Goddess Varahi Matrika

Who is Goddess Varahi (Matrika)

Matrika Varahi or वराही is one of the Sapta-Matrikas. She is the female counter-part or the creative energy of the Varaha avatar of Lord Vishnu. She is called Barahi in Nepal.

गृहीतोग्रमहाचक्त्रे दंष्ट्रोद्धृतवसुन्धरे ।
वराहरूपिणि शिवे नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
(Salutations to You O Narayani) Who Assuming a Ferocious Form Holding a Great Discus, Rescued the Mother Earth with Her Tusk.
In the Form of Devi Varahi, the Auspicious One; Salutations to You O Narayani.

Stories behind the origin of Devi Varahi (Matrika)

There are many mythological stories about her origin. I mentioned one of these stories in the article on Andhakasura. According to it, Lord Varaha created Devi Varahi to protect Devi Parvati in Shiva’s absence. This story is mentioned in Matsya Purana.

There is another legend about the origin of Devi Varahi. There was a demon Raktabija. Incidentally, this demon, like Andhkasur, had the boon that every drop of his blood, when it falls on earth, will produce another demon. According to the legend, when Goddess Kali was fighting this demon Raktabija, the demon’s blood produced an army of demons. Saptamatrikas then arose from different parts of the divine mother to help Her. According to Vamana purana, Varahi came from Devi Chamunda’s back, while according to Varaha Purana she arose from the posterior of Devi Vaishnavi.

In Lalita Sahasranama, a book that mentions thousand names of divine mother, she is described as the destroyer of demon Visukaran.

She is also known as Panchami, as in the Saptamatrika panel she is placed at the fifth position. Matrikas are also associated with the consonants in devanagri script. As Devi Varahi is at fifth position so she is associated with the pa range of consonants – pa, pha, ba, bha, ma. Varahi as Panchami is identified as the wife of Sadashiva.

Varahi is also called Kaivalyarupini, the bestower of Kaivalya – the final Mukti from re-births.

She is also associated with Devi Lalitha as the commander of her army. In this form, she is known as as “Dandanayika” or “Dandanatha”.

In Sri Vidya tradition of Shaktism, Varahi is elevated to the status of transcendental knowledge.

The Buddhist Goddesses Vajra-Varahi and Marici have their origin from Goddess Varahi only.

The tantrik texts mention five forms of Varahi Matrika – Svapna-Varahi, Chand-Varahi, Mahi-Varahi (Bhairavi), krcca-Varahi and Matsya Varahi.

Iconography of Goddess Varahi (Matrika)

Devi Varahi is carved having a woman’s body and the face of a sow (female pig). She is a dark color Goddess having the color of stormy clouds. Her headdress is karanda mukuta – a tall conical headgear often with series of diminishing tiers of roundels that appear as inverted flowerpots, which sometimes also bears moon as her head ornament. She wears the ornaments made of coral and carries Hala (plough) and Shakti (spear).

She is pot-bellied with full breasts. The reason she is carved pot-bellied is due to her association with Lord Vishnu. She is identified as Yoga-nidra of Lord Vishnu and thus holds the universe in her womb. Some devotees feel that her pot-belly represents creativity, abundance, knowledge and wisdom.

Sometimes Devi Varahi is also carved holding earth on her tusks, though its not as common as one might expect considering her being the female energy of Varaha Avtaar of Lord Vishnu. In-fact leaving apart Devi Chamunda, most other Saptamatrikas resembles their male counterparts in form, jewelry and mount too, but Devi Varahi only inherits the boar-face.

Devi Varahi can be depicted in sitting, standing and dancing positions.

She is carved having two to six arms.

In Vishnudharmottara, she is described as six armed goddess. She carries a danda (staff for punishment), khadaga (sword), Khetka (shield) and Pasha (noose). Her other two arms are in Abhaya and Varada Mudra.

In Rupamandana, she is described as four-armed goddess carrying ghanta (bell), chamara (yak’s tail), chakara (disk), and gada (mace).

Matsya-Purana she is again described as four-armed , but the ghanta is missing from her hand. In-fact the book does not mention the fourth weapon.

In Purvakarnagama also she is mentioned as four-armed goddess and carries Sharanga (Devanagari: शारंग) – the celestial bow of the Hindu God Vishnu, Hala, Moosal and her fourth hand is either in Varada or abhaya mudra. She wears anklet.

In Devi purana, she is mentioned as carrying sword, iron-club, pasha(noose) and Khetka (Shield).

Mount or Vehicle of Devi Varahi (Matrika)

Devi Varahi is usually carved sitting on several mounts. She is shown sitting on a buffalo, a boar, Sheshnag, Garuda, an Elephant and also on horse (Jambini).

In tantrik shakta images, she is often carved with she-buffalo. As Devi Varahi is carved with buffalo some believe that she is creative energy of Yama and not Lord Varaha. The Varaha avatar of Lord Vishnu is in-fact her son.

In some carvings, she is shown holding a baby. Those idols reflects the creation and destruction; as mother Goddess she is associated with creation and as energy of Yama she is associated with destruction or death.

Why worship Devi Varahi (Matrika)

In Tantrik cult, Devi Varahi is worshipped to destroy enemies.

श्यामां तामसारुणत्रिनयनां सोमार्धचूड़ां जगत्-त्राणव्यग्रहलामुदग्रमुसलामत्रस्तमुद्रावतीं |

ये त्वां रक्तकपालिनीं शिववरारोहे वराहाननां भावे सन्दधे कथं क्षणमपि प्राणन्ति तेषां द्विषः ||

“The mighty boar-faced Goddess with a dark hue and reddish eyes, Oh Goddess Varahi! you bear the nectar pouring moon on your head and carry the plough and pestle as your weapons to protect your devotees from all difficulties. You are the beloved of Lord Shiva and called as Rakta Kapaalini, through your limitless grace, your devotees are freed from all kinds of disturbances from enemies.”

Another prayer talks about her powers and the iconography too, “May the three-eyed Varahi destroys our group of enemies with the fires emanating from her eyes. She is the splendor of lightening (bolt) and holds in her lotus like hands a noose, a spear, a mace and a goad.

Devi Varahi represents envy, jealousy and worshipping her removes these negative traits from her devotees.

According to Devi-Mahatmya, she should be worshipped for longevity.

In Buddhism, Devi Varahi is worshipped to get powers to interpret prophesies.

When and how to worship Devi Varahi (Matrika)

Devi Varahi is a ratri-devta and so she should be worshipped after sun-set and before sun-rise. She is thus known as Dhruma Varahi (Dark Varahi) and also Dhumavati (the Goddess of darkness).

Parshuram Kalpasutra further specifies that the time of worship must be midnight. Full moon days are considered sacred to her.

Shakta worship Devi Varahi with panchamakara – wine, fish, grain, meat and ritual copulations.

Devi Varahi the Goddess of South-East

Matrikas are the presiding deities of different directions too. Devi Varahi is the deity of the South-East (though I see at many places her being mentioned as deity of North). Tantra-yoga visualizes seven Goddesses as the presiding deity of the seven chakras present in the subtle body of every human being. In this context, Devi Varahi represents the naval portion.

Tree Related to Devi Varahi (Matrika)

Kalpaka is the tree related to Devi Varahi.

Significance of choosing Varahi as Goddess.

Varah or wild-boar is known for its intelligence, fierceness, fertility and independence. Probably, this was the reason why our ancestors worshipped Lord Vishnu in the avatar of wild-boar (Varah-Avtaar). Similarly Varahi might have been worshipped in ancient India as an element of defiance and subversion.

References

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