Śivadūtī and the Mātṛkās
Śivadūtī is a śakti who was born from the jaṭā (matted hair) of Bhagavān Śiva. The Padma Purāṇa tells how she was sent against the asura Ruru, and how the Mātṛkās, the divine mothers, were born from her laughter after Ruru fell.
Born from Śiva’s jaṭā
In the war against the dānavas, a śakti of great power was needed to stand against the asura Ruru, who was terrorising the three worlds. Parameśvara Śiva brought Śivadūtī out of his own jaṭā. His jaṭā holds the rivers, the fire of Kālāgni, and the power of tapas gathered through countless kalpas (ages of the world).
Śivadūtī was a direct emanation of Śiva’s own śakti. From her birth she was meant for one purpose in the order of the worlds.
Tapas on Nīlagiri
After her birth, Śivadūtī went to the mountain Nīlagiri. She did deep tapas (austerity) there to strengthen the śakti Śiva had given her. She fixed her whole being on Parameśvara and built up a great store of tapas-tejas (the fire of tapas).
When her tapas was done, Bhagavān Śiva himself gave her power. He sent her against the asura Ruru with his blessing and with the full force of his śakti behind her.
The fall of Ruru
Śivadūtī went to battle and fought Ruru fiercely. Ruru was very strong and had spread great terror. But he was no match for the śakti born from Śiva’s jaṭā and strengthened by his own blessing. Ruru was killed in the battle, and the three worlds were freed from his torment.
The birth of the Mātṛkā-gaṇa
At the moment Ruru was destroyed, Śivadūtī broke into loud laughter. It was a laughter of vast size, born of the joy of the great victory and the power rising in her.
As she laughed, fearsome beings sprang up from each burst of her laughter. They had wild faces and great strength, and they blazed with śakti. These were the Mātṛkā-gaṇa, the group of divine mothers who would come to be worshipped in all three worlds.
They were born hungry. As soon as they appeared, they cried out to Śivadūtī for food.
Śiva feeds the Mātṛkās
The hunger of the Mātṛkās was fierce. Śivadūtī was their source, but their demand troubled her. She turned to Parameśvara for help.
Bhagavān Śiva, the ever-kind Bhaktavatsala (one who loves his devotees), stepped forward. He fed the Mātṛkās with offerings taken from his own body. He gave his own vṛshaṇas as prasāda to feed his hungry children. By this act of giving himself, he satisfied the Mātṛkās.
Śiva’s vara: the worship of the Mātṛkās
After he had fed them, Śiva gave the Mātṛkās his highest blessing. He declared that they would be honoured as Mātṛkā devatās (deities) in all three worlds. Their worship would be a settled part of dharma. Those who honour the Mātṛkās with devotion and proper rites would have their protection. No important work should go forward without first gaining the blessing of the Mātṛkā-gaṇa.
The Padma Purāṇa thus traces Mātṛkā-pūjā in the world to this declaration of Śiva.
Sources
- Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Sṛshṭi Khaṇḍa, Chapter 31