Ashtamatrika
Every question on the site tagged Ashtamatrika, each answered from a timestamped source rather than a summary written from memory.
The eight Mother Goddesses (Brahmani, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani, Chamunda, and Narasimhi), whose combined presence is invoked within the Durga Saptashati's core hymns.
22 notes from our sourcesNotes from our sources
Four hymns inside the Durga Saptashati as a substitute for the full path
The speaker addresses brand-new sadhakas drawn to the Durga Saptashati who want to recite it this Navratri but cannot manage the full path, for lack of time or of Sanskrit pronunciation. He says four stutis that sit inside the Saptashati carry the presence of the Navadurga, the ten Mahavidyass, the Ashtamatrika and the 64 Yoginis, so they are the essence (ark, nichod) of its 700 mantras, and reciting them gives the Devi's special grace and the fruit of the Saptashati path. He is firm that this is for new people and those without time — a Navratri should not go empty, and even school-age children who can read should be made to do it — and not for those who already do the full path, who must not drop it for this.
Who are the Shodash Matrikas?
These are the Shodash Matrikas, ordinarily worshipped as one set — Gauri, Sacha, Padma, Savitri, Medha, Jaya and the rest are worshipped. But besides those, the speaker says, the sixteen maidens under the Mahavidyas and under the kulas are also established separately as Shodash Matrikas. He says he does not know whether others describe this or not, but will state the little he knows, because he has knowledge of two or three: of Bhagavati Mahabhagavati Vindhyavasini, whose pujan is done in three forms according to three kulas — he knows his own kula, and has a little knowledge of other kulas as well.
Where is Chamunda's place of manifestation in the Vindhya region?
He asks the listener who has done the paath of the Durga Saptashati: in the seventh adhyaya, how did Chamunda appear, and from whose forehead? And what is that form in its root? It is Bhagavati Ashtabhuja, born of the thousandth part of Bhagavati Vindhyavasini. And from the body of that Ashtabhuja Jagadamba, Bhagavati Kaushiki, Bhagavati Brahmani-swaroopa, many shaktis manifested — the Ashtamatrikas, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, the 64 Yoginis and the many shastra yoginis.
Which shaktis should be established in the eight directions at the foundation?
He says that afterwards, with the whole diagram or naksha of the house in hand — these are my corners — eight shaktis should certainly be established in the eight corners, at the neev itself. Whichever knowledgeable person you go to, let them employ for the ashta digbandhan whichever shaktis they use: ashta Bhairav, ashta matrika, digpala-related shaktis, or whichever mantras they have made siddh from their own shraddha.
Can Kalika Yogini sadhaks and those who know avaran pujan do more?
The rest of the people who are doing the Kalika Yogini sadhana or other sadhanas connected with Kali ji may also, if they wish, do deep daan; there is no dosha in it. And those who have learned the avaran pujan — by now some have learned three or four of Bhagavati Kalika — who are doing it, the old sadhaks, who have knowledge of the Nityas, of the Ashta Matrikas and the Ashta Tantrik Matrikas: they may do deep daan in their names if they wish, since their sadhana is already running.
Can a Havan be done with only one Charitra of the Saptashati?
First, you should have obtained the Saptashati Deeksha or the Shakta Deeksha. And what you are describing falls under the Chandi Yaag — for a Havan with all the Charitras you must know the Avaran and Mandala worship: Sarvatobhadra, Navagraha, the sixty-four Yoginis, the sixteen Matrikas, the Lokpalas, the Dikpalas, and all the Kalashas.
Which mandalas belong to the kalash sthapana of Navratri?
Kalash sthapan should be done at the right time on the first day, he says — the timings will be discussed separately and written out. The mandalas are those of the nine grahas, of the shodash matrikas, of the sixty-four yoginis, of the five kshetrapals, and of the ten digpals.
When the problem is very great and no way out appears, a bali of eight jayfals is made in the names of the Ashtamatrikas
If your problem is very great and no way out is appearing, then make a budget: the eight Mahashaktis, the Mahadurgas, the Ashtamatrikas. Read the Durga Kavach in the Durga Saptashati and you will learn their names. In their names a bali of jayfal is to be made, in the same vessel — a large earthen vessel with the 128 cloves, camphor and eight jayfals.
Can eight separate lamps be lit for the Ashtamatrikas?
If you wish, you may also kindle eight separate lamps, he says, but your budget will increase — the whole thing has to be done for thirty days. Do this at the temple.
What is the summary of the bali to be offered in the 64 Yogini pujan?
The cloves and camphor you burn there are themselves a bali, and that is to be given. The bali of jayfal in the names of the Ashta Durga and Ashtamatrikas is to be given if the trouble is greater. And if you need still more effect, you may also offer a bali of lemon in Savan — but he says only the jayfal bali is more than sufficient. Over the 29 or 30 days that Savan will run this time, this prayoga will bring you success beyond expectation.
Which powers are present at Kamakhya?
Countless powers are there, but principally the ten Mahavidyas along with eight principal Bhairavs seated near Bhagavati's main Mahamudra. And the twelve Vinayaks — in the Kamarupa region the Vinayaks come to be present in Bhairav form as well, with their own Shaktis, the Vainayaki.
How is the year-long Ganesh Chaturthi vrat concluded (the Udyapan)?
When the full year is complete, feed twelve Brahmins by Shiva's command, establish a Kalash and worship his image beside it. On the altar make an eight-petalled lotus and perform the homa by the Vedic rule without stinting — the Navagraha and Shodash Matrika mandalas, and homa with the Ganesh Gayatri and his Sahasranama.
Whose refuge should be taken during Navratri?
Whatever Anushthan connected with Bhagavati you are doing, and whether you listen to this channel or not: given the way the times are running and the calamities coming upon the whole world, at this time we should take particular refuge in Bhagavati's Yogini Matrikas — because it is the Yoginis who execute Bhagavati's work in every field.
For a sava lakh Navarna anushthan, are the navagraha and shodash matrika mandals needed?
To Raju Acharya ji, who asks whether along with ghat sthapana the navagraha mandal and the shodash matrika mandal must be established for the sava lakh japa of the Navarna mantra in Navratri, and whether they must be worshipped daily, he answers that if you are going to do the anushthan of sava lakh then at the very least, if nothing else, certainly light an akhand deepak. As for the mandals: if you do ghat sthapana, do all the puja on that very ghat. There is no need to make separate mandals — do the shodash matrika pujan on the ghat, do the navagraha pujan on the ghat, and do the daily puja on it too, in name only, saying "नवग्रहेभ्यो नमः यथा उपलब्ध उपचारम् समर्पयामि" and offering a single flower; but certainly offer it by name.
Is Bhairav worshipped even outside the Shaiva traditions?
He says that whichever gods or goddesses you worship, Bhairav ji is worshipped regardless. Even if you do the puja of Narayan and are a Vaishnav, or belong to some other Shaiva sampraday, Bhairav ji is worshipped. Among the shaktis and avatars connected with Bhagavan Narayan too there is a description of Bhairav ji, and in their mandal pujan the Bhairavs are worshipped. And wherever the Ashta Matrikas are worshipped, there the Ashta Bhairavs are certainly worshipped.
Where are the Ashta Bhairavs worshipped in a mandala?
The Ashta Bhairavs are extremely famous, and their samarthya and their forms are met with in every kind of tantra. In whichever tantra — connected with daivi shakti, with the Shakta, with the Shaiva, and in Vaishnav too the param Vaishnav and maha Vaishnav shaktis — whenever their pujan takes place in the ashtadal kamal, it is the Ashta Matrikas who are worshipped there in different forms; in the middle the Ashta Matrikas, and right at the front, as their eight shaktis, the Bhairavs are worshipped.
Which are the Ashta Matrikas?
The eight Bhairavs are chiefly those whom we all know, corresponding to the Ashta Matrikas whom we worship: Brahmi, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani, Chamunda and Mahalakshmi.
Which Bhairav is paired with each of the Ashta Matrikas?
Asitanga is the Bhairav of Brahmi; the Bhairav of Maheshwari is Ruru; of Kaumari, Chanda Bhairav; and of Bhagavati Vaishnavi, Krodh Bhairav — the same Krodh Bhairav who is worshipped alongside Ma Bhagavati Chhinnamastika. Unmatt Bhairav is worshipped with Devi Varahi, and with Indrani, that is Indrakshi, Kapal Bhairav. To those whose kuldevi is Chamunda and who ask who goes with her, he answers that chiefly Batuk Bhairav is with all the shaktis, but seen in that way, with Chamunda the puja of Bhishan Bhairav takes place, and with Lakshmi that of Sanhar Bhairav.
Why are the Bhairavs missing from many avaran pujan texts?
These chief eight Bhairavs and the Ashta Matrikas are worshipped in every yantra: in the yantra mandala of whichever gods and goddesses there are, the pujan of the Ashta Matrikas certainly takes place, and along with them the Ashta Bhairavs certainly are there. But in avaran pujan and the rest you will find various kinds of difference, and at many places the description of the pujan of the Bhairavs is simply not given. He says he does not know the reason; each will have had his own.
Must the dev shakti and the devi shakti both be worshipped in a japa?
He says it is simply not possible to leave the Bhairavs out. As when we are doing japa of Mahamrityunjay, it is said again and again that the pujan of both the dev shakti and the devi shakti must occur. If Mahamrityunjay is being done sava lakh, then, as the transcript has it, we will have to do 1250000 of the mantra of Bhagavati Amriteshwari — her dashansh japa; and if we are doing sava lakh japa of a form of Bhagavati such as Bhagavati Pitambara, then 12500, that is the dashansh japa, of Mahamrityunjay will have to be done.
What does the Prapanchasara say about the Ashta Bhairavs?
In the same way, in the famous tantra grantha of Bhagavan Adi Guru Shankaracharya Maharaj, the Prapanchasara, there is a description of the Ashta Bhairavs. Only the names have changed a little there, but the form of the Bhairavs is held to be roughly the same. In it Bhishan Bhairav is present, but Kalaraj, Ruru Bhairav and the rest come with separate names, and Krodh, Chanda, Kapal Bhairav and Bhutnath Bhairav — these four have come with separate names.
If Kaal Bhairav stands with Bhagavati Brahmani in a temple, whom should one worship?
If Kaal Bhairav ji is installed in the temple along with Bhagavati Brahmani, then you should worship those very ones, the speaker says. If you are looking at the Ashta Bhairav according to the Ashtamatrika, that will apply only when you have it from a guru parampara. For whatever reason Kaal Bhairav has been installed with Bhagavati Brahmani in your temple, worship them; the remaining forms you may look at.
No notes match "".