varahi, counterpart of Varaha, an incarnation of Vishnu; Indrani, the counterpart of Indra, the Vedic king of the gods; and finally on the far right is Chamunda, the personification of Shiva's power.

The Asian Collections, AGNSW, 2003, pg.20.

In Puranic literature, the Seven Mothers (Saptamatrikas) emerge to aid Shiva in his battle against the formidable demon, Andhaka. According to the legend, Shiva strikes Andhaka; but with each drop of blood that falls from the wound, a replica of the demon arises. Seeing Shiva faced with thousands of Andhakas, the other male gods send their ‘shaktis’, in the form of the Seven Mothers, to stop the blood from falling to the ground and prevent the multiplication. With the help of the ‘matrikas’, Shiva overcomes his foe. In the famed ‘Devi Mahatmya’, the Saptamatrikas again perform a similar function and help Durga vanquish the demon Raktabija (see cat. 67).

The stele shows Shiva, seated on the far left, accompanied by the Seven Mothers. From left to right, the goddesses are Brahmani, who emerges from the god Brahma; Maheshvari, who emanates from Shiva; Kaumari, the counterpart of the warrior god, Kumara; Vaishnavi, the female energy of Vishnu; Varahi, the partner of Varaha, the boar incarnation of Vishnu; Indrani, the ‘shakti’ of Indra; and the fierce, skeletal personification of energy, Chamunda. The panel’s intricate carving and richly embellished figures are stylistically typical of Hoysala period sculpture.

Chaya Chandrasekhar, ‘Goddess: divine energy’, pg.108. © 2006 Art Gallery of New South Wales