At the time of Bandasura Vadham Matha's different Nithyasuris like Pasham(rope),Ankusham(goad), Kodandam(bow), Pancha Bhanam(5 arrows), Sri Chakram... (Matha's divine abode)took a feminine form. Different Shakthis like Manthrini, Dandini, SampathKari, Aswarooda arose from them respectively. Different Rathams or auspicious cars like Geya Chakra Ratham, Giri Chakra Ratham.. also came from her divine abode Sri Chakram. Manthrini came from her Ankusham. Lalitha Sahsaranamam says
Raga Swaroopa Pashadya Krodhakara Ankusha Ujwala
Meaning : Pasham or the rope represents Ragam &Ankusham represents the anger or Krodham
Manorupekshu Kodhanda PanchaThanmathra Sayaka
Meaning: Kodhandam represents the mind & the Panchbanam represents the five senses(vision,smell,hearing,taste & body)
Ankusham is a weapon or a tool, which is used to control the Elephants. Usually the men who take care of Elephants or Elephant tamers have a rod with a perpendicular projection from that. They make a wound on the Elephant's body & whenever the Elephant misbehaves, they show the rod & control the Elephant. The Ankusham in Sri Matha's hand is representing the weapon, which controls our minds. Even our minds are like mad elephants, which roam around with worldly things! Manthrini Matha came from Sri Lalithambika's Ankusham. Sri Meenakshi or AngayarKanni is an incarnation of Manthrini Matha. She was born as a daughter of Malayadhvaja Pandya & Kanchana Malai. Sri Sundareshwara married her & even Shanmuka who's the Deity for Tamil language was born as Muthu Kumara there. The city of Madurai is such a divine city. It was where the divine family of Parvathy & Parameshwara lived during the olden Era. Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam refers to Manthrini Matha & Madurai in two places :
Manthrini Amba Virachita Vishanga Vadha Doshitha
Meaning : Manthrini mother killed Vishanga who was a demon.
Kathamba VanaVasini
Meaning: A lady who resides in a forest filled with kadhamba trees.
In olden days Madurai was a forest filled with a specific kind of trees called Kadhamba trees. So Meenakshi Matha is called as a Gokilam or cuckoo in the Kadhamba Forest. Meenakshi is darker in complexion & she is little greener. Her green or blue or black color is also because she is Hari or Sri Maha Vishnu's sister. Great Tamil literatures like Silappadhikaram have references to Madurai. Meenakshi & Shiva had been the heads of the Tamil Sangams in Madurai right from the beginning. As per historians there had been three Tamil Sangams .
Thalai or Topmost - led by Shiva or Sundareshwarah
Idai or Mid Sangam - led by Matha or Meenakshi
Kadai or the last - led by Krishna or Thirumal.
Here we have to understand another unique phenomenon; the presence of Shri Raja Mathangi that is existing in this universe. When we talk about Shri raja Mathangi we have to mention about Shri Varahi too because they can never be separated. Without one the other is non-existent.
The first deity is Sri Raja Mathangi. She travels in Gayachakra, a chariot which when moves, the atmosphere will be vibrating with sweet music. She is the embodiment of Nada (Sound). She stands for the propagation of Jnana (Knowledge ) , art, education, music and so on. Since both of them are not different from Mahalakshmi, they bless those worship them with wealth and health. This is for certain. Sri Raja Matangi is known as Manthrini.Sri Maha Vaarahi is known as Dandini.
As Manthrini, Sri Raja Mathangi is the symbol of knowledge. She is also an amsa of Sri Meenakshi and Sri Saraswathi. Sri Maha Vaarahi acts as a judge and always tend to punish the wicked and save the innocent. Therefore she is known as Dandini. Alas ! Here we are blessed with an opportunity to directly pray to both Sri Raja Mathangi and Sri Maha Vaarahi. Generally not many people know about Sri Raja Mathangi and Sri Maha Vaarahi because they are known as Sushma Rahasya devathas ( They are symbolizing the subtle secret of the divinity ). They are closely identified with Sri Lalithambika and are found in the form of Sri Lakshmi and Sri Saraswathi. Mother Lalithambika is sitting on the form of Lord Sadhashiva. This is the secret of Sri Chakra. Sri Chakra is also known as Srinagaram. In Sri chakra, crores of Devathas are said to be housed and therefore the worship of SriChakra indirectly agrees with the worship of millions of Devathas at the same time.
