Ashta Matrika

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Ashta Matrika is a group of eight fierce mother goddesses in Hindu tradition, each embodying the power of a major deity and collectively associated with protection, war, and esoteric rituals.

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Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Hindu deity cluster
group of Hindu goddesses
alternativeName Ashta Matrikas NERFINISHED
Eight Mother Goddesses NERFINISHED
associatedConcept Shakti NERFINISHED
liminal and boundary protection
motherhood
associatedWith Shaktism NERFINISHED
Tantric traditions
esoteric rituals
protection
war
cosmicFunction embodiment of the energies of major male deities
cultType local and regional goddess cults
embodiesPowerOf Brahma NERFINISHED
Devi as Chamunda NERFINISHED
Indra NERFINISHED
Kumara NERFINISHED
Narasimha aspect of Vishnu NERFINISHED
Shiva NERFINISHED
Varaha aspect of Vishnu NERFINISHED
Vishnu NERFINISHED
etymology The term "Ashta Matrika" means "Eight Mothers" in Sanskrit NERFINISHED
gender female
hasMember Brahmani NERFINISHED
Chamunda NERFINISHED
Indrani NERFINISHED
Kaumari NERFINISHED
Maheshvari NERFINISHED
Narasimhi NERFINISHED
Vaishnavi NERFINISHED
Varahi NERFINISHED
iconography each goddess carries the weapons and mounts of her corresponding male deity
often depicted together in a row
memberCount 8
numberSymbolism eight
region South Asia
surface form: Indian subcontinent
religion Hinduism
role battle goddesses
protective deities
textualAttestation Puranic literature
Tantric texts
type fierce mother goddesses
worshipContext temple worship
village and folk rituals
worshipPractices Tantric rituals
protective rites

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Chamunda memberOf Ashta Matrika