History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v2.c23.137

v2.c23.137

Whence the cult of mātṛs, which was not described in the Gṛhyasūtras, was derived it is difficult to say. Sir John Marshall in his famous work on Mohenjo-Daro ( vol. I. p. VII and pp. 49-52 and plates XII, XCIV and XCV ) shows how figurines of mother goddesses are common at Mohenjo-Daro. That shows that the cult prevailed in the remotest antiquity and was probably taken up by the followers of the Vedic religion and affiliated to the worship of Durgā, the spouse of Śiva. In Ṛg. IX. 102. 4 ⁵⁰⁷ the seven mothers are said to regulate soma when it is being prepared ( the seven mothers are probably the seven metres or the seven rivers ).