Saptamatrikas

Skt., Seven Little Mothers

The origin of these mother-goddesses lies far back in pre-Vedic times of the Indus-Valley cultures. In India the number 7 symbolizes "infinite plurality", and the seven deities in question may be indicative for the innumerable aspects/manifestations of the great pre-Aryan Mother Tara.

The Vedas do not mention individual names of the Saptamatrikas, but post-Vedic sources and iconographical studies identify the seven deities as the following ones:

Brahmani (or Brahmi) also a Navadurga and Wangchugma
Camunda (or Narasimhi) also a Navadurga and Nayika
Indrani also a G'na and Wangchugma
Kaumari (Kumari) also a Wangchugma
Mahesvari
Vaishnavi
Varahi also a Wangchugma

Judging by the fact that all these deities are mentioned in the Kalika Purana, and considering that most of these matrikas are members of other groups as well, we can safely assume that we're dealing here with very ancient and early deities deeply embedded in tribal Indian consciousness; goddesses whom the patriarchal Aryan/Vedic invaders could not eradicate from memory.