Vaarahi Ambika

VAARAHI AMBIKA MANTRASPronunciation Keyō – as in Note ā – as in Fate Ī – as in Pine aa – as in Far Ōm Hreem Namō Vaarahi Gōrāy Hoom Phut Namahaa  VAARAHI PRATISHTA MANTRAOm Ahm Hreem Krom ”Yah” Yahee Varahi Namahaa

Note: ‘Swaaha’ is used for Homams and ‘Namahaa’ is used for general prayers SIGNIFICANCE OF MOTHER VAARAHI Vaarahi is one of the Saivite Shakti deities with the group of goddesses known as Saptamatrukas or the "Seven Mothers". The seven mothers are: Brahmi, Maheshvari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Vaarahi, Mahendri and Chamundi. They are the Shakti (female) equivalents of their male counterparts.  Vaarahi is the Shakti of the Vishnu Avatar Varaha. • Created from the boar avatara of Vishnu, Vaarahi is often associated with Goddess Kamala (one of the Mahavidyas).  • She is also called the Danda-natha (Lady commander of the forces of the Mother-Goddess, symbolizing the might of SriVidya).  • As Vaarahi ("boar-faced' or 'the great consumer') she destroys evil forces that obstructs the devotees' progress, paralyses the enemies, and lead the devotees ultimately to Sri-Vidyas.  • She is classed as the fifth among the seven "mother-like" divinities (Saptamatrukas and hence also called Panchami).  • With Kurukulla, she is accorded the parental status to Sri-Chakra (Lalita Tripura-Sundari). While Kurukulla represents the full moon, Vaarahi represents the new-moon. And while Vaarahi represents the illumination (prakasa) aspects of the mother-goddess, Kurukulla is the "deliberation" (vimarsa) aspect.  • In another aspect, Vaarahi is also said to be one of the Yoginis, taking the form of a boar. She is said to lift up the earth with her tusks to confer benefits on all creatures. • In relation to Buddhism, especially Tibetan Buddhism, Vaarahi is one of the Dakshinis (an enlightened compassionate spirit embodied in a female form). She is the protector, the concealer and the one who recovers spiritual communication, texts and other sacred objects  • In Devi Mahatmyam and Devi-bhagavata purana, Vaarahi (as with all the other Saptamatrkas) is not primarily represented as the divine consort or Shakti of the male deity but rather as an extension or form of Devi Herself. Sometimes Vaarahi is associated with Goddess Kamala (one of the Maha-Vidyas ) and Vaishnavi. STORY OF THE BOAR Hiranyaksha ( the golden_eyed demon) received a boon from Brahma after he practiced severe austerities in his devotion to Him. He asked to become king of the whole world, and that no human or animal which he mentioned by name should ever have the power to harm him. He enumerated all the animals but forgot to mention the boar. Hiranyaksha wreaked havoc, plundering everything of value from the creatures of the world, including the Hindu scriptures. He even took the earth down into the ocean as a hostage.  Vishnu assumed the boar form and plunged into the depths of the primeval ocean to rescue Earth. It took him one thousand years to kill Hiranyaksha and to lift the earth up with his great white tusks. He calmed it, and made it ready for human use by molding its mountains and continents.  SYMBOLISM OF VAARAHI  The myth of of the boar is not just confined to Hindu Mythology. It is in the Celtic, Japanese, Chinese, Greek, American Indian and Egyptian cultures as well. Goddess Ceridwin, a Celtic Mother Goddess was also called the "old White Sow". The Boar too is a sacred animal of Goddess Isis ( the Egyptian equivalent of Durga ) and her brother is a black boar ( called Seth ).  Emotional and Physchological Symbolism  1. In the Celtic and Welsh version, the boar represents courage and strong warriors.  2. In China, the boar represents the wealth of the forest.  3. In Japan, the boar depicts courage.  4. To the Buddhist, the boar represents attachment (general and material), greed and lust.  In association with the Saptamatrkas, Vaarahi Panchami can be said to be the representation of the controlled energy of courage and fearlessness that has gone out of control in us which causes envy and greed and leads to attachment (material and general).  BENEFITS OF VAARAHI POOJA AND HOMA Mother Vaarahi protects all devotees who turn to Her for Her grace and blessings. She is an extremely powerful Goddess and bestows the following on those who worship Her with sincerity and devotion. • Eliminates the “evil eye” (also known as Drushti in Tamil and Nazar in Hindi) • Wards off troubles from evil spirits • Wards off any kind of evil deeds or rituals (black magic) aimed at Her devotee • Protects the person from accidents • Makes the person blessed with word power, fame, good will etc. • She dispels fear and bestows courage and confidence • Bestows wealth and an exalted status in society • Supreme victory over enemies and all those who stand in the way of one’s progress  • Dispels disease and ill health • Grants happiness and prosperity