The article discusses the goddess Varahi, often overshadowed by the more widely recognized boar incarnation of Vishnu, Varaha. Varahi is depicted as a sow-headed goddess with multiple arms wielding various weapons, embodying both fertility and death. Unlike Varaha, who is celebrated in temples primarily during the day, Varahi is worshipped at night, often with offerings like fish and blood sacrifices, reflecting her status as a Tantrik goddess. Varahi is part of the Matrika group of goddesses, who are considered the shaktis of male deities and play a role in supporting Durga in battle. She is known as Panchami, the fifth Matrika, linked to the Devanagari alphabet's consonants. Despite the traditional stigma surrounding pigs in Indian society, Varahi's worship represents a form of defiance against societal norms. In religious texts, Varahi is described differently: as Varaha's shakti in Vaishnavism and as his mother in Shaktism. Worship practices differ significantly between them, with Varaha receiving offerings of fruits and milk, while Varahi is associated with more unconventional offerings, highlighting their contrasting identities within their respective pantheons.

by Devdutt Pattanaik in English Magazine

Writen by Devdutt Pattanaik

Category Magazine