Varahi

Did You Know?

• In Buddhism, Vajravarahi inherits Varahi's fierce character and is invoked to destroy enemies.
• Varahi, along with Varttali, appears as the hog-faced attendant of Marichi, who also has a sow face.

Legend

In the Shumbha-Nishumbha story of the Devi Mahatmya, Varahi was created from Varaha, wields a chakra and sword, and after battle the Matrikas dance drunk on demons' blood. In the Raktabija episode, Durga creates the Matrikas from herself; when Shumbha challenges Durga, she absorbs them. The Vamana Purana says Varahi arises from Chandika's back. The Markendeya Purana praises her as a granter of boons and describes her riding a buffalo. The Devi Bhagavata Purana states the Supreme Mother creates the Matrikas, who fight demons when needed; in the Raktabija episode Varahi fights with tusks while seated on a corpse. The Varaha Purana retells Raktabija, with Varahi appearing from Vaishnavi's posterior seated on Shesha-nāga, and she represents envy. The Matsya Purana says Shiva creates Varahi to help kill Andhakasura, who regenerates from dripping blood.

Associations

The Devi Purana paradoxically calls Varahi both Varahajanani (mother of Varaha) and Kritantatanusambhava (emerging from death personified). She is called Vaivasvati and drinks milk from a skull-cup; this name identifies her with Yami, shakti of Yama. She holds a rod and rides a buffalo, attributes of Yama. In the Sanskrit alphabet, Varahi governs the pa varga. The Lalita Sahasranama calls her destroyer of demon Visukaran. As Panchami, she is identified with the wife of Sadashiva, the fifth Brahma responsible for regeneration. She is called Kaivalyarupini, bestower of Kaivalya (final salvation). Varahi resides in the navel and governs three chakras. Haripriya Rangarajan suggests Varahi is Vak devi, goddess of speech.

Iconography

Varahi has a sow face on a human body with a black complexion like a storm cloud. She is pot-bellied with full breasts, unlike most other Matrikas except Chamunda. One belief links her pot-belly to holding the universe in her womb; another theory calls it a maternal aspect, though she and Chamunda exemplify the terrible aspect. A notable exception is a human-faced slender depiction at the sixth-century Rameshvara cave at Ellora. She wears a conical basket-shaped crown and may have a third eye or crescent moon on her forehead. She can be standing, seated, or dancing, and occasionally holds the Earth on her tusks.

Worship

Varahi is worshipped by Shaivas, Vaishnavas, and Shaktas, often as part of the Sapta-Matrikas. She is a night goddess, worshipped after sunset and before sunrise; the Parsurama Kalpasutra specifies midnight. Shaktas use secretive Vamamarga Tantric practices involving panchamakara. In the Kalaratri temple on the Ganges, worship occurs only at night. Shaktas consider her a manifestation of Lalita Tripurasundari or as Dandanayika, commander-general of Lalita's army. The Sri Vidya tradition elevates her to Para Vidya. Thirty yantras and thirty mantras are prescribed for her worship. Prayers include Varahi Anugrahashtakam for blessing and Varahi Nigrahashtakam for destruction of enemies. Notable temples include a 9th-century one at Chaurasi, Orissa, where she is Matysa Varahi; in Varanasi she is Patala Bhairavi. Ashadha Navaratri is celebrated at the Varahi shrine in Brihadeeswarar temple, Thanjavur.