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Author Archives: Vaishnavi
Maa Varahi Panchasagar Shakti Peeth – 8th Among 51 Shakti Peethas
Panchasagar is the famous Shakti Peetha near Varanasi,Uttar Pradesh where it is said that the Lower Teeth of Maa Sati fell and the idols are Devi Maa as Varahi and Lord Shiva as Maharudra (The angry one).
Maa Vaarahi
Varahi Maa is one of the Matrikas, a group of seven or eight mother goddesses in the Hindu religion. With the head of a sow, Varahi is the Shakti (feminine energy, or sometimes, consort) of Varaha, the boar Avatar of the Lord Vishnu. In Nepal, she is called Barahi.
Varahi Maa
Maa Varahi is worshiped by all the three major schools of Hinduism: Shaktism (Goddess worship), Shaivism (followers of God Shiva), and Vaishnavism (Devotion to Lord Vishnu). She is usually worshiped at night, and according to secretive Vamamarga Tantric practices. The Buddhist goddesses Vajravarahi and Marichi are believed to have their origins in the Hindu goddess Varahi.
Maa Varahi
It well described in Devi Mahatmya in context of the Shumbha-Nishumbha Vadh from the Markandeya Purana religious texts, the Matrikas Goddesses appear as shaktis from the bodies of the Gods. The scriptures say that Varahi was created from Varaha. She has a boar form, wields a chakra (discus), and fights with a sword. After the battle described in the Purana, the Matrikas danced & drunk on their victim’s blood.
Lord Varaha
According to a latter episode of the Devi Mahatmya that deals with the killing of the demon Raktabija, the Mother Goddess Durga creates the Matrikas from herself and with their help slaughters the demon army. When the demon Shumbha challenges Durga to single combat, she absorbs the Matrikas into herself. In the Vamana Purana, the Matrikas arise from different parts of the Divine Mother Chandika, Varahi arises from Chandika’s back.
Varaha Avatharam
The Markendeya Purana praises Varahi as a granter of boons and the regent of the northern direction, in a hymn where the Matrikas are declared as the protectors of the directions. In another instance in the same Purana, she is described as riding a buffalo. The Devi Bhagavata Purana says Maa Varahi, with the other Matrikas, is created by the Supreme Mother. The Mother promises the gods that the Matrikas will fight demons when needed. In the Raktabija episode, Varahi is described as having a boar form, fighting demons with her tusks while seated on a preta (corpse).
Lord Vishnu as Varaha Avatar
In the Varaha Purana, the story of Raktabija is retold, but here each of Matrikas appears from the body of another Matrika. Varahi appears seated on Shesha-Naga (the serpent on which the god Vishnu sleeps) from the posterior of Vaishnavi, the Shakti of Lord Vishnu. Varahi is said to represent the vice of envy (asuya) in the same Purana.
The Matsya Purana tells a different story of the origin of Varahi. Varahi, with other Matrikas, is created by Shiva to help him kill the demon Andhakasura, who has the ability like Raktabija to regenerate from his dripping blood.
Posted in 51 Shakti Peethas, Durga, Hinduism, Maa
Tagged 51 Shakti Peethas, Barahi, Maa Sati, Maa Varahi, Matrikas, Panchasagar Shakti Peeth, Panchsaagar, Shakti Peethas, Varahi, Varahi Shakti Peeth
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Maa Narayani Suchindram Shakti Peeth near Kanyakumari – 7th Among 51 Shakti Peethas
Suchindram (Suchindrum) is the famous Shakti Peetha where it is said that the Upper Teeth of Maa Sati fell and the idols are Devi Maa as Narayani and Lord Shiva as Sanghar or Samhara Bhairava. Some times the goddess is popularly known as Kanya Kumari or Bhagavathy Amman, and looks extremely beautiful after early morning Puja. Samhara Bhairava is present in a nearby village, Suchindram, he is locally called Sthanu Shiva.
Narayani - Vaishnavi Shakti of Lord Vishnu
Suchindrum is a temple town situated in the southern most district of Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu State, India. It is 11 km from Kanyakumari city and about 7 km from Nagarkoil lying between these two towns. The temple is dedicated to Sri Sthanumalayan. The word denotes Siva, Vishnu and Brahma as. Sthanu represents Siva, Mal represents Vishnu while Ayan represents Brahma, means Siva, Vishnu and Brahma in “One Form”.
Suchindrum Temple
Suchindrum means the place where Indra attained “Suchi” (Purification). The Sthalapurana has it that Indra suffered a curse from sage Gowthama, when he stealthily cast amorous glances at Ahalya the wife of Gowthama. Not able to suffer the mortification brought about by the curse. Indra had to seek immediate redemption. He came to ‘Gnana Aranya’ as this place was then called and offered worship to Lord Shiva. Relieving Indra of his curse, Lord Shiva granted him of his wish that the place where he attained purification should henceforth be called ‘Suchindrum’.
Sthanumalayan - Brahma Vishnu and Shiva
Another story goes to say that the Trimurti’s- Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, cajoled by their divine consorts came down to the earth to test the chastity of Anusuya, wife of sage Athri at Gnana Aranya. The Gods for this misadventure had to suffer a surse form the Rishipatni and to undergo the purification process, before they could be restored to their former glory.
Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva
The Hindu Trinity - Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva
Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva
It is said that Thanumalaya Swamy temple is the only shrine dedicated to the Trinity in India. The present structure of the temple is the work of a number of persons spread over a number of centuries. It is a complex of many beautiful structures constructed at various times and is one of the best specimens and a store house of the Dravidian style of art and architecture.
Maa Vishweshwari Godavaritir or Sarvashail Shakti Peeth – 6th Among 51 Shakti Peethas
Godavaritir or Sarvashail is the famous Shakti Peetha where it is said that the Left Cheek of Maa Sati fell and the idols worshiped at this religious place are Vishweshwari (Vishweshi) or Rakini or Viswamatuka (The mother of the whole world) and Lord Shiva as Vatsnabh or Dandapani (The one who holds a staff). This Shakti Peetha is located at Kotilingeswar temple on the banks of Godavari river near Rajamundry, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Maa Vishweshwari
The Godavari River is sacred to Hindus and has several pilgrimage centers on its banks. It has been held as a special place of pilgrimage for many thousands of years. Many famous personalities, including Baladeva (5000 years ago) and more recently Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (500 years ago) have bathed in her waters as an act of worship.
River Godavari is considered the Dakshin (Southern) Ganges and Rajahmundry Dhakshin Kasi. Every twelve years, Pushkaram fair is held on its banks of the river. Crores of people have a holy dip in the sacred waters of the river to purify themselves of all their sins.
Dakshin Ganga Godavari Pooja
Legend has it that Sage Gautama lived on the Brahmagiri Hills at Trayambakeshwar with his wife Ahalya. The rishi kept his stock of rice in a granary. Once, a cow entered his granary and ate up the rice. When the rishi tried to ward the cow away with Durbha grass, it fell dead. The rishi wanted to relieve himself of the sin of ‘Gohatya’. He worshipped Lord Shiva and requested him to bring the Ganges to purify his hermitage. Lord Shiva pleased with the rishi appeared as Triambaka and brought along the river Ganges. Since the Ganges was brought down to Triambakeshwar by Sage Gautama, it is known here as Gautami. It is also known as Godavari because the river helped Sage Gautama to relieve his sins.
Vishalakshi Manikarnika or Vishalakshi Manikarni Shakti Peeth – 5th Among 51 Shakti Peethas
Vishalakshi Manikarnika or Vishalakshi Manikarni Shakti Peeth is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas mentioned in the Puranas. It is said that karna kundala (earring) of Devi Sati fell here. Hence Devi Maa here is also known as Manikarni or Manikarnika. The Puranas say that this city exists even after the Pralaya. The famous place ‘Manikarnika’ is located here and named so because the earring of Goddess Sati was like a pearl (Mani). Goddess worshiped here as Maa Vishalakshi & Lord Shiva as Kala or Kaal Bhairva.
Vishalakshi Manikarnika
Some pundits feel that karna kundala is merely an ornament and not part of the body. Therefore this place can at best be considered as a upapeetha, a minor or sub-centre. Another version says that this is a shakti peetha only because one of the three eyes (Akshi) fell here. As the divine eye can perceive the entire universe, Mother here is called Vishalakshi, the vast-eyed.
Maa Vishalakshi
The Vishalakshi Temple of Divine Mother Sati, wife of Lord Shiva stands at Meer Ghat just behind Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, India. Vishalakshi Devi temple is a powerful Shakti Peeth and any pooja, charity, recitation of devi mantras performed in this premises is considered to yield very high results. Unmarried girls worshiping Vishalakshi Devi are sure to get married, childless couple will certainly be blessed with a child, even the most unfortunate ladies will find all fortunes coming their way.
Maa Adi Shakti Vishalakshi
Shree Parvat or Shriparvata Shakti Peeth Ladakh – 4th Among 51 Shakti Peethas
Shree Parvat or Shriparvata Shakti Peeth is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas where the right anklet of Goddess Sati have fallen. Here the worship of idols are – Devi as Shree Sundari (beautiful) and Lord Shiva as as Sundaranand (the handsome one). The place is situated in Ladakh (Kashmir).
Another belief: at Srisailam in Shriparvat hills under Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, India
Shriparvata Shakti Peeth
Maa Shree Sundari
Mother Goddess in any form is the representation of mother nature. Maa Shree Sundari represent the beauty of mother nature which is around us. The sacrifice of Maa Sati was for the respect & dignity of Her consort Lord Shiva. In this form Devi Maa bless there devotees wither eternal beauty & purity of thoughts. That is why people want the blessings of Goddess Durga always in there life.
Shree Sundari Maa Durga
You may find the many locations of the Shakti Peethas with the same name in another places or states of India. But that is not mean to which one is real or which one is not, does not matter us. The fact which matters us is, how much faith & love we have in our heart for Devi Maa. Every one says that Devi Maa is their, that is why There are more than one Shatki Peetha with the same name in India.
