Matangi Devi: 9th Dasa Mahavidya—Goddess of Mystic Wisdom and Poetry

In the Indian Vedic Story, Sri Matangi Devi is the primordial cosmic energy and 9th tantric goddess of Dasa Mahavidya. Matangi Devi, in Hindu mythology, is the goddess of mystic wisdom and thought. She controls human speech with her mysticism. Matangi Devi is not bound by rules, regulations, or caste. Thus, she is known as Uchhishta Chandalini or the goddess of the outcaste.

Are Matangi Devi and Saraswati the same?

Matangi is the 9th tantric goddess of Dasa Mahavidya and the doorkeeper of 10 Mahavidyas. She is considered the embodiment of wisdom, art, and music. She blesses her devotees with creativity and knowledge and helps them in all aspects of life to be successful. As the highest truth in the universe, she is not bound by anything. Goddess Matangi is a form of Saraswati, a dark one. She is incarnated as the daughter of Sage Matang, a chandal who repelled the caste system (Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra) and attained brahminhood through karma.

Are Matangi Devi and Goddess Meenakshi Amman the Same?

Devi Matangi, the 9th Dasa Mahavidya, wisdom, and tantric goddess, is the advisor of Sri Tripura Sundari, the 3rd Dasa Mahavidya. Goddess Tripura Sundari assigned her to take control and command over speech and wisdom.

As per some ancient texts, Devi Matangi manifests herself as goddess Meenakshi Amman/Madurai Meenakshi at Madurai to marry Sundareswa, a form of Lord Shiva.

Goddess Matangi Devi appears during Satya Yuga. This mythology is linked with Parasurama, the 6th avatar of Lord Vishnu, placing the head of Renuka, or Ellama, his mother, wife of Sage Jamadagni, on a recluse woman.

She has come over in various Indian mythologies of Sanatan Dharma to bestow wisdom and knowledge on her devotees.

Origin of the Goddess Matangi

Devi Matangi’s origins can be traced to the Vedic period. In the Atharva Veda, she is mentioned as the form of the goddess of knowledge and wisdom, Saraswati. She is even considered Sati, who was born as the daughter of Daksh Prajapati and then appeared as Parvati.

According to other ancient texts, the goddess Matangi is regarded as an avatar of Durga, a ferocious goddess who tears away evil forces.

Legends of Goddess Matangi

Vedic Story-1

As per ancient Vedic lore, the goddess Matangi Devi turned into an outcast goddess when Lord Shiva was meditating. He did not respond to the calls from Parvati. In her fury, she created a goddess, Matangi Devi, from dirt that she collected from her body. Lord Shiva, seeing such devotion, blessed her with divine powers and declared Matangi Devi the tantric goddess of Dasa Mahavidya.

Vedic Story-2

Another legend narrates the Vedic story of Sage Matang, a chandala. He was a devotee of the goddess Shakti and worshipped her with utmost devotion. Goddess Para Shakti blessed him with a daughter just like hers, beautiful and radiant. However, as the daughter of an outcast, society rejected her and forced her to stay aside and live in isolation. Goddess Matangi Devi too continued worshiping the Para Shakti, attained divine powers, and was named the 9th Dasa Mavidya and goddess of mystic wisdom and thoughts.

Appearance of Devi Matangi

Matangi Devi, the primordial energy of Para Shakti, is the 9th Dasa Mahavidya and is dark or green in complexion. She holds a moon on her forehead and sits on a crown decorated with jewels. Devi Matangi has three eyes and is a violent form of the goddess Durga. Her eyes are so intoxicated, and she is a sixteen-year-old goddess with full breasts and a slim waist.

She radiates like a blue lotus. She holds a noose, a mace, a hook, and an axe in her four hands. Devi Matangi enchants the demons with her beauty and destroys them like a forest fire.

At times, she is seen seated on a dead body, holding a blow of blood, a skull, and untidy long hair.

She is even seen depicted with dark green or emerald green skin, having three eyes, and holding a parrot and a veena, a jewel-encrusted one—a musical instrument as Saraswati holds. Devi is also found in nature, especially birds and parrots in green and red, representing a guru.

Why is Goddess Matangi Devi Green, and What is Its significance?

Sri Matangi Devi is the goddess of all creative fields, such as writing, painting, art, dance, and music. She controls the creative aspects of humans and bestows blessings on those who seek development in their creative skills and success in the artistic field.

Goddess Matangi is also associated with the power of speech, spoken word, and communication. She blessed her devotees with the expression or ability to express themselves perfectly. People who are engaged in public speaking, teaching, and other professions that require communication can worship her.

Devi Matangi is a tantric goddess of Dasa Mahavidya. Her worship also needed supernatural powers, especially for those who wished to gain control over their enemies and mastery over the arts. The goddess Matangi’s green or emerald complexion connects her to the planet Mercury, the controller of intelligence.

She is believed to have the power to remove obstacles from one’s life, dispel negativity, and help in achieving success. Goddess Matangi even protects her worshippers from negative energies and evil forces.

Pranatosini Tantra

As per Hindu mythology and the Pranatosini Tantra, once goddess Parvati left Lord Shiva and did not return for some time, Lord Shiva decided to disguise himself as an ornament maker and tested Parvati’s faithfulness.

Parvati did not fall for the prey or test by Shiva and turned furious. Thereafter, Parvati disguises herself as a huntress. Shiva was impressed with her hunting and turned himself into a chandala. Goddess Parvati, as Ucchista-Chandalini, requested her consort to conjugate to make this form remembered forever.

Matangi Devi: Bestoyer of Principle Objects of a Householder

Goddess Matangi, the 9th Dasa Mahavidya (tantric goddess), is the cosmic power that makes a married life comfortable. She grants the principal objects of a happy householder: dharma, artha, kama, and moksha.

Devi Matangi: Goddess of Poetry

Sri Matangi is the goddess of proficiency in poetry, writing, dance, music, and fine arts. She also helps with material gains and achieves success in her artistic life.