Varahi

Varahi ( , IAST: ) is one of the Matrikas, a group of seven mother goddesses in the Hindu religion who has the face of a sow. In Nepal, she is called Barahi. In Rajasthan and Gujarat, she is venerated as Dandini. Varahi is more commonly venerated in the sect of the Mother Goddess-oriented Shaktism, but also in Shaivism (devotees of Shiva) and Vaishnavism (devotees of Vishnu). She is usually worshipped at night, using secretive Vamamarga Tantric practices. Her forms can be seen in Buddhism as well, like the Buddhist goddesses Vajravārāhī and Marichi.

Varahi ( , IAST: ) is one of the Matrikas, a group of seven mother goddesses in the Hindu religion who has the face of a sow. In Nepal, she is called Barahi. In Rajasthan and Gujarat, she is venerated as Dandini. Varahi is more commonly venerated in the sect of the Mother Goddess-oriented Shaktism, but also in Shaivism (devotees of Shiva) and Vaishnavism (devotees of Vishnu). She is usually worshipped at night, using secretive Vamamarga Tantric practices. Her forms can be seen in Buddhism as well, like the Buddhist goddesses Vajravārāhī and Marichi. In the context of the Matrikas' association to the Sanskrit alphabet, Varahi is said to govern the pa varga of consonants, namely pa, pha, ba, bha, ma. The Lalita Sahasranama, a collection of 1,000 names of the Divine Mother, calls Varahi the destroyer of demon Visukaran. In another context, Varahi, as Panchami, is identified with the wife of Sadashiva, the fifth component of Panch Brahmans or five Brahmans, responsible for the regeneration of the Universe. The other four of Panch Brahmans are the gods Brahma, Govinda, Rudra and Isvara, who are in charge of creation, protection, destruction and dissolution respectively. In yet another context, Varahi is called Kaivalyarupini, the bestower of Kaivalya ("detachment of the soul from matter or further transmigrations") – the final form of mukti (salvation). 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. Haripriya Rangarajan, in her book Images of Varahi—An Iconographic Study, suggests that Varahi is none other than Vak devi, the goddess of speech. ====India==== A 9th-century Varahi temple exists at Chaurasi about 14 km from Konark, Orissa, where Varahi is installed as Matysa Varahi and is worshipped by Tantric rites. In Varanasi, Varahi is worshipped as Patala Bhairavi. In Chennai, there is a Varahi temple in Mylapore, while a larger temple is being built near Vedanthangal. Ashadha Navaratri, in the Hindu month of Ashadha (June/July in the Gregorian calendar), is celebrated as a nine-day festival in honour of Varahi at the Varahi shrine at Brihadeeswarar temple (a Shaiva temple), Thanjavur. The goddess is decorated with different types of alankarams (ornaments) every day, during festivals while full moon days are also considered auspicious. An ancient temple of the goddess is also found at Uthirakosamangai. Ashta-Varahi temple with eight forms of Varahi is situated in Salamedu near Villupuram. In Kerala, the Sree Panchami Devi Temple in Pettah, Thiruvananthapuram is a famous temple dedicated to Goddess Durga and Goddess Varahi. Another temple for the Goddess Varahi in Kerala are the Aalumthazham Sree Varahi Temple in Anthikadu, Thrissur, the Shi Varahi Daivasthana Pilikunda Kutel in Manjeshwar, Kasargod, Kumbalapally Sree Varahi Temple, Kanichukulangara, Cherthala, Vadakekkavu Varahi Temple, Pattuvam, Kannur, and Nellikkam Kandy Varahi Temple, Thamarassery, Kozhikode. Another temple of Goddess Varahi is located in Devidhura, Uttarakhand. In addition, Kerala's worship of Saptamatakal along with Goddess Bhagavati would mean that the Goddess Varahi along with her seven companions is worshiped in shrines in a lot of temples, such as the Ameda Saptamata Temple in Thrippunithura, Ernakulam, Kodungallor Bhagavati Temple, Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple, and Parumala Valiya Panayannarkavu Devi Temple. ====Nepal==== The Tal Barahi Temple is situated in the middle of Phewa Lake, Nepal. Here, Barahi, as she is known as in Nepal, is worshipped in the Matysa Varahi form as an incarnation of Durga and an Ajima ("grandmother") goddess. Devotees usually sacrifice male animals to the goddess on Saturdays. Jaya Barahi Mandir, Bhaktapur, is also dedicated to Barahi. ===Footnotes=== ==References== ===Citations=== ==External links== Varahi by Dr Haripriya Rangarajan at the National Museum Symposium: The Return of the Yogini, New Delhi, October 2013. Maa Varahi Temple at Sardhav Village, Gandhinagar, Gujarat Learn More About Shree Maa Varahi : Shree Varahi Pragati Mandal Sardhav 2021

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