The Saptamatrikas are said to be the energies or shaktis of the deities of the Hindu pantheon like Brahma, Mahesvara, Kumara, Vishnu, Varaha, Indra and Yama. The Saptamatrikas (seven mothers) was a very important religious group in India, especially in South India. Hence, they were called Brahmani, Maheshvari, Kaumari, Vasishnavi, Varahi, Indrani and Chamunda.

In most of the ancient temples of South India, the sculptures of the Saptamatrikas are found. Some of them can be seen adorned in the walls and some are seen in actual worship form. All these goddesses are sculpted according to the codes of the Agamas. According to the words of T. A. Gopinatha Rao, a famous author of the monumental work `Elements of Hindu Iconography`, "These are the female counterparts who are armed with the same weapons, wear the same ornaments and ride the same vahanas and carry the same banners as the corresponding male Gods do. Brahmani should be sculptured like Brahma, Maheshvari like Maheshvara, Vaishnavi like Vishnu, Varahi like a short woman with angry face and bearing a plough as her weapon, Indrani like Indra and Chamunda as a terrific woman".

According to the ancient text of architecture and iconography, it is said that the Saptamatrikas should be surrounded by Virabhadra and Ganesha on the left and right respectively. They are seen in this way in most of the temples of South India. The exact iconographic features of the Saptamatrikas can be found in several ancient texts. These texts define almost the same details except some minor differences. The temples follow the description of the sculptures found in one or the other of these texts faithfully. As per the mythological stories, Lord Siva produced the Saptamatrikas from the flames of his mouth to help him in the war against a demon named Andhakasura. It is believed that the Saptamatrikas swallowed all the blood, which trickled from the demon`s body and then Siva was able to kill him.

The Kailasanatha temple in Kanchipuram of Tamil Nadu district is considered as one of the oldest depictions of the Saptamatrikas. It was constructed during the Pallava age by Narasimha Varman II, better known as Rajasimha Pallava (691-728 A.D.). These Saptamatrika sculptures can be seen in most of the Chola temples in Tamil Nadu and other parts of South India also.