Brahmani (Matrika) Explained

Type:	Hindu
Brahmani
Devanagari:	ब्रह्माणी
Sanskrit Transliteration:	Brahmāṇī
Affiliation:	Saraswati
Deity Of:	Shakti of Brahma
Abode:	Brahmaloka or Satyaloka
Consort:	Brahma
Mount:	Swan & lotus

Brahmani (Sanskrit: ब्रह्माणी, IAST: Brahmāṇī) or Brahmi (Sanskrit: ब्राह्मी, IAST: Brāhmī), is one of the seven Hindu mother goddesses known as Sapta Matrikas.^[1] ^[2] She is a form of Saraswati and is considered as the Shakti of the creator god Brahma in Hinduism. She is an aspect of Adi Shakti, possessing the "Rajas Guna" and is therefore the source of Brahma's power.

Legends

When Brahma was in meditation for the creation of the universe, his body was divided into two parts. They then formed the gods and goddesses, whereby one part was male and the other one female. Thus female parts became Gayatri, Savitri, Saraswati, and others.^[3]

Iconography

The goddess is depicted yellow in colour with four heads and four(or six) arms. Like Brahma, she holds a japamala, a kamandalu (water pot), a lotus stalk, bells, vedas and the trident while she is seated on a hamsa (identified with a swan or goose) as her vahana (mount or vehicle). Sometimes, she is shown seated on a lotus with a swan on her banner. She wears various ornaments and is distinguished by her basket-shaped crown called .^[4]

Kuldevi

She is the Kuldevi (clan goddess) of Vankar (Weaver),Golvadiyas(subcast of leuva Patels), Prajapati, nagar brahmins, darji samaj and other communities of Rajasthan and Kutch, including Rajputs and the KGK Community.^[5]

Brahmani temples in India

Brahmani Mataji Temple at Baran in Rajasthan.^[6]
Brahmani Mataji Temple at Pallo near Hanumangarh, Rajasthan.^[7] ^[8]
Brahmani Mata Temple at Village Brahmani, Hanumanganj, near Ballia in Uttar Pradesh.^[9]
Brahmani Mata Temple at Bharmour near Chamba, Himachal Pradesh.^[10]
Brahmani Mata Temple at Dingucha near Kalol, Gujarat.^[11]
Brahmani Mata Temple at Jamiyatpura, Gandhinagar
Brahmani Mata Temple at Sorsan, Rajasthan^[12]
Brahmani Mata Temple at Anjar.^[5]
Brahmani Mata temple at Visnagar.
Brahmani Mata Temple
In Narsoli village of Bhiloda district (Gujarat) there are also 1000 year old temples of Shri Brahmani Mata and Shri Eklingji Mahadev which were destroyed in the Mughal attack, their archeological remains are still present and Eklingji temple is being rebuilt at the same place.
Brahmani Devi Temple at Mollem, Goa^[13]

Notes and References

Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend by Anna Dallapiccola
Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Traditions by David Kinsley
Web site: 2021-05-29. Goddess Brahmani (Matrika) or Brahmi. 2021-12-04. Manish Jaishree. en-US.
Web site: Brahmani (article). 2021-12-04. Khan Academy. en.
Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas : A brief History & Glory: by Raja Pawan Jethwa. (2007) Calcutta.Section IV Kuldevi names
http://www.india9.com/i9show/Brahmani-Mataji-Temple-36086.htm The Brahmani Mataji Temple, Baran
Web site: Hanumangarh, Brahmani Temple . 2011-06-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111003105005/http://www.mustseeindia.com/Hanuman-Garh-Brahmani-temple/attraction/17523 . 2011-10-03 . dead .
News: पल्लू में मां ब्रह्माणी के मंदिर में श्रद्धालुओं ने लगाई सप्तमी की धोक, मेला आज . 13 April 2019 . Dainik Bhaskar . 17 October 2018 . hi.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiC6yZgp0R0 Story of Brahmani Mata Temple at Ballia, video
Web site: Brahmani Mata, a small, modest temple in a small cluster of buildings, with a tea stall and a pool with freezing cold water where devout pilgrims bathe at Bharmour . 2011-06-09 . 2018-02-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180209052055/http://www.elevenshadows.com/travels/india2008/12.htm . dead .
http://www.brahamanimataji.org/MainWeb/darshan.htm Brahmani Mataji Temple at Dinghucha
News: यहां होती है देवी की पीठ की पूजा, पीठ सिंदूर और कनेर के पत्तों से होता है शृंगार . 13 April 2019 . Dainik Bhaskar . 15 April 2016 . hi.
Web site: Parrikar . Rajan . 2011-01-06 . Brahmāṇi Temple . 2024-09-06 . Photo Blog by Rajan Parrikar . en-US.