Author – Padmaja Vangala
Sri Ganeshaya Namaha
Sri Gurubhoy Namaha
Sri Lakshmi Nrusimha Parabrahmane namaha
Sri Varahi Shakti Navaratri
In Plavanama year Ashada month commences on 30th June 2022. Ashada Shukla Pratipada to Navami is celebrated as Gupta/Ghuya/Ashada/Varahi Navaratri. In the Hindu religion, there are two main Navaratri Chaitra and Ashwin celebrated by all.
Apart from these, there are two more Gupta Navaratri i.e.Magha and Ashada Navaratri. They are said to be Gupta Navaratri as it is celebrated only in some parts of India. In Vaishakha month Narasimha Navaratri, Ashwin Krishna Padyami Sharada Navaratri, and Magha month Shakambari Navaratri is also celebrated as their lineage deity.
Ashada Navaratri is famous as Varahi Navaratri. In Vaishanavisam Varahi is women Shakti of Varahaswamy the third incarnation of Lord Vishnu. In Shaivism, Varahi is the wife of one of Pancha Brahma i.e., Sadashivam. In Shaktheyam Varahi is commender.in.chief of Sri Lalitha Devi. She is Worshipped as Lakshmi Devi for wealth and Prosperity and Vajra Varahi in form of Saraswati for knowledge and Wisdom. In Kundalini she is placed in Agyna Chakra.
Varahi is also one of Saptha/Astha Matruka. Devi Puran narrates the birth of Varahi. Goddess Durga with the support of Saptha Matruka killed the demon Raktha Beej. Since then, Astha Matruka emerged to protect Eight directions with Ashta Bhairav.
She is head of Northside along with her husband Unmattha Bahirav. Here it is important to remember without worshiping Unmattha Bhairav, Varahi or Kuber pooja cannot be performed, because he is head of Northside along with Varahi. The Saptha Matrika emerged from different parts of Chandika a form of Goddess Durga. Varahi is back part of Chandika. The purpose of Astha Matruka is to protect God and Goddess from Demons.
| Corners | Names of Bhairav | Names of Matruka |
| East | Asithanga Bahirav | Brahmi |
| South East | Ruru Bhairav | Maheshwari |
| South | Chanda Bhairav | Kaumari |
| South West | Krodha Bhairav | Vaishnavi |
| West | Bheeshana Bhairav | Chamundi |
| North West | Kapala Bhairav | Indrani |
| North | Unmatha Bhairav | Varahi |
| North East | Samhara Bhairav | Mahalakshmi |
In Markendeya Puran, Devi Bhagavatam, , Vaman puran and Varah Puran describes killing of demons like Shumbu and Inshumbha, Andakasura, Hiryanaksh and Raktha bheej. After Killing demons Shumbha and Nishumbha by Goddess Durga feminine Power emerged as Brahma _ Brahmi, Vishnu _ Vaishnavi, Shiva_Shivani, and Varah_Varahi as their Shakti. Ashada Shukla Panchami is observed as Varahi Jayanthi.
Varahi is worshipped in different forms for different purposes. Bruhut Varahi for Sthabhan Vidya, Swapna Varahi for answers in dreams for any questions, Kiratha Varahi to protect from enemies, Laghu Varahi-Killing of enemies, and Dhumra Varahi -success over enemies. Varahi is named as Varthali, Vyrali, Ugra and Dhandanayaki. Varahi appears Black in color, with a pig face with eight hands, and rides on buffalo. She is mostly worshipped by farmers to protect agriculture from pests and insects.
She appears with four or six or eight or ten hands with different animals as Vahan. In Markandeya Puran Buffalo is her Vahan, and Devi Puran Dead body is Vahan.Vaman Puran Shesha Nag is her Vahan and also, and she rides on Lion, Tiger, and horse. At Varanasi left side of Dasa Ashwamedha Ghat Varahi temple is located. Temple remains open from 4.30 A.M. to 8.30.A.M. Whole day temple is closed as Varahi Devi sleeps in the daytime. During night time Varahi Devi marches in the streets and has the vigilance of the entire Varanasi with her army to protect from evils.
She is called Ratri Devatha and Grama Devatha. Another temple is in Chourasia, Puri, or Orissa State. Varahi is also the presiding deity of Raghuvamsa and Lord Rama after worshipping Varahi defeated Ravana and came to know Varahi is a lineage deity and a temple is built in Ayodhya. Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple is in Antharvedi, Narasapuram West Godavari District. She is praised as, “भू गर्भ परमेश्वरी जग्गाधात्री” Which means she hides the entire earth in her stomach.
