Chamunda (Matrika)

Chamunda (Matrika)

Chamunda (Matrika) is one of the Eight Mother-Goddesses (Aṣṭa Mātṛkā) — the tantric set of female counterparts to the male gods. The group originated as a Seven Mātṛkā (Sapta Mātṛkā) in classical Gupta and Kushan iconography; the eighth, Chāmuṇḍā, was added in tantric elaboration. The Mātṛkās are worshipped collectively as a ring of protective mother-goddesses encircling a shrine, or individually when invoked in tantric ritual.