Tamil Nadu: Varahi puja for farmers' wellbeing

Chennai: A unique puja invoking Goddess Varahi was held at the Sri Yohamaha Bhuvaneswari Peetam, Ambattur, in the city on Saturday for the well-being of the farmers of the state. Varahi, one of the Matrikas, with the head of a sow, is the feminine form of Varaha, the boar avatar of Lord Vishnu. She is depicted in the form of a boar wielding a discuss and a sword, with which she dispels evil forces. “She is also the granter of boons and can banish one’s troubles. So, I have invoked Her blessings to save the farmers from inundation or drought and ensure a bountiful yield of the crops,” says Sri Paramahams Bharadwaj Swamy, the pontiff of Sri Yohamaya Bhuvaneswari Peetam. 

The swamy who performed the puja for over two hours at his ashram, said the goddess who is considered also as Goddess of Agriculture, is capable of eradicating one’s ego. “She protects her devotees from natural calamities and makes words turn true,” he said. Her worship has been a turning point in the Swamyji’s life and he obtained “peace of mind” after he started worshipping Her.