電母是從雷神信仰中分化出來的,早期雷神兼管雷電,據《十駕齋養新錄》引《管輅別傳》,則當時已經有“雷公電父”之稱了。后來,按照人們陰陽對立男女配對的心理特征,電父搖身一變成為女性,電母之稱至遲出于宋代,蘇軾有詩云“麾駕雷車呵電母”,《元史》云“電母旗,畫神人為女人形”,明代都昂用易經理論來解釋,說“易離為電,為中女陰也,而電出地之陰氣,故云母”。神怪小說中都有閃電神(《封神演義》中說是金光圣母)、(閃電娘子《西游記》之說),(《搜神大全》則說天大笑時開口流光為閃電)。除了一般職務(wu)之外,據說當雷(lei)公與(yu)電(dian)(dian)母吵架的時候,天上也會雷(lei)電(dian)(dian)交加(jia)。
除此關于(yu)電(dian)(dian)母(mu)(mu)(mu)的來(lai)歷(li)又(you)有(you)諸神傳(chuan)說。《鑄鼎余(yu)聞》云(yun):致道觀雷(lei)部前(qian)殿,列電(dian)(dian)母(mu)(mu)(mu)秀(xiu)使(shi)者,名文(wen)英。元(yuan)(yuan)代(dai)(dai)軍中(zhong)有(you)電(dian)(dian)母(mu)(mu)(mu)旗。《元(yuan)(yuan)史·輿服志》稱(cheng):電(dian)(dian)母(mu)(mu)(mu)旗,其上形象(xiang)為(wei)(wei):畫神人為(wei)(wei)女人形,衣朱裳白褲,兩手(shou)(shou)運光(guang)。電(dian)(dian)母(mu)(mu)(mu)形象(xiang)還出現在(zai)《西游(you)記》和《封神演(yan)義》等小(xiao)說中(zhong),后(hou)者稱(cheng)其為(wei)(wei)金光(guang)圣母(mu)(mu)(mu)。明(ming)代(dai)(dai)余(yu)象(xiang)斗(dou)《北游(you)記》又(you)稱(cheng)電(dian)(dian)母(mu)(mu)(mu)為(wei)(wei)朱佩娘娘,雷(lei)神曾給予(yu)她兩面雷(lei)電(dian)(dian)鏡,為(wei)(wei)雷(lei)神打人時照明(ming)。清代(dai)(dai)黃斐默《集說詮真》載,清代(dai)(dai)中(zhong)國(guo)民間將電(dian)(dian)母(mu)(mu)(mu)塑成容貌端雅(ya)的女子,兩手(shou)(shou)各執一鏡,號為(wei)(wei)電(dian)(dian)母(mu)(mu)(mu)秀(xiu)天君。其形象(xiang)應與明(ming)代(dai)(dai)小(xiao)說有(you)關。