Varaha is a Sanskrit word for Boar. It is the third avatar of Lord Vishnu that appeared during Satya Yug and is depicted as a boar or a boar-headed man. In paintings and scriptures, Varaha is often depicted as a colossal boar with the Earth goddess clinging to one of his tusks.
This incarnation is significant of dharma (righteousness) over adharma (evil) and the restoration of balance in the universe.
Background:
The fascinating tale of Varaha Avatar traces back to the doorkeepers of Lord Vishnu. Vaikuntha Loka is the well-known divine dwelling place of Lord Vishnu. The two formidable gatekeepers, Jaya and Vijaya, stood watch over it. Their deep affection for Lord Vishnu and their undivided loyalty were vowed to protect Lord Vishnu.
The story goes with Jaya and Vijaya holding the power to grant people access to the divine realm of Vaikunta Loka, where they could catch a glimpse of the almighty Lord.
Once Lord Brahma's four sons (Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana and Sanatkumar) arrived at Vaikuntha to meet Lord Vishnu. The Kumaras, despite being ancient sages, looked like young children and dressed ascetics.
Jaya and Vijaya, failing to recognize their wisdom and divinity, stopped them from entering, thinking they were mere children unfit to meet Lord Vishnu. The sages enraged at this insult, cursed them: Since you have obstructed the path of devotees, you shall be born as mortals and live in the material world, away from Lord Vishnu.
Jaya and Vijaya pleaded for forgiveness, but the curse could not be undone. However, Lore Vishnu appeared and offered them a choice that either they can be born as devotees of Lord Vishnu for seven lifetimes or can be born as enemies of Lord Vishnu for three lifetimes, after which they would return to Vaikuntha.
Both Jaya and Vijaya choose the second option to return faster, and were born as demons in different Yugas.
And as fate would have it, Jaya and Vijaya were reincarnated as brothers named Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu with Sage Kashyapa and Diti as their parents.
Hiranyaksha was a devotee of Lord Brahma. Once he performed strong penance to please the deity, impressed by which, Lord Brahma asks him what he wants as a boon. Hiranyaksha asks for invincibility against all gods, humans, demons and animals except a boar, thinking such a creature could never defeat him.
Empowered by this boon, Hiranyaksha became arrogant and waged war against the Devas (gods), defeating Indra (God of Rain), Agni (God of Fire), Vayu (God of Wind) and other celestial beings. He conquered the three worlds and oppressed the sages and devas.
But his greatest crime was that he stole and kidnapped Bhudevi (Mother Earth) and hid her in the cosmic ocean, throwing the entire universe into imbalance. without Bhudevi, life could not flourish, and dharma was in danger. The gods, sages and rishis prayed to Lord Vishnu to save Bhudevi and restore cosmic balance.
Hearing the prayers of the Devas and sages, Lord Vishnu took the form of Varaha, a gigantic, divine boar with immense strength, tusks sharp as lightning, and a golden hue. The Varaha Avatar emerged from Brahma's nostrils and grew to a gigantic size, filling the entire sky.
Seeing this divine form, the gods praised Vishnu, while Hiranyaksha laughed at the sight of a wild boar challenging him.
Varaha dove into the cosmic ocean and, using his mighty tusks, lifted Bhudevi onto his back, rescuing her from the depths of the ocean. Bhudevi was restored to her rightful place in the universe.
But Hiranyaksha, furious at Vishnu's interference, challenged Varaha to battle. A great war broke out between the two, lasting a thousand years.
Hiranyaksha, using his magical powers, created illusions, hurricanes, and firestorms to blind and weaken Varaha, but Lord Vishnu effortlessly countered each attack. Eventually, Hiranyaksha picked up his mace and charged toward Varaha. The battle shook the three worlds, terrifying the Devas.
Finally, Varaha struck Hiranyaksha with his tusks and pierced his heart, killing him instantly. The Asura collapsed lifeless, and his curse as Jaya was lifted.
With Hiranyaksha's death, dharma was restored, and the Devas rejoiced.
After the battle, Lord Varaha, still in his mighty boar form, spoke lovingly to Bhudevi, assuring her that she was safe and would be restored to her rightful place. Some versions of the legend say that Varaha and Bhudevi fell in love, and she later became one of Vishnu's divine consorts.
Lord Varaha carefully placed Bhudevi back in her original position, ensuring the stability of the cosmos. With his mission complete, Varaha merged back into Lord Vishnu, marking the end of this divine incarnation.
What we learnt:
1. Dharma (Righteousness) Will Always Prevail: No matter how powerful evil forces become, dharma (righteousness) will ultimately win. Hiranyaksha, despite his immense power, was defeated because he misused his strength for adharma (unrighteousness), so always follow the path of truth, justice, and integrity, as righteousness will ultimately triumph.
2. Arrogance Leads to Destruction: Hiranyaksha, blinded by ego and arrogance, believed he was invincible and could challenge the gods. His overconfidence and pride led to his downfall. Therefore, Ego and arrogance can cloud judgment and lead to self-destruction. Stay humble no matter how powerful or successful you become.
3. The Importance of Duty and Responsibility: Lord Vishnu took the Varaha Avatar to restore balance in the universe. He acted selflessly to protect Bhudevi (Mother Earth). Vishnu's actions show that one must fulfill their duties, even if it requires great effort or sacrifice. That is why always be responsible in your actions, whether in personal life, work, or society. Duty comes before personal gain.
4. Protecting Nature and the Environment: Bhudevi (Earth) being saved by Vishnu represents the need to protect nature and the environment. Just as Hiranyaksha's actions threw the world into chaos, human actions today (like pollution and deforestation) can disrupt nature. So, take care of Mother Earth, respect nature, and ensure its balance is maintained.
5. Even the Humble Can Achieve Greatness: Vishnu took the form of a boar, an animal often considered ordinary or lowly. Yet, this humble form performed a divine task of rescuing Earth. This shows that greatness is not defined by appearance but by deeds. So, never underestimate anyone, no matter how insignificant they seem. Hard work and determination can make anyone achieve greatness.
Science in the story:
1. Earth is round. In this story, Varaha lifts the Earth with his tusks. If the Earth were flat, he would not have been able to do so with his tusks only.
2. Varaha Avatar represents a stage in evolution. The previous incarnation of Lord Vishnu was of a tortoise and before that, a fish symbolizing the adaptation of life from water to land. Also proving the same as suggested by Charles Darwin's Evolutionary Theory that life evolved from aquatic organisms (Fish) to land mammals (Boar).
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Hindu Mythology Stories
Non-FictionWell I am a Hindu girl who is very fascinated by hindu mythological stories. But from what I have seen and heard today's generation is not aware of these stories especially Hindu's to whom they belong. So I wanted to do something to spread awareness...
