Sri Varahi Devi

Friday, June 22, 2018

Sri Varahi Devi (श्री वाराही देवी)

Śrī Vārāhi is a prominent deity in the Śākta literature and is worshipped prominently in Southern
India, especially in the state of Tamil Nadu. She is associated with Earth and all material related
possessions. The following is Her dhyāna śloka describing Her attributes.
kṛṣṇa varṇātu vārāhī mahiṣastā mahodarī ।
varadā danḍinī khaḍgaṃ bibhratī dakṣiṇekare ।
kheṭa pātrābhayān vāme sūkarasyā lasadbhujā ॥
कृ ष्ण वर्णातु वाराही महिषस्ता महोदरी ।
वरदा दन्डिनी खड्गं बिभ्रती दक्षिणेकरे ।
खेट पात्राभयान् वामे सूकरस्या लसद्भुजा ॥

She is dark in complexion with a face resembling a boar, seated on a buffalo (mahiṣa). She’s
enormous in size and has eight arms. One Her right arms from bottom to top, She displays the vara
mudra (grants all wishes), holds a sword, large stick (daṇḍa). On Her left hands from bottom to top,
She displays the abhaya mudra (removes fear and offers protection), shield and a plough (hala).
The significance is that, She grants all wishes, removes our ego and punishes all evil afflicting us.
She offers immense protection and shields us from misery. She is always ready to strike down and
correct our path, whenever we go astray. She will pave the way towards all our goals and helps us
achieve the highest levels of spirituality as well as material success. Her boar face indicates that
She can dig deep into our karmas and will remove all the hurdles affecting our success in all
matters. Her vehicle mahiṣa/buffalo, represents the ego and inertness in a person to change and
reset to the same old behavior, like a buffalo bathing in the same murky waters. She riding the
buffalo represents Her ability to bring about the change within us and take us forward to spiritual
and material heights.
No one who seeks Her blessings and surrenders unto Her, will go empty handed. Such is Her
greatness!
She is also seen as the consort of Varāha, an avatar of Lord Viṣṇu. In the Śaiva tradition, She is the
consort of Unmatta Bhairava, A form of Śiva intoxicated with bliss. A state that is experienced in the
Sahasrāra cakra. She is also one of seven/eight mātṛka-s governing the Western direction.
A simple Vedic mantra to Her is below. This mantra can be recited by anyone and requires no
initiation.
oṃ vārāhi! sarvato mām rakṣa rakṣa durge huṃ phaṭ svāhā
ॐ वाराही! सर्वतो माम् रक्ष रक्ष दुर्गे हुं फट् स्वाहा
Her gayatri mantras are as follows. These can also be recited by anyone and require no initiation.
 mahiṣavāhanāyai ca vidmahe ।
daṇḍahastāyai ca dhīmahi ।
tanno vārāhī pracodayāt ॥
महिषवाहनायै च विद्महे ।
दण्डहस्तायै च धीमहि ।
तन्नो वाराही प्रचोदयात् ॥
Her other forms include Her holding up the entire Universe or the Cosmic egg on her tusks.
Sometimes She’s seen holding a discus (cakra) and a conch, heralding auspiciousness and
expulsion of all misery.

She is portrayed in the Devi Bhāgavatam, Mārkaṇdeya and Varāha Purāṇa-s and described to have
participated in the annihilation of asurās or evil-doers like Andhakāsura, Raktabīja, Śumbha and
Niśumbha. Andhakāsura represents blind and senseless rage arising out of one’s ego and position.
Raktabīja represents the innumerable thoughts that spring in our mind that stall our spiritual and
material growth. Śumbha and Niśumbha represent the twin attributes to stick to the same old
routine, continue to lead the same old ways of living and not bring about any changes in our lives
towards our betterment. The attributes to look down upon others and have no gratitude towards the
blessings received are also represented by these twin asurā-s. When She enters our thoughts and
prayers, all the ingrate qualities in us disappear and we transform into our true selves.
In the Śrī Vidya tradition, Śrī Vārāhi and Śrī Śyāmalā, are the closest deities and advisors to Śrī
Lalita or Mahāṣoḍaśi. Vārāhi is the commander of all forces of Lalita and Śyāmalā is the Chief
advisor or Prime Minister of Lalita. In the Śrī Cakra, She is the guardian of the sixteenth circle or the
Kiri Cakra. Her residence is an Emerald palace of Śrī Nagara. She is the Danḍini (Stick) Śakti of Śrī
Māta. Likewise, Śyāmalā is the kodanḍa (sugarcane bow) Śakti.
Among the Dasha Mahāvidyas, She is equated with Bagalamukhi, the controller of the tongue and
the silencer of all enemies, internal and external.
In the Kuṇḍaliṇi meditation and the representation of the Divine Mother within ourselves, Śrī Lalita
is the spinal cord or the suṣumna nāḍi. Śyāmalā or Rājā Mātaṅgi represents the iḍā nāḍi, or the left
spiritual channel that flanks the spinal cord and connects to the left nostril and the right hemisphere
of the brain, indicating our artistic and creative thinking as well as sciences and logical abilities.
Vārāhi represents the piṅgalā nāḍi, or the right spiritual channel flanking the spinal cord and
connecting to the right nostril and left hemisphere of the brain, indicating action, motion and all
physical activity.
When both the spiritual channels are balanced, kuṇḍaliṇi moves up the spinal cord and energizes
the cakras and ultimately merges with the Divine Superconsciousness at the Sahasrāra cakra, also
called Śiva-Śakti-aikya.
Her tantric mantras associated with Śrī Vidya, require a pre-requisite of at least an initiation into the
powerful and wondrous Pañcadaśi mantra. Her mantras, as well as those of Rājā Mātaṅgi, are
considered as Aṅga mantras of Mahāṣoḍaśi. This is indicative of the fact, that One who has not
achieved considerable spiritual progress or obtained fruitful karmas, is therefore ineligible for
initiation to the Supreme Śrī Mahāṣoḍaśi mantra.
Mahāvārāhi has aṅga devatā-s namely Svapna Vārāhi, Laghu Vārāhi (Unmatta Bhairavi) and
Tiraskaraṇi. Mantra japa must be performed for the aṅga devatā-s, to please Mahāvārāhi.
Her sadhana is usually performed in the night times, as it’s meant for destruction of enemies, both
internal and external.
Click Here for Part -2
The above article is written by Krishna Vallapareddy and he can be contacted
at Krishna@manblunder.com
Other Related Articles:
Sri Maha Varahi Ashtottara Shatanamavali

Replies
 Krishna
March 16, 2019 11:54 PM
It is only Her grace that can save you from the situation. Do your best to recite
the mantra with utmost devotion. You may consider seeking the services of a
priest to perform any recommended homam, that could be useful to protect
against enemies.

Reply

 Abhishek
March 17, 2019 11:21 AM
thank you krishnaji.APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE. IN new delhi i doubt there are priest
who do varahi yagna.I would like to seek your blessings for chanting varahi mantra also
would like to know if you could guide me into proper worshiping of maa varahi to solve
issue like how many mantra chanting per day and for how many days. THANKS

Reply

Replies
 Krishna
March 18, 2019 02:25 AM
Vārāhī and Bagalāmukhī devi-s are one and the same, although their description
and mantras are different. You can choose either of their mantras and/or homa-s.
For mantra recitation, I would suggest the Śrī Vārāhī Gāyatrī mantra, which does
not require any initiation and can be recited. One must however, recite the
kavacam everyday, for adequate protection and for best results. Other stotras
associated with Her, may also be recited. The main mantras of Śrī Vārāhī are
only for Śrī Vidya devotees and require a pre-requisite of Pañcadaśī upadeśa, in
my opinion. These mantras can be dangerous without a proper initiation.
Devotion to the divine mother is foremost and can override everything, but in
general, it is best to follow the recommended procedures. You may consider any
other Devi homam or Sudarśana homam for getting rid of enemies. If possible,
consider performing it at home or at the place where the threat of enemies is
present.

Reply

 Appy
October 18, 2019 02:31 PM
Can we do Sri Varahi Devi Shodasopachara Puja even if we are not initiated into her
mantras?

Reply

Replies
  Krishna
October 21, 2019 03:10 AM
Yes, one can perform the pūja even if there is no initiation to Her mantras.

Reply

 Rachana
December 01, 2019 07:41 PM
Is chanting of Varahi mantras are enough or is it compulsory to go for homa and other
pujas related to Varahi Amman.....pls suggest

Reply

Replies
 Krishna
December 02, 2019 09:14 AM
If you are committed to the puraścaraṇa ritual, then homa is part of it. There is an
option to opt out of it and perform half the japa in its place. This is only if you are
unable to do so. It is not mandatory for one to commit to puraścaraṇa, to recite a
mantra. It can be done on its own without expecting any specific results and
leaving it up to the Divine Mother to do as She sees fit.

Reply

 U Harishchandra
February 09, 2020 08:01 PM
Sir In our villages every household or village or family having performing Varahi
(Panjiuruli-Tulu) is it same. In all folk songs there is many Shivashakthi related Goddess
are taking pujas (Bhuta-Kola, Nema) with village style. There Varahi land related
Power/Shakthi. When visited Tanjavuru-Tamilnadu. Other many temple Kshetra palakas
are Varahi. My doubt is they are all same.

Replies
 Krishna
February 11, 2020 10:51 PM
Sir, to the best of my knowledge and also after consulting my guru, who's an
expert on Śrī Vārāhi Devi and Śrī Vidya, the village deities mentioned here
appear to be related to Pitṛ or ancestral worship, than the worship of Śrī Vārāhi
Devi. She can be worshipped as one amongst the Aṣṭamātṛkā-s, as Śrī
Bagalāmukhi and as Herself under Śrī Vidya. She is a very high energy goddess
and should be worshipped with proper higher level initiation. Out of devotion to
Her, you may certainly worship Her by performing the ṣoḍaśopacāra puja, which
is available on this site.

Reply

 Nishchal
March 30, 2020 11:36 PM
Nice article.I'm Interested in her because she is nij shakti of Lord Varaha.I want to do
mantra japa of Varaha beej mantra (हूँ).But don't know to do in
tristup(11+11+11+11)chanda.How this beej mantra japa can be done in this particular
chanda.Help!!!