CONTENTS:- 1. The antiquity of mother Goddess-earth Goddess; 2. Goddesses in the Vedas and Upanisads; 3. Goddess Varahi in different sects; 4. Iconography of Varahi; 5. Icons of Varahi; 6. Mantras and yantras of Varahi; 7. Conclusion.
DESCRIPTION
The focus of this book is on goddess Varahi who is the atmasakti of Varaha responsible for lifting up the earth goddess from the Nether region. Very few books like the present are available which are exclusively devoted to Varahi. In this book, the author presents in great detail the various aspects of Varahi including the icoographic features of the different forms as well as mantras and yantras associated with the worship of Varahi. The detailed information provided in the book is based on the ancient texts, Puranas and Silpa-sastras. The book consists of six chapters. The first two chapters deal with the antiquity and development of the worship of mother goddess in the pre-Vedic and the Vedic periods. Chapter III brings out the evolution of the identification of three female deities Vak, Sarasvati and Varahi and their fusion and synchronization into one. This chapter also narrates the important position Varahi occupies in Vaisnavism, Saktism and Tantric Saktism. Chapter IV presents the canonical rules prescribed in Silpasastras with regard to the various forms of Varahi. Chapter V deals with the icons of Varahi found in temples, caves and other places in India. Some of the images kept in the museums in India and abroad have also been described. Chapter VI presents the basic mantras and yantras to be followed to procure benefits from Varahi worship. The special feature of this book lies in presenting large number of collection of the images of Varahi found from different parts of the country. In the Appendix all the slokas of Varahi including Varahi Sahasranama are given. This book will be of benefit not only to researchers but also to those who are interested in the worship of Varahi.
