Goddess Brahmani is one of the Sapta Matrikas – the seven divine mothers or Saptamatris in Hinduism. Goddess Brahmani takes Her name from Lord Brahma. Vamana Purana indicates that Goddess Brahmani came out from the mouth of Goddess Kali before she engaged Demon Rakta Beeja in the final encounter. Seeing the large troop of Rakta Beeja, Goddess Kali made a loud sound and from her mouth appeared Goddess Brahmani seated on a swan and wearing rosary and holding water pot (Kamandalu) in one hand.
Goddess Brahmani is generally depicted as having four faces and four hands. The body is bright as gold. In the back right hand she carries the Sula (lance) and back left hand she carries the Akshamala. The front right hand is in the Abhaya Mudra Pose and the front left hand in the Varada Pose.
She is usually depicted as seated upon a red lotus. The vehicle or Vahana of Goddess Brahmani is Hamsa or Swan. The emblem in her banner is Hamsa and is adorned with a Karana Mukuta. She is also shown as sitting under a palas tree.
In Vishnudharmotara, Goddess Brahmani is described as having six hands – the left hands are depicted as showing the Abhaya mudra, holding Pustaka and Kamundalu. The right hands are shown with the Varadha Mudra, holding the Sula and Sruva.
A chapter of Varaha Purana also suggests that the seven goddesses or Saptamatris also represent mental qualities which are to be avoided. Goddess Brahmani represents Pride or ‘mada.’
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