Vaaraahi Navaratri

We all celebrate the Mother Goddess for nine days during the Navaratri, which falls during the month of Ashwina, (spanning september-october). But few people know that we have more than a navaratri..

In fact Devi is worshipped during navaratris that occur 4 times a year..

They are:

• Sharadha Navartri (the month of Ashwina),
• the Matangi or Poushya Navaratri (starts with the month of Margashirsha),
• the Vasantha Navaratri (the month of Chaitra)
• the Varahi Navaratri (the month of Ashadha)

Of these Sharadha Navaratri and Vasantha Navaratri are well known. The other two are called Gupta Navaratris.

Varahi Navaratri is dedicated to the worship of Varahi. The Bhavanopanishad says that "Vaaraahi Pitru Roopam", that is,Vaaraahi is the emodiment of the Father, while explaning the concept of the Self in the Upanishad.

Varahi can be considered as the Supreme Commander of Lalita Mahatripurasundari's forces as "Dandanayika" or "Dandanatha" – the commander-general of Lalita's army. She is the feminine form of the Varaha Avatar of Lord Vishnu. Durga Saptashati (The Seven Hundred Verses of Durga) mentions her as the Shakti of Vishnu, one of the seven Maatrikas (Goddesses), who along with Chaamunda and Kaushiki Devi,defeat the demon Raktabija, who could regenerate from the drops of his own blood.

Varahi is fifth in line of the seven Matrikas and hence called Panchami. She is invoked to ward off evil, to remove her devotees from peril and to destroy the enemy. The Devi Mahatmya suggests that one should invoke Varahi for longevity. She is also invoked for attaining Kaivalya pada (i.e Moksha). Those who chant Varahi's Mantra feel this extra-ordinary sense of courage and will-power to overcome any difficulty.

She takes the face of a female boar i.e a Sow and the body of a female with a dark complexion similar to a dark cloud (just like Lord Vishnu's), and has two/four/six arms as per various depictions. . In her hands, she holds the ghanta (bell), a chamara (a yak's tail), a chakra (discus), and a gada (mace), Sharnga (the bow of Lord Vishnu), the Musala (the pestle) and the Hala (the plough), and sometimes the Kapala (skull-cup) and showing the Abhaya (Fearlessness) Mudra and Varada (Boons-Bestowing) Mudra, and also holds the Paasha (Noose) and Angusha (Axe) according to various depictions. She rides on the Buffalo. In some depictions she is described as being pot-bellied and full-breasted, and sometimes standing, seated or dancing.

Varahi Tantra mentions that Varahi has five forms : Svapna Varahi, Chanda Varahi, Mahi Varahi (Bhairavi), Krcca Varahi, and Matsya Varahi

Let's offer our Salutations to Varahi, the destroyer of enemies, the Supreme Commander of the Divine Army, and one who bestows her devotess with prosperity and Moksha!!