ସପ୍ତମାତୃକା ସ୍ତୋତ୍ରମ୍

The seven mothers set out one at a time, in the terms an image-maker would need. The viniyoga gives Sadashiva as the sage and the seven together as the deity; then a single prayer verse ranges them in a row — Brahmani gentle-faced as lotus and moon, Maheshvari at her play, Kaumari who breaks the pride of enemies, Vaishnavi bearing the discus, Varahi with her deep thundering boar's mouth, Aindri with the vajra, and Chamunda attended by Gananatha and Rudra — and asks the mothers to guard us. The verses that follow give each her mount, her arms and her bearing: Brahmani on the swan with rosary, water pot, ladle and book; Maheshvari on the bull with skull, trident and khatvanga; Kaumari on the peacock in red; Vaishnavi on Garuda; Varahi on the buffalo; Aindri on the elephant, covered over with eyes; and Chamunda, gaunt and sunken-eyed, standing on a corpse.