Matangi Devi is the Tantric form of Goddess Saraswati. She is the goddess of knowledge, speech, music, and arts, just like her. While Goddess Saraswati is calm and composed, Matangi Devi is fierce and aggressive. She is worshipped by some people to get supernatural powers or to curb their enemies. Goddess Matangi is also one of the 10 Mahavidyas.
Meaning of Matangi:
According to David Kinsley, the word Matangi literally means “she whose limbs are intoxicated (by passion)”.
Different Names of Goddess Matangi:
There are about 108 names of Matangi Devi. Some of her popular names are:
1. Mantrini.
2. Rajashyamala.
3. Shyamala.
4. Sumukhi.
5. Raja Matangi.
6. Uchchhishtha Matangi.
7. Matangeshwari.
The Birth of Matangi:
There are different stories about the birth of Goddess Matangi.
1. Andhakasura was unaware that Goddess Parvati was his mother and abducted her by falling for her beauty. But Lord Shiva shot at him many arrows that pierced his body. From the blood drops fallen on the ground from his body, thousands of Andhaka arose. Therefore, Lord Shiva created Mātṛkā-Śaktis [viz., Mātaṅgī] and ordered them to drink the blood of the demons and drain them dry.
2. Sage Matanga had received a boon that he would get the Supreme Divine Mother born as his daughter. He had named her Shyamala but desired that she should be known as Matangi, the daughter of Matanga.
Different Forms of Matangi Devi:
1. Uchchhishtha Matangi:
It is the most popular form of the goddess. Unchchhishtha means leftover or partially eaten food. Per a story, she was born from the partially eaten food that Vishnu and Lakshmi gave to Shiva and Parvati. It is also known as Uchchhishtha-Chandalini.
Her devotees offer her leftover food, meat, etc., that are considered unholy for general worship.
2. Raja Matangi:
Raja-Matangi Devi is the Three-Eyed form of Goddess Shakti. She is a higher form of Goddess Matangi and is a minister of Goddess Tripura Sundari. Sometimes, she is depicted as green in color.
3. Sumukhi Matangi:
This is another form of the goddess. I could not get much info about her.
Stories:
1. Goddess Parvati Took the Form of Uchchhishtha Matangi Devi:
Once upon a time, there was a group of women, who were outcasts. They were called Chandalinis. They were extremely poor and did not have enough food to eat, but were staunch devotees of Goddess Parvati. Once, they decided to visit her on Kailasha mountain. They had nothing to gift the goddess except some partially eaten food. When they reached Kailasha, they were stopped by gods and told to return as they were outcasts.
The women started praying to the goddess and requested her to accept their gifts. When gods saw that the women were offering leftovers to the goddess, they got angry and told them to leave immediately. The women started crying after this. Seeing this, Goddess Parvati got angry and took the form of Matangi Devi. She appeared before the gods and women and scolded the gods. She told them that whatever her devotees bring to her with love is acceptable to her.
Goddess Matangi then consumed the food brought by the women and therefore came to be known as Uchchhishtha Matangi.
2. Birth of Matangi Devi and Other Mahavidyas:
Goddess Sati was the daughter of Daksha Prajapati, who was a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu, but he hated Lord Shiva. Because of Sati’s insistence, he agreed to marry her to Lord Shiva, but he continued to hate him. Once, he organized a significant yajna and invited all gods except Lord Shiva and Goddess Sati. When Goddess Sati came to know about this, he was very upset with his father and left for the venue of Yajnaa. Lord Shiva knowing the consequences stopped Sati from going there.
But Goddess Sati was the mother of the universe and thought that Lord Shiva was looking at her like an ordinary woman and not like the mother of the universe. Therefore, she assumed the form of Mahakali. Because of the fierce form of Kali, mountains started shivering, volcanoes erupted, and many natural calamities began. Seeing this, Lord Shiva started moving in a different direction, but Goddess Sati assumed another form and stood before him.
Thus, the 10 Mahavidyas were born. The ninth of them was Matangi Devi.
Iconography:
In Tantric texts, Matangi usually has two to four arms and sits upon a gem throne or a corpse seat (Donaldson 599). In her arms, she holds a combination of different objects, most commonly a vina, a kartska, a kapala, a sword, a noose, a goad, a shield, a club, or a mace (Donaldson 599). Matangi is said to be represented by the colors blue-green, however some scholars associate her with black, due to her dark complexion (Kinsley 42-43). In the Kubjika Upanisad, Matangi is said to be the blue one, who has blue garments, blue perfumes, blue ornaments, and a blue parrot (Goudriaan 320). When Matangi is depicted with four arms, those four arms are said to be the representation of the four Vedas (Donaldson 597).
Festivals of Matangi Devi:
Matangi Devi Jayanti:
Matangi Jayanti is the main festival celebrated for the goddess. This falls on Vaishakha Shuddha Tritiya every year per the Hindu calendar. On this day, the Supreme Goddess incarnated as Raja Shyamala Devi.
This festival is mainly celebrated by the followers of Shakta tradition. Small girls are worshipped on this day and offered food. Devotees perform puja and kirtan of the goddess.
Gupta Navratri:
Matangi Devi is the ninth of the 10 Mahavidyas. Therefore, she is worshipped on the ninth day of Gupta Navaratri. Devotees observe fast on this day and perform puja of the goddess.
Benefits of Worshipping Matangi Devi:
1. For protection from negative energies, like black magic, ghosts, etc.
2. To gain supernatural powers.
3. For a good marriage life.
4. To get rid of stammering and Sun’s malefic effects.
Mantras:
1. Kamini Ranjini Svaha.
2. Om Hreem Kleem Hum Matangyai Phat Svaha.
3. Om Shukrapriyayai Vidmahe Shrikameshvaryai Dhimahi Tannah Shyama Prachodayat.
4. Om Hreem Kleem Hroum Phat Svaha॥
5. Om Hreem Aim Bhagwati Matangeshwari Shreem Svaha.
6. Om Hreem Hreem Hreem Maha Matangi Prachiti Dayini, Lakshmi Dayini Namo Namah.
7. Kreem Hreem Matangi Hreem Kreem Svaha.
8. Om Hreem Aim Shreem Namo Bhagvati Ucchishtachandali Shree Matangeswari Sarvajanavasankari Svaha.
Matanga Caste:
Matang or “Maang” is a caste in Hinduism that was previously considered “untouchable” for some time. Their main professions were hunting, fishing, and working with animal hides in the past. Matangi Devi is one of their chief goddesses. According to some historians, the Matang people’s ancestors were warriors. Matang warriors were part of Shivaji Maharaj’s army. They also fought against the British Empire fiercely.
Conclusion:
From her stories, Matangi Devi seems to be a form of Goddess Parvati who cares for the people, who are neglected by mainstream society. She accepts anything that her devotees offer, which shows her care for the poor and downtrodden people of the society.