Varahi Devi

Varahi Devi is a powerful Goddess in Sri Chakra Worship. She is the Senathipathi or the Goddess leading  army of the Empress Srilalitha Parameswari.

There are many powerful places of worship of Varahi. She is worshipped in many temples all over India. Varahi sannidhi is there in Varadaraja perumal temple in Swamy malai. 

Varahi Devi in Swarna or Golden Kavacham in Swamy malai perumal Temple

There are said to be 12 important forms of Varahi as seen below.

1) Panchami

2) Dhandanatha

3) Sanketha

4) Samayeswari

5)  Samayasanketha

6) Varahi

7) Pothrini

8)  Shivaa

9) Vaarthali

10) Mahasena

11) Ajnachakreswari

12) Arigni

Devas or Celestials praised Varahi with 12 names during the battle with Bhandasura in the following sloka of Brahmanda Purana,

पञ्चमी दन्डनाथा च सङ्केता समयेश्वरी |
तथा समयसङ्केता वाराही पोत्रिणी शिवा ||

वार्ताली च महासेना प्याज्ञाचक्रेश्वरी तथा |
अरिघ्नी चेति संप्रोक्तं नाम द्वादशकं मुने ||

नाम द्वादशधाभिक्ज्ञ वज्र पञ्जर मध्यग: |
सङकटे दु:खमाप्नोति न कदाचन मानव: ||

Out of these 12 forms mentioned above, 7 forms are found in Swamymalai perumal temple. These 7 forms of Varahi are very rarely found,

Not many know about this Varadaraja perumal temple, though it is very near the popular Swamymalai Murugan Temple. Agasthiar.org says the worship of Varahi in this temple is very powerful in their link below,


http://www.agasthiar.org/AUMzine/0018-viya.htm

The Google map location of the temple is below,

https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/Swamimalai+Perumal+Temple/@10.9588851,79.3247598,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x3baacd9bad1bc683:0x64392bebdcf8eec2!8m2!3d10.9588851!4d79.3269539

Swamymalai Varadaraja Perumal Temple Entrance

Varahi Devi Sannidhi is also there in Kanchipuram Kamakshi Temple.  

Kanchi Kamakshi devi is the closest to the representation of Srilalitha Paramameswari as described in the text Lalithopakyana in Brahmanda Purana. Varahi Devi is found as Goshta Murty in the Gayatri Mandapam of Kanchipuram Temple.  Varahi is the Senathipathi of Srilalitha.

Varahi Devi in Kanchi Kamakshi Temple

Varahi as described in Sri Vidya Upasana

Srilalitha Parameswari is the Shaktha Parabrahmam, Varahi is the father form of Devi and Kurukulla Tara is the Mother form of the Devi.

Varahi's four alchemical dhatus are known as the four fires. Kurukulla's alchemical dhatus are known as the five saktis. The combination of these five saktis (downward pointing triangles) and four fires (upward pointing triangles), forms the complex figure in the centre of Shri Chakra. While Kurukulla represents the full moon, Varahi represents the new-moon.

At the centre of the bindu of the Sri Chakra is Kamakala, which has three bindus. One is red, one is white and one is mixed. The red bindu is Kurukulla, the Female form, the white bindu is Varahi, the Male form, and the mixed bindu is the union of Shiva & Shakti, the individual as the potential Shri Cakra. Varahi, the father-form, gives four dhatus to the child and Kurukulla, the mother-form, gives five dhatus to the child. Theses represent the nine dhatus of the human body. Varahi's four fires are the 12 (4 x 3) sun Kalas, the 12 Zodiac constellations. Kurukulla's five triangles are the 15 (5 x 3) Kalas of the moon, 15 lunar Tithis. These nine triangles also represent the nine stages of growth of the human child in the womb. 

Varahi devi worship is practised throughout India. Varahi Navaratri also known as Ashada Navaratri is the special time for worship of Varahi. It falls in May to July period.

Varahi Temple in Orissa

Varahi in Shakambari alakaram with fruits

 Other Alankaram for Varahi

Badrinath Tapobhoomi of Narayana on earth!!

Badrinath was the place the Ashtaakshari Maha Mantra of "Om Namo Narayana" was given as upadesam for the upliftment of the rest of the world!! It is one of the 8 Swayamvyakta kshetram or the place where Narayana himself gave darshan to devotees. The Utsava Murty of Badrinath is seen below.

Badrinath refers to the Narayana Avataram in Yoga Dhyana in Himalayas under Badri Tree!! Badri is the sanskrit name for the tree and it is known as Ilandhai Tree in Tamil and Ber Tree in Hindi. 

Seeing Narayana perform penance here, Mahalakshmi takes the form of Badri Tree and Narayana performs tapas under the Tree. It is said that Badri Tree is still there in Sookshma form here and blessed person can see the tree even today. It is not visible to normal people.

The Temple of Badrinath is open for Human pooja only for 6 months starting from Akshaya Tritiyai in April to May period till Yama Dwitiyai that falls in October to November period. The remaining period is exclusively reserved for Deva Pooja of celestials and Mahaishi. The entire place of Badrinath is fully covered with snow during that period.

The Moola Vigraham is made of Saligrama black stone. Adi Shankara installed the Swayambu Moola Vigraham of Badri Narayana as seen below from Alakananda river in Badrinath. He also detailed the pooja procedures that are to be followed. He detailed that a Namboodiri from Kerala should be the main priest in Badrinath and he is known as Rawal. Till date a Rawal from Kerala is the main priest in Badrinath. 

This Nirmalya Darshan of Badrinath as seen in photo below can be seen by devotees only after the Temple is reopened in Akshaya Tritiyai period,

Miracle

The Miraculous aspect of Badrinath is that when the temple is closed in October November period before onslaught of snowfall, the Temple lamp is lit and the Temple doors are closed. When the Temple is reopened after 6 months in Akshaya Tritiyai period, the Lamp continues to burn and even the flowers remain fresh. This is proof of the fact that Devas, Apsaras, Maharishis and Siddhas worship Badrinath during the 6 months of Snowfall period. Many people flock to see the nirmalya darshan of Badri Narayana and the akhanda deepa jyothi.

There are two hills known as Nara Parvatham and Narayana Parvatham in Badrinath. Alakananda flows in between the two hills. Badrinath Temple is located on top of Narayana Parvatham. Once has to walk and cross the bridge between two hills above Alakananda river to reach Badrinath Temple.

Badrinath Temple in Narayana parvatham is seen below.

Initially Badrinath Narayana Temple and Kedarnath Shiva Temple were adjacent to each other and the same priest used to perform pooja to both Temples. Once the priest initially performed pooja to Badrinath and then took food. Later he slowly performed pooja to Kedarnath Shiva Temple. Shiva was unhappy with the negligence of the priest and rose as a huge mountain between Badrinath and Kedarnath Temples. Till date Badrinath is located to the east Neelakanta Parvatam and Kedarnath is located to the west of Neelakanta Parvatam. They are miles apart today.

Neelakanta Parvatam Photo is seen Below, This hill shimmers like gold when sun rays fall on it.

  

Badrinath Panchayatana Murty

Badrinath worship procedure was laid down by Adi Shankara. Panchayatana or worship of 5 deities is followed here. This is unique as this procedure is not followed in remaining Divya Desams. Only Badrinath Divya Desam follows this procedure and is praised by Tirumangai alwar.

The 5 deities from left to right in photo below are as follows,

1) Ganesha

2) Kubera

3) Badri Narayana

4) Nara

5) Narayana

Apart from above deities, Udhava, Mahalakshmi, Garuda and Narada are also worshipping  Badri Narayana. Nara and Narayana actually took avataram as Krishna and Arjuna in Dwapara Yuga.

Painting of the Garba Griham in Badrinath

Actual Photo of Badrinath

Brahma Kamalam is a rare species of Lotus. It belongs to the species of lotus which emanates from Vishnu Nabi or Navel of Vishnu and is the Seat of Brahma Deva. It is seen in plenty in Neelakanta Parvatam and the surroundings of Badrinath.

Agasthiar.org details that the Brahma Kamalam is actually known as Prema Pushpam and signifies the True love and devotion of Radha towards Krishna. Brahma Kamalam photo is seen below,

Badrinath is also known as Pancha Shila Kshetram. Skanda puranam the ancient text detailing the Sthala Puranam of Badrinath refers to Badrinath as located amidst Pancha Shilas. The Pancha Shilas or the Five important places in Badrinath are as follows,

1) Narada Shila: Narada Maharishi performed penance here and had darshan of Nara and Narayana

2) Garuda Shila: Garuda performed penance in this Shila and was blessed to be the Vahanam of Mahavishnu.

3) Narasimha Shila: Narasimha Murty after killing Hiranyakasupu in Ugra or Fierce Form stayed in the Shila amidst cool waters of Alakananda river.

4) Varaha Shila: Varaha murty took visranthi in this Shila after killing Hiranyaaksha and saving Bhoomi devi from bottom of ocean. 

5) Markandeya Shila: Markandeya maharishi performed penance here to be chiranjeevi.

Badrinath is the place teaming with Mangala Shakthi. Similar to Pancha Shilas above there are Pancha Dhara or waterfall, Pancha Theertham or pond, Pancha Badri Kshetram and Panchayatana Murty inside Main Temple.

Pancha Theertham

1) Taptha Kundam

Agni Murty stays in this hot spring water and the water is always above 45 degrees. Agni Deva was cursed by Brigu maharishi. Agni wanted to be relieved of Brigu curse and Brahma Deva guided him to perform penance in Badrinath. Agni stays in Taptha Kundam serving the devotees of Badrinath. Devotees are relieved of many sins by taking bath in Taptha Kundam.

2) Narada Kundam

3) Surya Kundam

4) Prahlada Kundam

5) Rishi Ganga

Apart from above Theertham, Alakananda and Saraswathy rivers are also in Badrinath. 

Alakananda is also known as Vishnu padothbhavi. During Trivikrama avataram, mahavishnu's feet was washed with the water from the Kamandalam of Brahma deva. This water flowed as Ganga river and Alakananda is the tributary of Ganga which flows in Badrinath.

Pancha Dhara or Springs

There are 5 Dhara here in Badrinath,

1) Prahlada Dhara

2) Koorma Dhara

3) Urvashi Dhara

4) Brigu Dhara

5) Indra Dhara

Adhi Kedareswara: Kshetra Palaka of Badrinath

The Trip to Badrinath is successful only after we worship Adhi Kedareswara who is the Kshetra Palaka of badrinath. He guards the Kshetram. They also say that one should worship Adhi Kedareswara before worshipping Badri Narayana.

The Video below portrays the force of Alakananda river and the aerial view of Badrinath. Though the description audio is in Hindi, the video itself is self explanatory. 

Pancha Badri Kshetram

Apart from the main Badrinath Dhaam, there are 4 other Badrinath temples in and around this place. 

They are as follows,

1) Badri Vishal: The Current Temple Premises detailed above is known as Badri Vishal. The word  Vishal refers to Vanam or Forest. This place was covered with Badri Trees as a forest earlier. 

2) Aadhi Badri: This Badrinath Kshetram existed before the current Kshetram came into place in previous Yugas.

3) Vridhha Badri: Narayana gave darshan as a old man here to Narada Maharishi.

4) Yoga Dhayana Badri: Narayana is Dhyana state here. It is said that before Narayana went to Badrinath Temple, he performed Dhyana here.

5) Bhavishya Badri: Below Badrinath, there is a divya desam in Joshi Mutt. There is a Narasimha Swayambu Vigraham there. The left hand of the Vigraham is thinning day by day. The day when the left hand breaks down as falls is the day when there will be a natural calamity in Himalayas. Nara and Narayana parvatham will block the current route to Badrinath. Then Swayambu Vigraham of Badri Narayana will appear in Bhavishya Badri and this will the future Temple of Badrinath.