Astamatrikas

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“The Kula Ritual As Elaborated in Chapter 29 of the Tantraloka” by John R.

Dupuche

 

 

 

page 14:

 

The cult of the Yoginis seems to have been the earliest form of what becomes the

Kula tradition.

 

They are usually sixty-four in number, a traditional number usually interpreted

as eight times the eight ‘mothers’ (matrka).

 

All the Yoginis belong to a family (kula) or a clan (gotra) grouped into 63

[64?] sisterhoods.

 

However there are 8 major families who have Brahmi etc. as their ‘Mothers’

(matr) and who are of particular importance at the moment of initiation, for the

Guru ascertains, by the manner in which the flower falls, to which of the

families and to which of the ‘Mothers’ the initiate belongs and which of the

Yoginis he is to seek and which powers he will receive.

 

 

 

page 111/112:

 

The lotus petals which emanate in a circle from around the triangle are thrones

for the eight goddesses who occupy an important place in TA 29.

 

As Matrkas they are emanations of the supreme goddess but since the phonemes are

also the cause of the universe they may also be interpreted as the eight classes

of phonemes.

 

They can also be understood as the three internal senses and the five subtle

elements an the sense that the faculties of knowledge move out from the heart

and bring the various objects of perception back to it.

 

They are the intermediaries between consciousness and the world of objectivity.

 

Again, the goddesses are temporal deities, each governing a specific day of the

lunar fortnight and also have a directional significance as lokapala, protectors

of the points of the compass.

 

Thus, from these eight comes the whole external world.

 

 

 

I had no idea that the Astamatrikas are so important.

 

Neither I knew that they have a connection with the moon phases…

 

 

 

 

 

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