Images of Varahi : An Iconographic Study

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. In Images Of Varahi the author presents in great detail the various aspects of Varahi including the iconographic features of the different forms as well asmantras and yantras associated with the worship of Varahi. The detailed information provided in the book is based on the ancient texts, Puranas andSilpa-sastras. It deals with the antiquity and development of the worship of mother goddess in the pre-Vedic and the Vedic periods and brings out the evolution of the identification of three female deities Vak, Saraswati and Varahi and their fusion and synchronization into one.It also narrates the important position Varahi occupies in Vaisnavism, Saktismand Tantric Saktism. The book presents the canonical rules prescribed in Silpasastras with regard to the various forms of Vrahi and deals with the icons of Varahi found in temples, caves and other places in India. Some of the images keep in the museums in India and abroad have also been described. The special features of this book lies in presenting large number of collection of the images of Varahi found from different parts of the country.