Varahi Devi Temple Varanasi

Varahi Devi (वाराही देवी) is a prominent deity in Hinduism, particularly in the ‘tantrik’ and Shakta tradition which worship the divine feminine energy, often represented as goddesses. She is one of the Matrikas, a group of eight mother goddesses who are considered the divine consorts of the gods in Hindu pantheon. Varahi Devi is often associated with the boar incarnation of Lord Vishnu. She is associated with the fierce and protective aspect of the divine feminine. As per the legend, during the war against the demons, Varahi Devi was the commander of Goddess Durga. She is worshipped primarily in the southern states of India, especially Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala. However, due to the diverse and inclusive nature of Hinduism, one can find devotees and temples dedicated to various deities across different regions of India. Varahi Devi is a ‘gram devata’ (ग्राम देवता) who safeguards the entire Varanasi. Varahi Devi finds mention in the Kashi Khand. Varahi, as per the Kashi Khand, was one of the sixty four ‘yoginis’ who were sent to Varanasi by Lord Shiva to destabilize the rule of King Divodas. All the ‘yoginis’ were enthralled by the charm of Varanasi and decided to settle down in Kashi itself. As per the religious belief, Kal Bhairav, also called Kotwal of Varanasi, protects Kashi in day time whereas Varahi Devi safeguards the entire city throughout the night & returns to the temple in the morning.