Ashta Matrika & Ashta Bhairavas

The Ashta Matrika are the eight Mother Goddesses, and their mantras are usually given as either moola mantras for each deity or jaap mantras used in worship and homa. Commonly listed forms include Brahmani, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani, Chamunda, and often Narasimhi/Yogeshwari depending on the tradition. 

## Common Ashta Matrika names

- Brahmani  

- Maheshwari  

- Kaumari  

- Vaishnavi  

- Varahi  

- Indrani  

- Chamunda  

- Narasimhi or Yogeshwari, depending on the lineage. 

## What the sources show

One source lists individual **jaap mantras** for the series, including Brahmani, Vaishnavi, Maheshwari, and the rest, and another source describes their role in Ashta Matrika worship within Sri Vidya practice. A third source explains that Matrika worship is often connected with broader Shakti and alphabet-based spiritual symbolism. 

## Practice note

Different sampradayas preserve different mantra forms, so the exact **moola mantra** or bija-based version can vary by text and initiation line. For any actual sadhana, it is best to follow the mantra exactly as given by your guru or the specific tradition you are using.

To chant Ashta Matrika mantras 108 times, choose one Matrika mantra, sit calmly, and repeat it on a mala bead counter until you complete one full round of 108. A japa mala is the standard way to count, and the 108th bead marks completion of the cycle.

## Basic method

- Bathe or wash your hands and face before starting.

- Sit facing your chosen direction in a clean, quiet place.

- Begin with a short prayer to your guru, iṣṭa-devatā, or the Matrika you are invoking.

- Chant the mantra once per bead, moving one bead at a time.

- Do not cross the guru bead; pause there, then continue only if you are doing another round. 

## For Ashta Matrika practice

The Ashta Matrika tradition may use separate mantras for Brahmani, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani, Chamunda, and a lineage-dependent eighth form such as Narasimhi or Yogeshwari. Some devotional recordings present each deity’s japa mantra for 108 repetitions as a distinct practice. 

## Simple chanting sequence

1. Select one Matrika for the day.

2. Keep one fixed mantra form and pronunciation.

3. Chant slowly and steadily, without rushing.

4. Count all 108 repetitions on the mala.

5. After finishing, offer a short closing prayer or thanks. 

## Important note

The exact mantra text can differ by tradition, and some forms are meant only for initiated practice. So it is best to use the mantra exactly as preserved in your own sampradaya or from a trusted teacher. 

A practical example: if you are chanting **Brahmani** today, you would repeat Brahmani’s mantra 108 times on one mala round, then stop at the guru bead and close the session with a brief prayer. 

Here are commonly used **moola mantras** for the Ashta Matrikas, in one clean list. These forms vary by lineage, so if you are following a guru-parampara, use the version you were given. 

## Ashta Matrika mantras

- **Brahmani:** `Om Aim Hreem Shreem Brahmanyai Namah`

- **Maheshwari:** `Om Hreem Namah Shivayai Maheshwaryai Namah`

- **Kaumari:** `Om Aim Hreem Kaumaryai Namah`

- **Vaishnavi:** `Om Hreem Vaishnavyai Namah`

- **Varahi:** `Om Aim Glaum Varahyai Namah`

- **Indrani:** `Om Hreem Indranyai Namah`

- **Chamunda:** `Om Aim Hreem Chamundayai Namah`

- **Narasimhi / Pratyangira:** `Om Hreem Narasimhinyai Namah` 

## Note on variation

Some traditions give longer, more elaborate root mantras, especially for Varahi and Narasimhi/Pratyangira, while others use simpler nama-mantras for daily japa. The source material shows that Ashta Matrika lists are not perfectly uniform across texts and lineages. 

## How to use them

For japa, pick one Matrika, chant that one mantra 108 times on a mala, then close with a short prayer. If you are doing a full Ashta Matrika sequence, many practitioners chant each deity’s mantra for one mala each, one after another. 

One caution: some root mantras are traditionally meant for initiated practice, so use the exact form approved in your sadhana tradition. 

Ashta Matrika sadhana is a **Shakta-Tantric devotional practice** focused on the eight Mother Goddesses, often done through mantra japa, sankalpa, and either simple worship or abhishekam in the Śrīcakra tradition. 

## Core idea

The practice is meant to connect the devotee with the protective, purifying, and empowering aspects of the Matrikas. Traditional descriptions say it helps remove inner defects such as anger, pride, greed, and fear while strengthening spiritual clarity and devotion. 

## Common forms

A simple form of Ashta Matrika sadhana can be done by chanting each Matrika’s mantra 108 times, or by doing a focused worship with pañchamrita offerings at the eight points associated with the Matrikas in Śrīcakra-based practice.

## Benefits described in sources

- Spiritual purification and self-wisdom. 

- Protection and removal of negative forces or obstacles. 

- Growth in courage, steadiness, and inner mastery. 

- Grace in practical life areas such as health, relationships, education, and prosperity, depending on the Matrika invoked. 

## Practical way to begin

A simple starting approach is to choose one Matrika, keep a steady daily japa count of 108, and maintain the same time and place each day. If you want a fuller ritual, some traditions add sankalpa, invocation, and abhishekam with offerings like water, milk, or pañchamrita.

## Tradition note

The exact names, order, and mantra forms vary by lineage, so the safest practice is to follow the version given by your guru or your chosen tradition. The sources also emphasize that these practices are part of a living tantric heritage, not a single uniform method. 

A practical summary: **Ashta Matrika sadhana is a disciplined Mother-Goddess worship practice aimed at protection, purification, and inner power.For Ashta Matrika sadhana , the usual materials are simple devotional items: a clean place or altar, asana, lamp, incense, water, flowers, sandal paste, rice, naivedya, and a mala for japa. In some traditions, **bilva** is also specially recommended for Matrika worship, and abhishekam with **panchamrita** is commonly mentioned in practical guides. 

## Common materials

- A clean altar or puja space.

- A seat or asana.

- A lamp and incense.

- Water for achamana and offerings.

- Flowers, especially white or red according to local practice.

- Sandal paste, rice, and naivedya.

- A japa mala for counting mantra repetitions.

- Panchamrita if you are doing abhishekam. 

## Yantra

The strongest yantra connection for Ashta Matrika worship is the **Sri Chakra / Sri Meru** tradition, where the Ashta Matrikas are placed in the **Bhupura** as part of the wider sacred arrangement. Some sources describe the Ashta Matrikas as an aavarna within Sri Chakra-based worship. 

## Simple way to practice

A practical approach is to place the Sri Chakra or a Matrika yantra on the altar, offer water or panchamrita, and chant the chosen Matrika mantra 108 times. One guide notes that if you want a particular result, you can make a sankalpa and then worship that Goddess with mantra japa. 

## If you want a minimal setup

If you do not have a full yantra setup, you can still do the sadhana with just a clean place, a lamp, flowers, and a mala. The material sources suggest that the essence is steady mantra and devotion, not an elaborate arrangement.

A useful caution: exact materials and yantra placement can vary by lineage, so if you follow a specific tradition, use its prescribed yantra and offerings. 

Here is a simple **step-by-step Ashta Matrika sadhana vidhi** based on the practices described in the sources gathered so far. The most compact form is a daily mantra-and-offering practice: prepare a clean altar, invoke the Matrikas, offer panchamrita or simple offerings, and chant the chosen mantra 108 times with steady attention.

## 1. Prepare the place

Choose a clean and quiet spot, set up a small altar, and place the Matrika yantra or Sri Chakra if you have one. If you do not have a yantra, a simple picture or even a mentally established altar is enough for a basic practice.

## 2. Arrange the materials

Keep water, flowers, incense, a lamp, a mala, and if possible panchamrita for abhishekam. The sources mention that panchamrita can be offered on the relevant points or spots in a simplified form of worship. 

## 3. Take sankalpa

Sit calmly, pray inwardly, and state your intention for the sadhana. One source explicitly says that if you want a particular result, you can make a corresponding sankalpa and worship that Goddess through mantra japa. 

## 4. Invoke the Matrikas

Begin with a short invocation to the Ashta Matrikas as a group, or to the one Matrika you are focusing on that day. In Sri Chakra-based descriptions, the Ashta Matrikas are placed in the outer directions and intermediate directions of the sacred field.

## 5. Offer worship

Offer water, flowers, incense, and lamp, then do abhishekam or a simple spoon-offering of panchamrita if that is part of your method. The simplest form described in the source is exactly this kind of abbreviated offering done with focused mantra recitation.

## 6. Chant the mantra

Chant the selected Matrika mantra 108 times on a mala, keeping the pronunciation steady and the mind fixed. If you are doing a fuller sequence, you may chant each of the eight Matrika mantras in sequence, but a single pointed mantra is also a valid simple form.

## 7. Close the practice

After completing the count, sit quietly for a moment, offer thanks, and end with a short prayer for grace and protection. If you are following a longer vrata or 21-day cycle, repeat the same procedure daily with the same time and place.

## Practical version

A very workable daily format is:

- Light lamp and incense.

- Offer water or panchamrita.

- Say sankalpa.

- Chant one Matrika mantra 108 times.

- Pray for completion and protection. 

## Tradition note

The exact Ashta Matrika names and their order vary by lineage, and the deeper ritual forms are often tradition-specific. For that reason, the cleanest general practice is to keep the procedure simple and follow the mantra form and worship style of your own sampradaya.

A useful inner meaning from the sources is that Ashta Matrika sadhana is not only outer worship but also a way of overcoming inner defects and moving toward purification and self-wisdom.

The **full Ashta Matrika sadhana** is commonly done as an **8-day** cycle in some teaching formats, with one Matrika emphasized each day. In other traditions, a **21-day** vrata or a longer repeated daily practice is used, especially when the aim is steady mantra discipline rather than a one-time ritual.

## Common durations

- **8 days:** one day for each of the eight Matrikas, often used in teaching or introductory sadhana formats.

- **21 days:** a common vrata-style cycle for deeper repetition and steadiness.

- **2 days:** some homam formats separate **japa** and **homa** across two days.

## Practical understanding

If you are asking for a **complete traditional pattern**, the safest answer is that there is no single universal length; the duration depends on the lineage, purpose, and whether you are doing simple japa, abhishekam, or homam. 

For a personal daily sadhana, many practitioners keep it as **one Matrika per day for 8 days**, or repeat the same chosen Matrika for **21 days** until the vow is complete. 

## Simple rule

- For learning or an organized sequence: **8 days**.

- For deeper vrata and result-oriented repetition: **21 days**.

- For ritual fire practice: sometimes **2 days**. 

A good practical summary is: **8 days is the clearest “full set” format, while 21 days is the most common vrata-style duration.

The Bhairav consorts of the Ashta Matrikas are commonly listed as: Brahmi, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani, Chamunda, and Chandi; some traditions use Chamunda and a different eighth form such as Maheshwari or include Chandi as the eighth. 

## Common pairing

- Asitanga Bhairava — Brahmi.

- Ruru Bhairava — Maheshwari.

- Chanda Bhairava — Kaumari.

- Krodha Bhairava — Vaishnavi.

- Unmatta Bhairava — Varahi.

- Kapala Bhairava — Indrani.

- Bhishana Bhairava — Chamunda.

- Samhara Bhairava — Chandi.

## Note on variation

Different traditions do not always agree on the exact eighth Matrika, and some sources list the group as Brahmani, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani, Chamunda, and Chandi, while others replace one of these with Narasimhi or another local form. 

## Practical meaning

In this tradition, each Bhairava is paired with a feminine शक्ति form, showing the union of Bhairava and Matrika energies in worship and iconography. 

Here are the commonly used **Ashta Bhairava mantras** in a simple nama-japa form, as listed by the source

- **Asitanga Bhairava:** `Om Asitanga Bhairavaya Namah` 

- **Ruru Bhairava:** `Om Ruru Bhairavaya Namah` 

- **Chanda Bhairava:** `Om Chanda Bhairavaya Namah` 

- **Krodha Bhairava:** `Om Krodha Bhairavaya Namah` 

- **Unmatta Bhairava:** `Om Unmatta Bhairavaya Namah` 

- **Kapala Bhairava:** `Om Kapala Bhairavaya Namah`

- **Bhishana Bhairava:** `Om Bhishana Bhairavaya Namah`

- **Samhara Bhairava:** `Om Samhara Bhairavaya Namah` 

## How people chant them

A common practice is to pick one Bhairava mantra and chant it 108 times on a mala, or chant all eight names one by one as a full set. The same source also gives the corresponding Sanskrit name sequence for the eight Bhairavas.

## Important note

These are **simple devotional forms** of the mantras; some lineages also use longer seed-mantra versions, but those can vary by tradition. For that reason, the name-mantras above are the safest general form to share without assuming a specific sampradaya.

To chant Ashta Bhairava mantras 108 times, pick one Bhairava mantra, sit in a clean and steady place, and repeat it one time per mala bead until you complete one full round of 108. A source on Bhairava mantras says they are commonly chanted 108 times daily, and some traditions prefer midnight, Tuesdays, Saturdays, or Bhairava Ashtami.

## Simple japa method

- Wash hands and sit calmly.

- Keep a mala in your right hand.

- Begin with a short prayer to Bhairava.

- Chant the selected mantra once per bead.

- Complete 108 recitations.

- Stop at the guru bead, offer thanks, and close with a brief prayer. 

## For Ashta Bhairava

You can either chant one Bhairava mantra for 108 times, or do all eight in sequence, 108 times each if that matches your sadhana. The eight forms commonly listed are Asitanga, Ruru, Chanda, Krodha, Unmatta, Kapala, Bhishana, and Samhara Bhairava. 

## A practical order

1. Choose one mantra for the day.

2. Keep the same pace and pronunciation.

3. Avoid distractions while chanting.

4. Use the mala to count 108 clearly.

5. Sit quietly for a minute after completion.

## Example

If you choose the simple mantra `Om Ashta Bhairavaya Namah`, repeat it 108 times on one mala round, then end with a short prayer for protection and steadiness. One listed version of this mantra appears as `oṁ aṣṭabhairavāya namaḥ`.

## Tradition note

Some Bhairava mantras have longer or lineage-specific forms, so the exact text can differ by sampradaya. The safest general approach is to use the form you were taught and keep the count at 108. 

Best time and direction for Ashta Bhairava sadhana

For **Ashta Bhairava sadhana**, the commonly recommended times are **Brahma Muhurta** early in the morning or the **evening/night window from about 8 PM to 12 AM**. A guide I checked also says to start on **Sunday, Tuesday, or Friday** and keep the practice unbroken for **21 days**. 

## Direction

A commonly given posture is to sit facing **East**, and some sources also accept **North** if that is your customary arrangement. One sadhana guide specifically recommends a clean altar and sitting facing East during practice.

## Practical setup

- Keep the place clean and quiet.

- Light a diya before starting.

- Sit on an āsana and keep a mala for japa.

- Begin with sankalpa and then chant your selected Bhairava mantra.

- Maintain the same time and place every day.

## Day choice

The sources I found point to **Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday** as favorable starting days for this sadhana. Another discussion also notes that **Ashtami** is especially important in Bhairava practice. 

## Simple rule

If you want the most straightforward routine, do it **early morning at Brahma Muhurta**, facing **East**, and chant **108 times** daily for consistency. 

A caution from the material I reviewed: keep the form simple and steady unless your own tradition gives a stricter procedure, because Bhairava sadhana can be lineage-specific. 

Completing 21 days of Ashta Bhairava sadhana is commonly described as building **protection, courage, discipline, and inner clarity**, with many practitioners also linking it to removal of obstacles and strengthening devotion. Sources I checked also say the 21-day cycle is meant to deepen the practice through repetition and steadiness.

## Main benefits

- Protection from fear, negativity, hostility, and unseen disturbances.

- Greater courage, mental resilience, and emotional balance.

- Better focus, discipline, and steadiness in daily life.

- Help in removing repeated obstacles and delays.

- A stronger connection with Bhairava and Śiva through sustained practice.

## Traditional claims

Some sources also associate Ashta Bhairava worship with support against malefic planetary influences such as Rahu and Saturn, and with help in issues like Kaal Sarp Dosh and Pitru Dosh. These are devotional and traditional claims, not scientific guarantees. 

## After completion

One guide recommends ending the 21 days by visiting a Shiva temple, offering water, bel patra, milk, or flowers if available, and praying for forgiveness for any mistakes in the sadhana. 

## Important caution

Bhairava sadhana is often treated as a **lineage-based practice**, so the exact benefits, rules, and results can vary by sampradaya and by the sincerity and consistency of the practitioner. 

A practical way to understand the 21 days is this: it is less about instant miracles and more about creating a disciplined spiritual container in which protection, mental strength, and clarity are believed to grow.

Ashta Matrika yantra puja is traditionally believed to give **protection, removal of negativity, household safety, and spiritual upliftment**. It is also associated with reducing inner obstacles such as fear, anger, jealousy, ego, confusion, and ignorance.

## Main benefits

- **Protection from unseen forces and hostile energies.** The yantra is described as creating an eight-directional protective field around the devotee and home. 

- **Household and family welfare.** It is commonly linked with safety for the home, children, and family stability.

- **Removal of inner enemies.** Sources describe help with fear, anxiety, anger, jealousy, hatred, pride, and tamasic heaviness. 

- **Clarity and focus.** Worship is said to improve concentration, confidence, intellect, and steadiness. 

- **Prosperity and success.** Several sources connect the puja with abundance, victory, and success in practical life.

## Spiritual meaning

The Ashta Matrikas are viewed as powerful feminine forces that protect the eight directions and help restore balance. In devotional terms, the yantra is not only for outer protection but also for transforming inner states into strength, clarity, and devotion. 

## Traditional claims

Some sources also associate Ashta Matrika worship with relief from black magic, evil influences, misfortunes, and certain doshas, though these are traditional religious claims rather than scientific ones. A simple way to think about it is this: the puja is meant to shield the devotee, purify the mind, and strengthen life force and devotion at the same time.