Sri Maha Varahi Meditation Guide

Written by Atmanandanatha, first on devipuram.com, and shared on the blog of Sri Amritananda Natha Saraswati (Guruji) by Vira Chandra on 25 April 2016. Originally published at amritananda-natha-saraswati.blogspot.com. The original title is "Sri Maha Varahi Mediation". This page is a short summary with one quote. The full article is at the link.

In short

Sri Maha Varahi is the boar faced form of the Goddess. She came from the five flowery arrows of Sri Lalita and became commander in chief of her army.
The post retells her part in the war with Bhandasura, including her fight with his commander Vishanga.
Her dhyana verse is read line by line. Each line is tied to a bija sound and to a hand, a tool or a gesture.
The tools carry a lesson: the discus, conch, sword, shield, pestle and plough each point to a way of turning the mind inward.
Her twelve names are explained one by one, such as Pancami, Varahi and Arighni.
Three helper forms are also given: Laghu Varahi, Svapna Varahi and Tiraskarini.

A line from the post

"Devi Varahi will slowly take us from the first state to the fourth state, which is the best of boons."

From "Sri Maha Varahi Mediation" by Atmanandanatha, shared on Guruji's blog at amritananda-natha-saraswati.blogspot.com.

How this shows up in Kaula practice

Varahi is the goddess of guarding the path and cutting through doubt. In the post, her battle story is also an inner story: the "enemies" are the habits of the mind that hide as friends.

The meditation in the post is a way of inner worship. You hold her form in the mind, line by line, and use the bija sounds to still your thoughts. No outer tools are needed for that.

This lineage also honors Varahi through outer worship, such as the yantra and the fire offering. See the Vaarahi Pooja page for how we offer it. The post is a summary only and does not replace a teacher.

Common questions

Who is Sri Maha Varahi?

She is the boar faced form of the Goddess in the Sri Vidya tradition. The post says she came from the five flowery arrows of Sri Lalita and became commander in chief of Lalita's army.

What are the twelve names of Varahi?

The post lists Pancami, Dandanatha, Sanketa, Samayeshvari, Samayasanketa, Varahi, Potrini, Shiva, Vartali, Mahasena, Ajnachakreshvari and Arighni, with a short meaning for each.

Where is Varahi meditated on in the body?

The post says her mantra is meditated on at the Ajna chakra, between the eyebrows, during the morning recitation.

What do Varahi's hands and tools stand for?

The post reads the discus, conch, sword, shield, pestle and plough as ways of turning the senses and the ego inward, and the last pair of hands as the end of fear and the giving of boons.

Who are Laghu Varahi, Svapna Varahi and Tiraskarini?

They are three helper forms of Varahi that the post gives with their own verses. Laghu Varahi is easy to approach, Svapna Varahi is lady of dreams, and Tiraskarini protects the practitioner from doubt.