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.

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

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.

Karavipur Shakti Peeth

Shivaharkaray - Durga

Mahishasura Mardini Durga

Maa Durga is known as the slayer of the demon Mahishasur, who was originated from a buffalo which represents the the animal nature in us in this form of Maa Durga is Called Mahishasura Mardini. Means Maa Durga slayed down a demon named Mahishasura who represent the animal features in human like ego, ignorance, greed & selfishness.

Mahisasuramardini

Maa Mahisasuramardini

Maa Durga as Mahisasuramardini

In this form Mahishasura Mardini, the Mother Goddess shows us the path to defeat the animal nature in human beings with the her divine help. The lion, the steed of the Maa Durga, represents man’s virility. The animal nature is to be conquered and kept under rigid control, but never absolutely abolished, for everything has its part to play wile placed in the right perspective. It is to be tamed to serve the purpose of creation proper vehicle of the divine.

Devi Uma

Maa Katyayani

The Katyayani Devi present here has a sword named Uchawal Chandrahaas in her hand and is sitting on a throne. The Katyayani Devi temple is situated in Radhbag near Yamuna in Vrindavan and is a very renowned Siddhapeeth. Katyayani is the 8th from of Durga. It is said that the girls of Braj worshipped Mata Katyayani in this Siddhapeeth to get Shri Krishna.

Maa Katyayani Uma Shakti Peeth

The location of temple is very clear in Vrindavan, near new bus stand on Bhuteshwar road within Bhuteshwar Mahadev Temple. Vrindavan also known as Vraj, is a town in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India, is one such sacred town situated on the banks of the holy river Yamuna. It is 150 Kms from Delhi and is approachable by rail and road. The town was named after a tulsi grove which existed here during the ancient times. Vrinda is the other name for the sacred Tulsi (Basil) plant. Vrindavan is a famous pilgrimage site where Lord Krishna is worshipped day and night.

Radhey Krishna

Lord Krishna was raised in the cowherding village of Gokul by his foster parents Nanda Maharaj and Yasoda Maa. The Bhagavata Purana describes Krishna’s early childhood pastimes in the Vrindavan forest where He, his brother Balarama, and his cowherd friends stole butter, engaged in childhood pranks and fought with demons. Along with these activities, Krishna is also described as meeting and dancing with the local girls of Vrindavan village, especially Radharani, who were known as gopis. Lord Krishna was capable of amazing feats and saved the village from many perils such as the Naga Kaliya and Krishna lifted the Govardhana hill and taught Indra, the king of the devas and rain, a lesson to protect native people of Vrindavana.

Maa Vimala

Kiriteshwari, Kiritkona, Mukuteshwari Temple

Kiriteshwari, Kiritkona, Mukuteshwari - 1st Among 51 Shakti Peethas

Take the train to Azimganj. The Azimganj town is situated on the western side of the river Bhagirathi and is within the Lalbagh (Murshidabad) Subdivision. The Temple is just five kilometres from Dahapara railway station, and is the oldest temple in the Murshidabad district. The temples are on the shore of the ganges near Barnagar.

Devi Vimala

51 Shakti Peethas of Maa Durga - Maa Sati, Dakshayani

In the Satya Yuga, Daksha performed a yagna with a desire to take revenge on Lord Shiva. Daksha was angry because his daughter Dakshayani also known as Sati had married the ‘Yogi’ God Shiva against his wish. Daksha invited all the deities to the yagna except for Shiva and Shakti. The fact that she was not invited did not deter Shakti from attending the yagna. She had expressed her desire to attend to Shiva who had tried his best to dissuade her from going. Shiva eventually allowed her to go escorted by his followers.

Goddess Durga

But Sati, being an uninvited guest, was not given any respect. Furthermore, Daksha insulted Shiva. Shakti was unable to bear her father’s insults toward her husband, so Devi Sati invoked her yogic powers and immolated herself. When Sati, the wife of Shiva and the first incarnation of Parvati, sacrificed herself at a yagna being performed by her father the King Daksha; a very distraught Shiva started dancing with her body. The world was terrorized from this Tandava Nritya and to stop the devastating penance, Vishnu used his Sudarshan chakra and completely cut up Sati’s body in several pieces. Wherever her body parts fell, a temple was erected to commemorate different manifestations of Shiva and Parvati and became a Hindu pilgrimage. They are called Pitha or Sakti Pithas. These temples are scattered from present day Pakistan to India to Sri Lanka to Bangladesh. Sati is also called Devi or Shakti. See Below for all Shakti Peethas :-

51 Shakti Peethas of Maa Durga

1. Kirit Shakti Peeth
2. Vrindavan Shakti Peeth
3. Shivaharkaray or Karavipur Shakti Peeth
4. Shriparvata Shakti Peeth
5. Varanasi (Vishalakshi) Shakti Peeth
6. Godavari Tir Shakti Peeth
7. Suchindram Shakti Peeth
8. Panchasaagar Shakti Peeth
9. Jwalamukhi Shakti Peeth
10. Bhairava Parvat Shakti Peeth
11. Attahas Shakti Peeth
12. Janasthan Shakti Peeth
13. Amarnath Shakti Peeth
14. Nandipur Shakti Peeth
15. Sri Sailam Shakti Peeth
16. Nalhatti Shakti Peeth
17. Mithila Shakti Peeth
18. Ratnavali Shakti Peeth
19. Prabhas Shakti Peeth
20. Jallandhar Shakti Peeth
21. Chitrakoot Shakti Peeth
22. Deoghar Shakti Peeth
23. Vakreshwar Shakti Peeth
24. Kanyakumari Shakti Peeth
25. Bahula Shakti Peeth
26. Ujjain Shakti Peeth
27. Manivedika Shakti Peeth
28. Prayag Shakti Peeth
29. Puri Shakti Peeth
30. Kanchipuram Shakti Peeth
31. AmarKantak Shakti Peeth
32. Sona Shakti Peeth
33. Kamakhya Shakti Peeth
34. Jayantia Shakti Peeth
35. Patna Shakti Peeth
36. Tristrota Shakti Peeth
37. Tripura Shakti Peeth
38. Vibasha Shakti Peeth
39. Kurukshetra Shakti Peeth
40. Yogadaya Shakti Peeth
41. Virat Shakti Peeth
42. Kalipitha Shakti Peeth
43. Manasa Shakti Peeth
44. Nellore Shakti Peeth
45. Gandaki Shakti Peeth
46. Pasupathinath Shakti Peeth
47. Hingula Shakti Peeth
48. Sugandha Shakti Peeth
49. Karota Shakti Peeth
50. Chattal Shakti Peeth
51. Yashor Shakti Peeth

At all Shakti Peethas, the Goddess Shakti is accompanied by Lord Bhairava in different forms (a manifestation of Lord Shiva).

Lord Shiva in Grief Holding the Body of Sati

Lord Shiva Holding the Body of Sati & Sudrashan Chakra

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.

Maa Durga - Remover all Sorrows and Dangers

But there is one basic aim of this celebration- Propitiate Shakti, the Mother Goddess in Her aspect as Power, to bestow upon bhatks with all Her Grace, wealth, auspiciousness, prosperity, knowledge (both sacred and secular), and all other potent powers. There can be many or any of the particular or special requests that everyone may put before the Mother Goddess, whatever boon or Bliss may be asked of Her, the one thing behind all these is propitiation, worship and linking oneself with Her. There is no other aim. This is being effected consciously or unconsciously. Everyone is blessed with Her loving mercy and is protected by Her. Durga Puja or Navaratri commences on the first and ends on the tenth day of the bright half of Aswayuja (September-October). It is held in commemoration of the victory of Durga over Mahishasura, the buffalo-headed demon. In Bengal Her image is worshipped for nine days and then cast into water. The tenth day is called Vijaya Dasami or Dussera (the “tenth day”). Processions with Her image are taken out along the streets of villages and cities.

Durgey Durghat Bhaari Tujvin Sansari - Marathi Aarti of Maa Durga

Durgey Durghat Bhaari Tujvin Sansari
Anath Nathe Ambey Karuna Vistari
Vaari Vaari Janma Maranaache Vari
Haari Padalo Aata Sankat Nivaari
Jai Devi Jai Devi

Jai Devi Jai Devi Mahishasur Mathini
Survar Ishwar Warde Taarak Sanjivani
Jai Devi Jai Devi

Tribhuvan Bhuvani Pahata Tujh Aisi Nahi
Chari Shramale Parantu Na Bolave Kahi
Saahi Vivad Karita Padile Pravahi
Te Tu Bhakta Lage Paavasi Lavlahi
Jai Devi Jai Devi

Jai Devi Jai Devi Mahishasur Mathini
Survar Ishwar Warde Taarak Sanjivani
Jai Devi Jai Devi

Prasan Vadane Prasan Hosi Nijdasa
Klesha Paasuni Sodi Todi Bhavapasha
Ambey Tuj Vachun Koun Purvil Aasha
Narhar Taallin Zala Pad Pankajalesha
Jai Devi Jai Devi

Jai Devi Jai Devi Mahishasur Mathini
Survar Ishwar Warde Taarak Sanjivani
Jai Devi Jai Devi …………

Durga Saptashati - The 700 Slokas (Verses) in Praise of Maa Durga

In Hinduism it was the tradition that one must reads the Devi-Bhagavatam or Devi Mahatmyam or Durga Saptashati (The 700 verses on Maa Durga) during Navaratra the blessings of Mother Durga. As it is mentioned in many Puranas & lok-kathas (folk stories) that the recitation “Durga saptashati” relieves human beings from all their worries and blesses them with prosperity and happiness.

ψ Download PDF Version of Durga Sapshati

The reading of Durga Saptashati during Navaraatri is to be done follows:-

• Chapter 1 (Madhu kaitabha samhaara) is to be read for 1st day,
• Chapter 2, 3 and 4 (Mahishhasura samhaara) to be read on 2nd day,
• Chapter 5 and 6 (Dhuumralochana vadha) on the 3rd day,
• Chapter 7 (Chanda Munda vadha) on 4th day,
• Chapter 8 (Rakta biija samhaara) on 5th day,
• Chapter 9 and 10 (Shumbha Nishumbha vadha) on 6th day,
• Chapter 11 (Praise of Narayani) on 7th day,
• Chapter 12 (Phalastuti) on 8th day,
• Chapter 13 (Blessings to Suratha and the Merchant)on 9th day
• Chapter 14 (Aparadha Kshamaprarthana) on 10th day