March 2020
The Seven goddess with the equal power of Male
deities are called Saptamatrikas ( Seven Mothers ). The group starts with
Veerabhdra and ends with Vinayaga. The saptamatrika group consists of Brahmi
( Saraswati ), Brahma, Maheswari ( Raudani ), Kaumari ( Kartikeyani ), Vaishnavi
( Lakshmi ), Varahi or the boar, Indrani and Chamundi or Yami, the
respective male deities of Brahma, Lord Shiva, Murugan, Vishnu, Varahar
an incarnation of Vishnu, Indra and Yama. As per Varaha purana, the
Matrikas group consists of 8, goddess, Yogeswari, who comes out of Lord Shiva’s
mouth called Ashtamatrikas. Individual mothers are identified
through the weapons they are holding, face, Hair style and the vahana. Usually
all the goddess are in seating position in Lalithasana posture with
4 hands. The upper hands holds their respective weapons and lower hands
will be in abhaya & varadha hastham.
As per Varaha purana Saptamatrikas are created to help Lord Shiva to kill Andhakasura. As per Devimahatmiyam Saptamatrikas are created to help Durga to kill Nimbanisumba Demons. From Suprabhedagama Saptamatrikas are created to kill demon Niruthi by Brahma. Saptamatrikas iconography is described in Agnipurana, Amsumathbethagamam, Poorva Kaaranagamam, Matsiyapurana, Urubamanthanam, Viswakarma Sasthiram, Sirparathinam and Sri Thathuvanidhi. Saptamatrikas are in worship till 11th to 12th Century, latter they are combined together and single deity is worshiped. But still Varahi one of the old Saptamatrika group is in worship as a separate deity in many places.
As per Varaha purana Saptamatrikas are created to help Lord Shiva to kill Andhakasura. As per Devimahatmiyam Saptamatrikas are created to help Durga to kill Nimbanisumba Demons. From Suprabhedagama Saptamatrikas are created to kill demon Niruthi by Brahma. Saptamatrikas iconography is described in Agnipurana, Amsumathbethagamam, Poorva Kaaranagamam, Matsiyapurana, Urubamanthanam, Viswakarma Sasthiram, Sirparathinam and Sri Thathuvanidhi. Saptamatrikas are in worship till 11th to 12th Century, latter they are combined together and single deity is worshiped. But still Varahi one of the old Saptamatrika group is in worship as a separate deity in many places.
SAPTAMATRIKAS, THENNERI.
On the way to Sri Abathsahayar Temple, happened to see some statues kept open to sky, with 4 pillars around. It was told there was a temple in this place and these 4 pillars ( Sand Stone ) are the remains of the temple. This group consists of Varahi, Samundi and Veerabhadra. The rest of icons of this group is not found. Experts of the opinion that these saptamatrikas may belongs to 10th to 11th Century Chozha Period.
LOCATION: 12.8506680 and 79.8554030
PONNIAMMAN TEMPLE – SAPTAMATRIKAS, SEMBULAM
This temple is on Cheyyar to Palar River bank Road ( South ) dedicated to Ponniamman. When we crossed this place, found this temple little different from other Village temples. This is a small temple with sanctum sanctorum and a mandapam. The Poojari opened the door and showed us the deities inside the sanctum sanctorum. He told that Ponniamman was unearthed from the river bed and installed in this temple facing North. On the other two sides Saptamatrikas are installed along with Vinayagar and Veerabhadra. Experts of the opinion that these saptamatrikas belongs to Chozhas period, ie 11th to 12th Century.
LOCATION: 12.7116730, 79.7860680.
SARAVATHAMMAN TEMPLE – SAPTAMATRIKAS PANEL - ANGAMBAKKAM
After Visiting Shri Ambalavaneshvarar Temple, happened to see a flex banner of Sri Vaadamalli samedha Sri Vanipureeswarar Temple’s Kumbhabhishekam on 27th April 2020. Since this temple is on the banks of River Palar, decided to Visit this temple also. But to our bad luck the temple was found closed. This Saravathamman temple is found nearer to the Shiva Temple. A Simple Village type temple with sanctum Sanctorum and a mukha mandapam. A Saptamatrikas panel is in worship as a presiding deity. Faint images of Saptamatrikas in sitting posture was visible. Due to poor light and with continuous applying of oil, couldn’t get the details. It was told that this saptamatrikas panel may belongs to Pallava period 8th to 9th Century.
LOCATION: 12.770918, 79.842330
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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