IX. Matangi

The myths and legends associated with Matangi suggest that her origins are in the tribal traditions. Though there are various versions of her myths, in the Hindu and the Buddhist lore, they together contribute to form the picture of Matangi. She appears to have been the daughter of Matanga who according to some was a chieftain of tribal elephant hunters (Maatanga –raja) . He belonged to the low caste of Chandalas. Thus, Matangi, right from her early stage, became closely associated with birds, forests, wilderness, elephant hunting culture and Chandala way of living; as also with castingmagicspells.

Matangi’s origins are also associated with the tribal goddess Savaresvari (Savara =Svara ; the goddess of Svara, musical notes) who is described as sixteen, smiling and short in stature .She is dressed in leaves wearing creepers as earrings and a garland made of gunja seeds. She collects in her basket fruits while singing to herself.And, Savari who enjoys dwelling in the forests and loves singing is one of the many names of Matangi. Further, RajaMatangi is said to listen to the chattering of green parrots, to play on veena, to wears flowers and garlands and to have conchshell earrings.

All these elements of various stories characterize the nature of Matangi Mahavidya.

They affirm her tribal origins and her identity with tribal culture which is different from the tradition bound way of living.

The Mahavidya Matangi, the erotically powerful intoxicated with passion like a female elephant in heat (masth) is described as a sixteenyear young girl in the

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flush of her youth seated on an altar. She has full breasts and a very slim waist. Her complexion is greenish. She is impassioned. Her eyes are intoxicated while a gentle smile plays upon her lips. She is perspiring slightly around her face, which makes her all the more exiting and desirable. Below her navel are three horizontal folds of skin and a thin vertical line of fine hair. Her hair on the head is long and wild, and the disc of the moon adorns her forehead. She favors red; her dress and ornaments are in various shades of red. She wears a girdle of jeweled ornaments, as well as bracelets, armlets, and earrings. She is adorned with garlands of wild Kadamba flowers. She holds in her hands a skull and a chopping blade dripping blood. With the other hand, she holds an ornate musical string instrument, veena. She is flanked by two parrots. She represents sixtyfour arts. Such is the majesty of Rajamatangi the queen of all.

Matangi is also RajaShyamala, dark with blue as the cloud filled with water. She is seated on the gemstudded throne, listens to the sweet utterances of the parrot, is aglow with youth, has one foot on the lotus, has her forehead bedecked with the crescent moon, plays on the veena, has a garland of jasmine flowers, wears red garments, has a conchvessel.

Matangi, lustrous like sapphires in her selfglory plays the ruby bejeweled veena .

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Another description says: Matangi is blue in color and dressed in red. Her waist is slim and her breasts welldeveloped.

The crescent moon adorns her forehead. She has three eyes and a smiling face. She is bejeweled and is seated on a lotus throne. In her four arms, she carries a skull, a sword, and a veena. She is Modini the goddess who grants worldly pleasures.

There is also an extreme tantric form of Matangi. It describes Matangi as a highly impassioned girl of sixteen with fully developed breasts. She sits on a corpse wearing a bright red garment. She wears red jewelry and a garland made of gunja berries (a small forest seed) .She holds in her hands a skullbowl, a sword or scissors . She prefers offerings of leftovers (ucchista) and polluted things such as pieces of cloths stained with blots of menstrual discharge. Such is the fierce form of Ucchishta Matangini.

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In sharp contrast to her tantric form there is a classy description of her benign form. Matangi, here, is described as seated, in all her glory and charm, on a gemstudded throne, listening to the sweet utterances of parrots. She is stunningly beautiful, glowing in her emerald complexion. Her limbs are delicate and soft; lustrous like sapphires. She is aglow with youth. As the evening is lit up with golden yellow, she having just had a drink of honeysweetwine places one foot on the lotus and delicately holds in her hands a rubyredbejeweled veena, leisurely; and sings in her sweet voice songs of great charm and melody. There is a dreamy expression in Matangi's eyes (madhura madhu madaam). Two lotus flowers tied to the upper part of the veena swing rhythmically as she plays on it. She is dressed in delicate clothes of mild red; has a fitting bodice covering her delicate breasts. She is decked with garland of fragment jasmine flowers. On her head is a diadem with crescent moon; and blow that is bright vermillion mark adding luster to her glowing countenance. The conch shell she holds and the birds surrounding her are in white. The sweetcharming glory of Matangi the daughter of sage Matanga is truly matchless.

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The last mentioned is the benign and pleasing aspect of Matangi. But, that is not the form in which Matangi is depicted as a Mahavidya. Let me mention that there are several representations of Matangi depending upon the class of Tantra that is talked about. For instance, in the Sri Vidya tradition, Matangi is the Mantrini the minister or counselor of the Supreme Queen (Para bhattarika) Sri Rajarajeswari. Matangi is also identified with Devi Meenakshi of Madurai. And, Matangi is also called TantricSarasvati and Tantric Ganesha .Her complexion too varies from white, black, brown, blue or to green depending on the context, says as Ucchista Matangini, UcchistaChandalini, RajaMatangini, Sumukhi Matangini, Vasya Matangini or Karna Matangini.

But, Matangi as Mahavidya is a Siddha Vidya, the Tantra personified. She brings focus, rather very disturbingly, on the notions of distinctions between purityimpurity; cleanpolluted; auspiciousinauspicious; puritanical notionsunrestrained sex; high castelow caste; and civilized societyhuntingtribes of forests.

She is depicted as a domineering, fearful tantric deity, who is outside the pale of the traditional society; who wields magical powers; who is pleased with the offering of leftovers and polluted things; and who enjoys sex.

The myths associated with Matangi project her as a Chandalika (daughter of aChandala) who loves leftover or partiallyeaten food (UcchishtaChandalini) and polluted things. Her preference for pollution, it is said, extends over many things, such as: food, sex, dress, dwelling and habits etc. The Nepali tradition mentions that Matangi lives among the low caste, near garbage dumps, prefers Ucchishta offered by devotees who areunkempt and unwashed; and she admires them for not rinsing the mouth and washing the hands after eating.

The central message of this myth is to set free the Tantric devotee from the strangling obsession with ‘purity’ which can be dangerous and destructive. Ucchishta Matanginias the embodiment of all that is impure and polluted is the goddess who helps in coming to terms with, and transcend the apparent dualities in the existence. She, in her own manner, emphasizes the importance of inner purity over external cleanliness. Matangi is therefore a great teacher; and powerful and liberating goddess.

Mahavidya Bagalamukhi and Matangi are worshipped to gain magical or psychic powers. Matangi is associated, in particular, with magical powers that exercise control over enemies.

Matangi is considered by some as the Tantric form of Sarasvati the goddess of speech (vak) and learning. Both the goddesses are associated with music and speech.

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They, however, differ in certain aspects. Sarasvati is sattvic in nature and represents the Vedic learning. Matangi is tamasic and is related to magical powers. While Sarasvati is the power or the awareness that generates speech, Matangi is the articulated speech (vaikhari vak), while Mahavidya Tara is the unmanifest speech that resides in breath (madhyamavak). Matangi is posited in the throat centre (visuddhi). The parrot which she holds (keera kara) signifies the ability to talk.

Matangi and Ganesha are both related to elephants. The terms matanga,maatanga and matanga raja – all refer to the elephant. Matangi had her origin amidst the elephant huntress and she holds a hook (ankusha) that controls an elephant.

Ganesha as paravak the unmanifest word is at muladhara, while Matangi as vaikhari – vak is at visuddhi. The tantric sadhana regards Matangi as the female counterpart of Ucchishta Ganapathi.

The Ucchishta Ganapathi is a tantric form of Ganesha .He is depicted as red in color, naked and intoxicated. In some forms he is shown amorously playing with his consort seated on his left lap (nariyonirasasvada lolupam, Kama mohitam).Like Matangi, the UcchishtaGanapati too is associated with unclean things.

But, basically, Matangi as Mahavidya severs attachment to the limited understanding of the world in terms of ‘pure’ or ‘impure’. She challenges the normally accepted concepts and values in an established social order. She brings into question the very notions of beauty, goodness, honor, respect, decency, cleanliness and physical comfort etc. She instills in the heart of the Sadhaka the faith that all existence is pervaded by the goddess and there is nothing that is outside the goddess; She pervades all; and within her there are no distinctions of ‘pure’ or ‘impure’. She guides the Sadhaka to transcend the artificial – manmade’ demarcations of beautyugliness, cleanliness –polluted or pure profane etc. Her message forms the very core of the Tantra ideology.

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