Goddess Varahi is not your usual goddess who is worshipped with sattvic offerings like milk, flowers, and fruits. She is a Tantric goddess, and her devotees usually worship her at night. They also offer her blood, meat, and sometimes alcohol.
According to Vaishnava texts, Varahi represents the Shakti or feminine principle of Varaha, Lord Vishnu’s boar-faced avatar. Shakta texts regard her as the mother of Varaha. While Varaha is usually associated with the demure earth-goddess, Varahi is a very feisty and independent goddess. Goddess Varahi reminds us of a time when Hinduism was less puritanical and did not frown on female freedom. In fact, goddesses like Varahi were part of the Tantra challenge to Vedanta’s puritanical streak.
Interesting Facts about Goddess Varahi
Varahi has the face of a pig or boar and a human body. In her eight hands, she holds powerful weapons to protect her true devotees. She sits on a horse called Ashwaruda. Varahi is the fifth among the Sapthamatrikas and is also called Panchami. She takes many forms to help her devotees and fulfill their wishes. It is said that she is easily moved by the suffering of her devotees. Hence, she took the form of Dhandini to punish those who troubled her devotees and caused them misery. Simha Vahini is one of her other names, as she sits on a lion signifying her supreme power. Her favorite flowers are Shenbagam, Blue Sanghu, Sevvarali, Manoranjitham, and Thiruneer Pachai. When it comes to offerings, she prefers pomegranate, lemon rice, boiled white Mochai with honey, and Ellurundai (balls made of sesame seeds and syrup). She also likes tubers like Chakkaravalli Kizhangu and Maravalli Panai. Here favorite color is green.
Rituals of Varahi worship
Followers of three Hindu sects worship Varahi. They are Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and Shaktism (goddess worship). Secretive Vamamarga Tantric practices are part of Shakta worship. Such practices include panchamakara – offerings of alcohol, grain, fish, meat, and ritual copulation. Such rituals are practiced at the Kalaratri temple located on the banks of the Ganges. In Tantra, Varahi worship should take place after sunset and before sunrise. Shaktas see her as a manifestation of Goddess Lalita Tripurasundari or "Dandanayika", who was the commander-general of Lalita's army. Ashadha Navaratri, celebrated in Ashadha month (June/July), is a nine-day festival that honors Goddess Varahi at the Varahi shrine at Brihadeeswarar temple in Thanjavur. Full moon days are very sacred for Varahi.
Origin Stories
In the Devi Mahatmya, the Matrikas emerge as Shaktis or feminine powers from the bodies of the gods. But as per the story that describes the slaying of the demon Raktabija in Devi Mahatmya, it is Goddess Durga who created the Matrikas from herself. When the demon Shumbha challenged Durga to fight him singlehandedly, she absorbed the Matrikas into herself.
The Markendeya Purana describes Varahi as one who grants boons and as the ruler of the Northern direction. According to the Devi Bhagavata Purana, the Supreme Mother created Varahi and the other Matrikas. The Mother is also said to have assured the gods that the Matrikas would fight demons whenever required.
Kottai Varahi Amman Temple
This temple is in Katpadi, Vellore, in Tamilnadu. The temple’s structure and design evoke the form of Mahameru or Sri Chakram. Goddess Kottai Varahi sits on the stone, which resembles the Shivalingam. It has been designed in such a way wherever you count from the doorstep to the place where the main deity is kept, it will be in a triangular form, counting coming to the square of 8 or 64. She has the form of a “Valai Thaai,” the Supreme Mother of all the Siddhars, Rishis, and Yogis who wish to attain siddhi. 64 Yoginis are believed to reside in this place. Hence, people believe that those who worship here will be able to attain all the supreme powers. The eight types of Goddess Varahi, or Ashta Varahi, are present in a unified form in this temple.
Temple History
The temple stands in a calm and serene setting among verdant fields in the picturesque village of Arumparuthi in Katpadi. This temple has a very interesting history.
The villagers say that many years ago, two Siddhars from the sacred hills of Palani came to this place for meditation. Later, a shelter for cows came up here. It is where a Varahi disciple called Guru Pallur Varahi Dasan began his meditation so that people all over the world would be completely cured of Covid-19.
He began to see Goddess Varahi in his dreams and began performing Valapirai, Theipirai Panjami, and Pournami yagams on a small scale. As the days passed, the vibrations in this place increased, and Varahi said to him in a dream that a temple should be built here, and it should be completed within 4 months /4 years/ 40 years. Despite the pandemic, the Bhoomi pooja was performed on August 16, 2020. The Kumbhabishekam for Goddess Varahi was also performed on September 7, 2020. This happened to be a very auspicious day when all the planets appeared in a triangular form.
The Siddhars from Palani initiated the Kumbhabishekam. Guru Pallur Varahi Dasan performed the other rituals. These events occurred in just 21 days, which devotees perceived as a miracle.
Benefits of Worshipping Varahi Amman
Worshipping the goddess at the Varahi Amman Temple can bring many benefits:
*Speedy resolution in land disputes and issues
*Birth of progeny
*Relief from Chevvai and Sarpa Dosham, which cause delays and problems in marriage
*Restores family unity by removing misunderstandings between couples
*Bestows protection against evil forces.