The Sanskrit term Mātṛcakra can be transliterated into English as Matrcakra or Matricakra, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Alternative spellings of this word include Matrichakra.

In Hinduism

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kubjikāmata-tantra

Mātṛcakra (मातृचक्र):—Third of the five internal mystic centres (pañcacakra), according to the kubjikāmata-tantra (or, kādiprakaraṇa). These five cakras follow the general principle of a cakra (inward representation of a maṇḍala, the representation of cosmic creation). The Mātṛcakra is named after the female deities who are called Mahāmātṛs (‘great mothers’) and Mātṛs (‘mothers’), who are localized in the eight-petalled lotus in the region of the heart. These Mahāmātṛs and Mātṛs are to be distinguished from the eight Mātṛkās, the Mothers who also form part of this cakra. It is associated with Śiva and the gross element Fire (tejas).

From the centre outwardly evolves a structure of predominantly female deities who symbolize different aspects of the phenomenal and phonic creation. In the case of the Devīcakra, the Dūtīcakra and the Mātṛcakra, this unfolding takes place in two phases, first a number of deities come into existence who divide themselves again into further secondary manifestations. In the Mātṛcakra eight female deities (mātṛkās) arise from the central principle who become eightfold each; these sixty-four deties (mātṛs) symbolize the components of the phenomenal world and are linked to the concept of the subtle body.

The names of the eight Bhairavas presiding over the eight groups of Mātṛs are as follows:

1. Saṃvarta (north-east) presiding over the eight Lokamātṛs (‘Space-mothers’) born from Khecarī,
2. Caṇḍa (east) presiding over the eight Ātman-mātṛs (‘Soul-mothers’) born from Ātmī, 
3. Krodha (south-east) presiding over the eight Indumātṛs (‘Lunar mothers’) born from Śaśinī,
4. Unmatta (south) presiding over the eight Vahnimātṛs (‘Fire-mothers’) born from Vahni,
5. Asitāṅga (south-west) presiding over the eight Marunmātṛs (‘Wind-mothers’) born from Calanī,
6. Ruru (west) presiding over the eight Arkamātṛs (‘Sun-mothers’) born from Bhānumatī,
7. Jhaṇṭa (north-west) presiding over the eight Mātṛs (‘Earth-mothers’) born from Mahimā,
8. Kapālīśa (north) presiding over the eight Payomātṛs (‘Water-mothers’) born from Sukṛtālayā,

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Mātṛcakra (मातृचक्र) refers to the “wheel of the phonemes”, according to the Kaulajñānanirṇaya.—Accordingly, “[...] O beloved, one must break though the door which, endowed with consciousness, is sealed with the Five Seals (of the lower Wheels) and is well obstructed by the chain (of the door). Break through the End of the Twelve, which is such, by means of the activity of Śakti. (The letters) that are goddesses and Yoginīs present on the plane of the Wheel of the Phonemes (mātṛcakra) merge into the Wheel of the Sky-faring goddesses, (and so in this way) generate the supreme nectar. O goddess, without nectar how, O beloved, (can one attain) immortality? Nectar is the essence of Kaula”.

context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Mātṛcakra (मातृचक्र).—

1) the group of divine mothers.

2) a kind of mystical circle.

Derivable forms: mātṛcakram (मातृचक्रम्).

Mātṛcakra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mātṛ and cakra (चक्र).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mātṛcakra (मातृचक्र).—(see 7.).

Mātṛcakra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mātṛ and cakra (चक्र).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Mātṛcakra (मातृचक्र):—[=mātṛ-cakra] [from mātṛ] n. a kind of mystical circle, [Rājataraṅgiṇī]

2) [v.s. ...] the circle or assemblage of (divine) mothers, [Kathāsaritsāgara]

[Sanskrit to German]

Matricakra in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Matri, Cakra.

Starts with: Matricakrapramathana.

Full-text (+101): Matricakrapramathana, Ishanadevi, Pinganatha, Khanjika, Oddiyana, Jalandhara, Purnagiri, Kamarupa, Mitra, Matanga, Khandika, Avantarakalpa, Guhyakubji, Vartamanikakalpa, Kolladri, Adikalpa, Mahantakalpa, Divyakalpa, Divyadivyakalpa, Adivyakalpa.

Relevant text

No search results for Matricakra, Mātṛcakra, Matri-cakra, Mātṛ-cakra, Matrcakra, Matr-cakra; (plurals include: Matricakras, Mātṛcakras, cakras, Matrcakras) in any book or story.