Varahi Darshani
VARAAHI
Vaaraahi Devi is the Stree Shakti (Consort Lakshmi ) of Yajna Varaaha Swamy - Avatar of Lord Vishnu. Vaaraahi is Trilokyajanani - The Supreme Female Energy. She is the manifestation of etrnal power - spiritual, mental, intellectual, physiological and biological. Maha Vaaraahi Mata is Trigunatmika, an embodiment of Lakshmi, Vishnu and Siva.
The supreme powers of Sri Maha Vaaraahi are less known to the common public since she is conducting life course as subtle force. Now she comes out of the subtleness and more revelations would be told to devotees, time has come to reveal the worldly pursuits of Sri Maha Vaaraahi.
Vaaraahi is worshipped as Panchami of the Sapta-Matrikas group by Saivites, for Vaishnavites she is santa swarupi Maha Lakshmi and Shaktas worship her as Tantriaka Devata. Buddhists attribute that their goddess Vajrayogini originated from Vaaraahi and Vajravaaraahi inherited the fierce character and wrath of Varaahi.
SWETA LAKSHMI VARAAHI
Vaaraahi Mata blessed and gave Darshan to Vaaraahi Upasak Sri Purushottam Goud in 1999 (Dasananda, Regonda Swamy) as Sweta Vaaraahi Devi in her Prasanna Lakshmi Rupam (Abhaya Hastam and Lotus in the other hand) and gave adesham to build her temple.
Since then Dasanada visualized Maha Vaaraahi as Sweta Lakshmi Varaahi Mata and worships her in this form. The first temple for Sweta Lakshmi Varaahi is now built in 2013 at Regonda, Warangal District (AP).
VAARAAHI AS IN PURANAS, SCRIPTURES AND TEXTS :
GENESIS OF VARAAHI
According to Devi Mahatmyam from Markandeya Purana - Durga Saptasati mentions that seven Saktis (Sapta Matrukalu) were created from Brahma, Siva, Shanmukha, Vishnu, Yajna Varaha (Varaha Avatar of Vishnu), Naarasimha (Nrusimha Avtar of Vishnu) and Indra to help Sri Chandika Mata in the fight with demons Sumbha and Nisumbha.
The fifth Matrika Shakti Vaaraahi has emerged from Yajna Varaha Swamy avatar of Vishnu, has a boar form, wields a chakra and fights with a sword. She is hence called Panchami.
"Yajna Vaaraaha matulam rupam ya bhibhrato Hare:
Sakti hi saa apyayayau tatra Vaaraaheem bhibhrato tanum.
The Matrikas are also believed to reside in a person's body. Varahi is described as residing in a person's navel, and governs the manipura, svadhisthana, and muladhara chakras. Vaarahi controls Kama, Krodha, lobha, mada, moha, matsarya and Asuya, the distructive qualities in human being.
In Vamana Purana, the Matrikas are mentioned to arise from different parts of the Divine Mother and Vaarahi is created from the back of Chandika.
In Varaha Purana the story of Raktabija is retold, but here each of Matrikas appears from the body of another Matrika - Vaarahi appears from the posterior of Vaishnavi, the Shakti of Vishnu, seated on Shesha-n?ga.
Matsya Purana tells that Varahi with other Matrikas is created by Shiva to help him kill the demon Andhakasura.
DESCRIPTION OF VARAAHIDEVI
Markendeya Purana says Varahi is Mahisha Vahini, the regent of northern direction (uttara disa) and praises her as Varadaini.
Devi Purana describes Vaaraahi as Varahajanani as well as Kritantatanusambhava., and Her attributes are sword, iron club, and noose. She holds a staff and drinking skull-cup (kapala). Varaahi is described as residing in a person's navel, and governs the manipura, svadhisthana, and muladhara chakras.
In some scriptures she is Vaivasvati, Shakti of Yama and Kapaladhari. Varahi is also called Kaivalyarupini, the bestower of Kaivalya Mukti out of the five Muktis namely, Salokya, Samipya, Sarupya, Sayujya and Kaivalya. An Iconographic Study suggests that Varahi is the Vak devi.
In the Lalita Sahasranama Strotra --"Visukra pranaharana Vaarahi Veerya nandita (stanja 30) " -- Vaarahi is named as destroyer of demon Visukaran.
Sri Maha Vaarahi is the solemn power of Sri Raja Rajeswari. Sri Raja Rajeswari took the incarnation of Sri Maha Vaarahi to eliminate the cruel demon Pandasura.
The Tantric Text - "Vaarahi Tantra" mentions that Varahi Devi has five different forms- Swapna/Sweta Varahi, Chanda Varahi, Mahi Varahi(Bhairavi), Kruchha Varahi and Matsya Varahi. Vaarahi is represented with a third eye on her forehead and is the Kamala Vidya of Dasa Mahavidyas.
ATTRIBUTES OF MAHA VARAAHI
Vaarahi is usually depicted as varaha mukhi in human body with two, four, or six-arms, either standing, seated, or dancing.
Matsya Purana mention a four-armed form and carries ghanta, chamara, chakra and a gada. Some of Vaarahi Devi Murties are with Sharanga, hala ,musula in each of the 3 hands and the fourth hand is held in the abhaya (varada) mudra.
The Vamana Purana describes her seated on Shesha while holding a chakra and a mace. The Agni Purana describes her holding the gada, shankha, sword, and ankusha.
The Mantramahodadhi mentions that she carries a sword, shield, noose, and goad.
Vaishnava sampradaya images depict her holding all four attributes of Vishnu - Shankha, chakra, Gada, and Padma.
The Aparajitapriccha describes her holding a rosary, a khatvanga (a club with a skull), a bell, and a kamandalu (water-pot).
Matsya Varahi is depicted as two-armed, with spiral-coiled hair and holding matsya and a kapala. The matsya and kapala are special characteristics of Tantric Shakta images of Varahi.
In Tantric Shakta images, vahana shall be specifically a she-buffalo or a corpse. Vaaraahi is also described as riding her horse- Jambini. She may also be depicted seated under a kalpavriksham.
Above described depictions of Vaarahi are found in the temples of Maha Vaarahi located in different places.
Varahi is usually described as Mahisha vahini, however Vaarahi is also depicted as either standing or seated on a Padma peetham or on her vahanas - Mahisha, boar, serpent Shesha, lion, or Garuda.
VAARAAHI WORSHIP
Shaktas worship Varaahi as a ratri devata and is called Dhumra Varahi and Dhumavati and is worshipped after sunset and before sunrise by Vamachara tantric practices. In this tradition, at Varanasi - Varahi Devi is worshipped as Patala Bhairavi.
Shaktas also consider Varaahi to be the manifestation of goddess Lalita Tripurasundari and is "Dandanayika" or "Dandanatha" - the commander-general of Lalita's army.
In the Sri Vidya tradition of Shaktism, Varaahi is adored as Para Vidya ("transcendental knowledge"). Thirty yantras and thirty mantras are prescribed for worship of Vaarahi, the Supreme Shakti, to acquire siddhis by her favour.
In Andhra Pradesh, particularly in Telangana Region - Vaarahi Devi is worshipped as Bhulakshmi and Sitala Mata and as Grama Devata in her simple human form. Vaarahi Beeja Akshara Yantram only is used when ever and where ever Gramadevata vigraha pratishta is made. In the Andhra region - varaahi is worshipped as the fifth of saptamaatrukaas namely -Braahmi, Maahaswari, kowmaari, vaishnavi, vaaraahi, indraani, chaamundi.
In Tamilnadu, Maha Vaaraahi is worshipped as Mantra Kali and is believed that Vaarahi Mata eliminates Dishti Dosha, wards off troubles from all kinds of evil spirits aimed at Her devotees, protects them from accidents, dispels diseases and blesses with longevity, happiness and prosperity. She is also worshipped through Vaaraahi Homam for mental peace and to win over the enemies. Prayers dedicated to Vaarahi include Vaarahi Anugrahashtakam-for her blessing and Vaarahi Nigrahashtakam- for destruction of enemies.
In Karnataka, Bangalore - Kumar Mamas residence (at at Old No.21,New No 6, 4th cross Guptha Layout, Ulsoor, Bangalore-560008, India ) is the abode of worship for Sri Raja Mathangi and Sri Maha Vaarahi who are closely identified with Sri Lalithambika and are found in the form of Sri Lakshmi and Sri Saraswathi. Daily pooja are conducted in the evening. It is considered as as a divine place as innumerable prayers are answered by her. All the devotees have felt and experienced her presence as Goddess accepts the prasad in minutes. (inputs from Sri Maha Varahi Temple trust at www.varahibangalore.org).
VARAAHI TEMPLES :
Vaaraahi Devi is worshipped with great devotion in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Orissa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Assam states and many ancient and prominent temples exist in these states.
Orissa : A 9th-century Varahi temple exists at Chaurasi about 14 km from Konark, where Varahi is installed as Matysa Varahi and is worshipped by Tantric rites and the Puri Jaganath temple, is associated with Barahi temple. There exists a temple in Bhubaneswar also. Know more at orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/sept-oct2007/.../Pages37-39.pdf?
Uttar Pradesh : Goddess Varahi is worshipped as Patala Bhairavi in some parts of North India, especially in Varanasi. In an ancient Vaarahi temple situated in Gonda District,Eastern UP, Vaarahi Devi is.worshipped as Uttari Bhawani.
Tamil Nadu : In Chennai, there is a Varahi temple in Mylapore and a bigger temple is being built near Vedanthangal.
Maha Vaaraahi Amman Snnidhi is separately situated inside the Brihadeeswara temple,Thanjavur, and - Ashadha Navaratri are celebrated as a nine-day festival at the Varahi shrine. Goddess is decorated with different types of alankarams (ornaments) every day. Full moon days are considered sacred to Varahi.
Another prominent Maha Varaahi temple is located in peelamedu (118, sowripalayam pirivu), Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. This temple has both Maha varahi and Goddess Dhandanatha(Varthali) - The commander in chief of Goddess Lalitha(Sri Raja rajeshwari's) army. This temple is run by Sri Varahi Mantralayam trust. Varahi manthralayam - www.varahi.org/trusts.html
Mahavarahi Temple is constructed in Arcot, Vellore District and can be viwed following the link: Maha varahi, varahi amman, varahi ambal, arcot temple ... mahavarahi.org/
Gujarat : There is a Varahi temple in a village named Dadhana where the goddess is venerated as the Gotra-devi of a surname "Dadhaniya". There are few more Varahi Mata temples in cities Ahamadabad etc.
Rajasthan : 900 years old Vaarahi Devi Temple is situated in Amber,Jaipur
Andhra Pradesh : As Vaaraahi is worshipped as Panchama Matrika of the Sapta Matrikas and Vaarahi idol is only seen in the group of Saptamatrukas in majority Saiva Temples and there are no temples built with vaaraahi as presiding deity.
The one and only Pratyeka Devalayam for Vaaraahi Devi in Andhra Pradesh with Sweta Lakshmi Varaahi Mata as presiding deity is recently constructed at Regonda, Warangal District by Sri Regonda Swami of Sri Viswamitra Anandanadha Yogasram and is opened on Ugadi Day, 11/04/2013.
VAARAAHI ABROAD :
Nepal : Baarahi temple is situated in the middle of Phewa Lake, worshipped in the Matysa Vaarahi form as an incarnation of Durga and an Ajima. Details can be had from : www.nepal.com/ religious-sites/ barahi-temple/.
United States : Devi Varahi Ambika was installed at the Parashakti Temple in Pontiac, Michigan in 2005. Devi Vaarahi Ambika Homam is done at the Parashakthi temple on every Amavaasya (New moon) night. Know more at https://www.parashakthitemple.org/vaarahi.aspx