Hindu Deities

Saptamatrikas

Source: Wiki

Matrikas (Sanskrit: मातृका (singular), IAST: mātṝkā, lit. "mothers") also called Mataras or Matri, are a group of mother goddesses who are always depicted together in Hinduism. The Matrikas are often depicted in a group of seven, the Saptamatrika(s) (Seven Mothers). However, they are also depicted as a group of eight, the Ashtamatrika(s). In the Brihat Samhita, Varahamihira says that "Matrikas are forms of Parvati taken by her with cognizance of (different major Hindu) gods corresponding to their names."

They are associated with these gods as their energies (Shaktis).Brahmani emerged from Brahma, Vaishnavi from Vishnu, Maheshvari from Shiva, Indrani from Indra, Kaumari from Kartikeya, Varahi from Varaha and Chamunda from Chandi. And additionals are Narasimhi from Narasimha and Vinayaki from Ganesha.  The matrikas represent the inner will power of their respective male God.

Originally the seven goddesses of the seven stars of the star cluster of the Pleiades, they became quite popular by the seventh century CE and a standard feature of the Hindu goddesses's temples from the ninth century CE onwards. In South India, Saptamatrikas worship is prevalent whereas the Ashtamatrikas are venerated in Nepal, among other places.

The Matrikas originated from the sweat of Shiva and Parvati as forms of Parvati herself who chased the asuras and asuris away from the heavens and killed all of them completely, when the asuras and asuris conquered the heavens after defeating the devas and devis. And after that, the devas and devis conquered the heavens.

According to Jagdish Narain Tiwari and Dilip Chakravati, the Matrikas were existent as early as the Vedic period and the Indus Valley civilization. Seals with rows of seven feminine deities are cited as evidence for the theory. The Rigveda (IX 102.4) speaks of a group of seven Mothers who control the preparation of Soma.

The seven goddesses

• Brahmani: The wife of Brahma, and the four-headed counterpart of Brahma 
• Maheshvari: The wife of Shiva, and the counterpart of Shiva 
Kaumari: The wife of Kumara, also known as Kartikeya, Skanda, or Murugan 
Vaishnavi: The wife of Vishnu, and also known as Lakshmi 
Varahi: The wife of Varaha, or the boar, an incarnation of Vishnu 
Indrani: The wife of Indra 
Chamunda: Also known as Yami, and the wife of Yama