Saptamatrikas Temples / The Seven Divine Mothers, on the banks of River Palar in Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

March 2020

The Seven Goddesses with the equal power of Male deities are called Saptamatrikas (Seven Mothers). The group starts with Veerabhdra and ends with Vinayaka. The Saptamatrikas 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, Shiva, Murugan, Vishnu,  Varahar an incarnation of Vishnu, Indra, and Yama.  As per Varaha Purana, the Matrikas group consists of 8, Goddesses, Yogeswari, who come out of Lord Shiva’s mouth called Ashta Matrikas.  Individual mothers are identified through the weapons they are holding, face, Hairstyle, and the vahana.  Usually, all the Goddesses are in a sitting posture/Lalithasana posture  with 4 hands. The upper hands hold their respective weapons and the lower hands will be in Abhaya & Varada Hastham. 

As per Varaha Purana Saptamatrikas are created to help 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, Vishwakarma Sasthiram, Sirparathinam and Sri Thathuvanidhi. Saptamatrika worship started from the Pandya Period ( from 6th Century Rock cut caves ) and continued during Pallavas and Chozhas till the 12th Century, they were combined together and a single deity was formed. But still Varahi one of the old Saptamatrika groups is in worship as a separate deity in many places. 

SAPTAMATRIKAS, THENNERI.

On the way to Sri Abathsahayeswarar Temple, happened to see some statues kept open to the sky, with 4 pillars around them. 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 the icons of this group are not found. Experts of the opinion that these Saptamatrikas may belong to the 10^th to 11^th Century Chozha Period.

LOCATION: 12.8506680 and 79.8554030

PONNIAMMAN TEMPLE – SAPTAMATRIKAS,  SEMBULAM

This temple is on the Cheyyar to Palar River bank Road ( South ) dedicated to Ponniamman. When we crossed this place, found this temple a 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 said 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 believe that these Saptamatrikas belong to the Chozhas period, ie 11^th to 12^th Century.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: 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 Kumbabishekam on 27^th 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 a sanctum Sanctorum and a mukha mandapam. A Saptamatrikas panel is in worship as a presiding deity. Faint images of Saptamatrikas in sitting posture were visible. Due to poor light and with continuous application of oil, couldn’t get the details. It was said that this Saptamatrikas panel may belong to the Pallava period 8^th to 9^th Century.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: 12.770918, 79.842330

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---