Narasimhi

Matrikas
Goddesses of War, Children and Emancipation.
The Seven Mother Goddesses (Matrikas) Flanked by Shiva (left) and Ganesha (right)
Devanagari	मातृका
Sanskrit transliteration	mātṝkā
Affiliation	Parvati, Devi, Shakti

Matrikas (singular Matrika, Sanskrit: मातृका, IAST: mātṝkā, lit. "divine mother") also called Matar or Matri, are a group of mother goddesses who are always depicted together in Hinduism.

Matrikas are the personified powers (Shakti) of different Devas. Brahmani emerged from Brahma, Vaishnavi from Vishnu, Maheshvari from Shiva, Indrani from Indra, Kaumari from Skanda, Varahi from Varaha and Chamunda from Devi. Additional members include Narasimhi and Kali.

The Matrikas are usually depicted in a group of seven called Saptamatrika(s) (Seven Mothers). However, they may be eight Matrikas called Ashtamatrika(s). In South India, Saptamatrika worship is prevalent whereas the Ashtamatrika are venerated in Nepal.

The Matrikas assume paramount significance in the goddess-oriented sect of Hinduism, Tantrism. In Shaktism, they are described as "assisting the great Shakta Devi (goddess) in her fight with demons." Some scholars consider them Shaiva goddesses. They are also connected with the worship of warrior god Skanda. In most early references, the Matrikas are described as having inauspicious qualities and often described as dangerous. They come to play a protective role in later mythology, although some of their inauspicious and wild characteristics still persist in these accounts. Thus, they represent the prodigiously fecund aspect of nature as well as its destructive force aspect.