Kubjikamata Sect
Kubjikamata is the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantric sect of Goddess. As the primary manifestation of Adishakti, the primordial divine feminine force, Kubjika is venerated as the primary deity. The goddess Kubjika is a hidden and intriguing deity who is worshipped by a hidden and exclusive Newar cult in Nepal. The devotion to Kubjika peaked in the 12th century CE when tantric practitioners and followers began to accept this. This cult, centred in a small territory, practises Hinduism while adopting their own techniques of worship. Because the Newar people follow restricted initiation processes and keep their practices private, Kubjika remained unknown to the rest of the world until the 1980s. In contrast to the vast temples of other Hindu deities, she is worshipped through mandalas, stones, and modest, private shrines. Surprisingly, the cult is primarily made up of homeowners who appeal to the goddess Kubjika's sensual impulses, which are associated with the stage of marriage and seeking pleasure in life.
Kubjika
She is also known as Vakresvari, Vakrika, and Chinjini, and described with many forms and iconography, although there is little graphic evidence of her forms. In one of her popular iconographies, she is described as a hunchbacked goddess who represents the faces of other goddesses. She has six heads. The uppermost face is of the goddess Para (Chapter 18) and has a white complexion. The head below that is Malini, representing the face of the sky, and also has a white complexion. The eastern face is Siddhayogesvari, described to be full of rage. The southern fierce face, with large protruding teeth and a dark-blue complexion, is of Kalika. The northern face is that of the goddess Tripura Sundar and has a red complexion. The last face is the face of Umakhecari and is also of white complexion. Each face has three eyes, one for the sun, one for the moon, and the one in the middle for fire. Kubjika's body is of a blue complexion. She has 12 arms, carrying a stick, lotus, Khatvanga, noose, rosary, a bouquet of sparkling jewels, scriptures, conch shell, skull, trident, and two hands showing Abhaya and Varada mudra. She is shown seated on a man resting over a throne, adorned with snakes.
Female deities in Pancacakra
Pañcacakra are the five internal chakras in the kubjikamata-tantra. They are Devicakra, Duticakra, Matrcakra, Yoginicakra, and the Khecaricakra. Their centre is governed by Shiva as the Navātman, accompanied by his Shakti as Kubjika. Outer structures are composed of various female deities and yoginis who symbolize different aspects of the phenomena and creation.
1. Devicakra
The Devicakra is associated with the Earth and it is named after a group of female deities who are called Devis. It is located below the navel. It represents the creation of both physical life and metaphysical principles. There are four main Devis who are fourfold each; these twenty goddesses together with six gods.
2. Duticakra
Duticakra is associated with the water element and it is composed of goddesses who are called Dutis (female messengers). It is localized above the navel. The chakra describes the process of creation. It is presided over by nine Bhairavas named Kapala, Candalokesa, Yogesa, Manonmana, Hatakesvara, Kravyada, Mudresa, Dinmahesvara, and Ananta. Each of these nine deities enfolds himself into nine Dutis. Thus, eighty-one Dutis came into existence.
The chakra also has sixteen Yoginis representing the sixteen petals. They are:
1. Harshini
2. Dhumratejasa
3. Ashvaja
4. Karshini
5. Shiva (Not the Lord Shiva)
6. Lambini
7. Brihodara
8. Sarvaga
9. Shushkangi
10. Lamba
11. Manojava
12. Vidhuma
13. Vega
14. Kshobhani
15. Vyapini
16. Saumya
3. Matricakra
Matrichakra is the third named after the female deities who are called Mahamatrs (great mothers), who are localized in the eightpetalled lotus. It is located in the region of the heart. The chakra symbolizes the concept of the subtle body. The eight female deities eightfold themselves; making sixty-four deities.
The eight Mahamatrs and their Bhairavas are as follows:
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Khecari: Her name means “she who moves through the sky”. The Bhairava is Samvarta. The eight deities originating from Khecari are Aindrani, Agnimatara, Yamyamatri, Raksasi, Varuni, Vayavi, Kuberi and Ishani.
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Atmi: Her name means “Soul-mothers”. The Bhairava is Canda. The eight deities originating from Atmi are Sakala, Niskala, Vijnana, Pralaya, Dharma, Adharma, Anava and Maya.
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Shashini: Her name means “Lunar mothers”. The Bhairava is Krodha. The eight deities originating from Shashini are Chaya, Sikara, Jyotsna, Rtu, Ratna Susitala, Payasvati and Ghrtavati.
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Vahni: Her name means “Fire-mothers”. The Bhairava is Unmatta. The eight deities originating from Vahni are Trsna (Thirst), Ragavati (Impassioned), Moha (Delusion), Kama (Desire), Kopa (Anger), Tamotkata (Highly Ignorant), Irsa (Envy) and Sokavati (Sorrowful).
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Calani: Her name means “Wind-mothers”. The Bhairava is Asitanga. The eight deities originating from Calani are Tvaci, Sparsavati, Gandha, Prana, Apani, Samanani, Udani, Vyani and Krkara.
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Bhanumati: Her name means “ Sun-mother”. The Bhairava is Ruru. The eight deities originating from Bhanumati are Tamohanta (Disperser of darkness), Prabha (light), Moha (Dazzlement), Tejini (Ardent), Dahani (Burning), Dina (Day), Jvalani (Flaming) and Sosani (Drying Up).
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Mahima: Her name means “Earth-mothers”. The Bhairava is Jhanta. The eight deities originating from Mahima are Nivrtti, Pratistha, Vidya, Santi, Santatita, Prthivi, Vajrini and Kamadhenavi..
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Sukritalaya: Her name means “Water-mothers”. The Bhairava is Kapalisa. The eight deities originating from Sukritalaya are Payosni (Warm-watered), Varuni (Aquatic), Santa (Appeased), Amrta (Liquor), Vyapini (Pervading), Drava (Flowing), Plavani (Inundating) and Jalamata (Mother of the waters).
4. Yoginicakra
Yoginicakra is the fourth chakra, associated with the air element. It is located in the throat. Six female yoginis reside in this Chakra. They are born from the principal male deity of the Chakra, Kulesvara. They are:
1. Damari
2. Ramani
3. Lambakarni or Lambika
4. Kakini or Kaki
5. Sakini
6. Yaksini
Kusumin (or Kusumamalini) is the additional seventh yogini, sometimes counted with the rest six yoginis.
5. Khecaricakra
Khecaricakra is the fifth and final chakra and it is associated with the ether element. It is located above the head. The chakra is occupied by the goddesses Khecaris (goddess of the sky). The Khecaricakra consists of four mandalas and different forms of Khecari goddesses are seated in the first three. The four mandalas are as follows:
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Suryamandala
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Somamandala
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Vahnimandala
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Adimandala
I. Suryamandala
Twenty-four Khecaris resides in Suryamandala. They are:
1. Saumya or Saumyasya or Kadamba
2. Krishna or Siddhida or Susiddha
3. Mahalaksmi
4. Jvalamukhi
5. Mahamaya
6. Vayuvega
7. Urdhvakesi or Shankari
8. Karnamoti
9. Ambika
10.Agnivaktra
11. Pingskshi
12. Kharasya
13. Gokarna
14. Kramani
15. Bimbakacchapa or Cetrakastha
16. Chamunda
17. Prasannasya
18. Vidyunmukhi
19. Mahabala or Mahakesi
20.Agnivaktra or Agnijihva
21. Lokamata
22. Kampini
23. Putana or Pavana
24. Bhagnanasa
II. Somamandala
Somamandala consists of a ring of sixteen petals occupied by thirty-two female deities born from Kubjika’s body. They represent the thirty-two syllables of the Aghoramantra. The thirty-two goddesses are:
1. Canda
2. Ghanta
3. Mahanasa
4. Sumukhi
5. Durmukhi
6. Bala
7. Revati
8. Prathama
9. Ghora
10. Saumya
11. Bhima
12. Mahabala (or Mahambika)
13. Jaya
14. Vijaya
15.Ajita (or Jayanti)
16.Aparajita
17. Mahotkata
18. Virupaksi
19. Suska
20.Akasamatara
21. Sehari (or Samhari)
22. Jatahari
23. Damstrali
24. Suskarevati
25. Pipilika
26. Puspahari
27.Aaani (or Grasani)
28. Sasyaharika
29. Bhadrakali (or Rudrakali)
30. Subhadra
31. Bhadrabhima (or Bhamabhadra)
32. Subhadrika
III. Vahnimandala & IV. Adimandala
Vahnimandala consists of a ring of eight petals occupied by eight female deities born from Shiva manifested as Asitanga. Asitanga is the central male deity who resides in Adimandala