Images of the Saptamatrikas

They were looked upon as the personifications of the seven bad mental qualities: Brahmi; Pride, Mahesvari; anger, Kaumari; illusion, Vaishnavi; covetousness, Varahi; envy, Indrani; fault finding, Samundi tale-bearing and the leader^[1] of the Saptamatrikas, Yogeswari; Kama or desire.The seven Devis were believed to be the feminie counterparts of the: seven great Brahman Gods of whom they were the counter parts and they carried their symbols and the same mounts. The Saptamatrikas are a group of seven Goddesses viz., Brahmi, Maheswari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani, and Samundi.^[2]

The origin of Saptamatrikas is not clear. There seems to be some controversy about it. The Suprabhedagama maintains that they were created by Brahma to destroy Nairuta. The Markandeya Purana states that they partake of Brahma, Vishnu and Siva, Skanda, and Indra and were created to help the destruction of the demons Sambha, Nisumbha, Chanda and Munda.^[3]

One more counter part of their origin is that they were created by Siva at the time of the killing of the demon in Andhaka, to drink his blood. These images are quite common in South Indian temples. They were became popular with the people. All the seven Goddesses Palagais of four pillars found on the of the temple. They are carved seated as panel sculpture. They had two arms. Their left hands rest on their left thigh. Their right arms hold akshamala (Brahmi), sula (Mahesvari), kukuta (Kaumari), danda (Varahi), sakti (Indrani), kapala (Samundi) and chakra (Vaishnavi). Their thick makuta, broad shoulder, narrow hip show that they belong to the later Chola period.