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

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 Vinayaka. 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 Ashta Matrikas.  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 & varada 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, Vishwakarma Sasthiram, Sirparathinam and Sri Thathuvanidhi. Saptamatrika worship was started from Pandya Period ( from 6th Century Rock cut caves ), continued during Pallavas and Chozhas till 12th Century, latter they are combined together and single deity was formed. 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 Abathsahayeswarar 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 10^th to 11^th 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 11^th to 12^th 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 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 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 8^th to 9^th Century.

LOCATION: 12.770918, 79.842330

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---