Varaha is the avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu in
the form of a boar. Varaha is listed as third in the Dashavatara, the
ten principal avatars of Vishnu. When the demon Hiranyaksha stole the
earth (personified as the goddess Bhudevi) and hid her in the primordial
waters, Vishnu appeared as Varaha to rescue her. Varaha slew the demon
and retrieved the Earth from the ocean, lifting it on his tusks, and
restored Bhudevi to her place in the universe.
Varaha may be depicted completely as a boar or in an anthropomorphic form, with a boar's head and human body. His consort, Bhudevi, the earth, is often depicted as a young woman, lifted by Varaha. The earth may be depicted as a mass of land too.
Varaha has four arms, two of which hold the Sudarshana chakra (discus) and shankha (conch), while the other two hold a gada (mace), a sword, or a lotus or one of them makes the varadamudra (gesture of blessing). Varaha may be depicted with all of Vishnu'a attributes in his four hands: the Sudarshana chakra, the shankha, the gada and the lotus. Sometimes, Varaha may carry only two of Vishnu's attributes: a shankha and the gada personified as a female called Gadadevi. Varaha is often shown with a muscular physique and in a heroic pose. He is often depicted triumphantly emerging from the ocean as he rescues the earth.
Legends
The earliest versions of the Varaha legend are found in the Taittiriya Aranyaka and the Shatapatha Brahmana. They narrate that the universe was filled with the primordial waters. The earth was the size of a hand and was trapped in it. The god Prajapati (the creator-god Brahma) in the form of a boar (varaha) plunges into the waters and brings the earth out. He also marries the earth thereafter. The Shatapatha Brahmana calls the boar as Emusha. The epic Ramayana and the Vishnu Purana - considered sometimes as the oldest of the Puranic scriptures - are the first to associate Varaha with Vishnu. Various Puranic scriptures including the Agni Purana, the Bhagavata Purana, the Devi Bhagavata Purana, the Padma Purana, the Varaha Purana, the Vayu Purana and the Vishnu Purana narrate the legend of Varaha with some variations.
One day Lord Vishnu was resting in his palace, when Lord Brahma’s four sons came to meet him. They were stopped at the entrance by two guards, Jaya and Vijaya. They did not allow them to enter as their master was resting, Brahma’s sons were very angry and cursed Jaya and Vijaya to be born as humans on earth and to leave their godly status.
A little while later Lord Vishnu arrived at the spot and apologized for Jaya and Vijaya’s behaviour as they were merely doing their duty. So as a compensation Brahma’s sons said that curse would be lifted when Jaya and Vijaya in human forms would meet their death at Lord Vishnu’s hands.
So Jaya and Vijaya were born as humans on Earth. They were named Hiranyakashyap and Hiranyaksh. When they were born both the earth and the heaven shook violently. Indra went to Lord Vishnu and said, “At their birth itself, there is so much chaos. What will happen when they’ll grow up?”
“Don’t worry, Indra,” said Lord Vishnu. “I’ll kill them when the time comes and no harm will come to anybody.”
Many years went by and Hiranyaksha became a young man. He was a great devotee of Lord Brahma. He gave a lot of time in penance when Lord Brahma appeared and gave him a boon. According to the boon, no God, human, Daitya or Asura would be able to kill him. So Hiranyaksha started displaying his strength as he was assured of his immortality.
He turned his waist side to side and began churning the sea. Due to this, waves lashed the sea. Varun Dev got very scared on seeing such a scene. He started searching for a place to hide. But Hiranyaksh confronted him and challenged him. At this, Varun Dev accepted his defeat and declared that he could not defeat Hiranyaksha as he was the strongest of all. And then Hiranyaksha was filled with pride. He went on churning the sea waters and walked through the sea. Then he met Narad Muni. Hiranyaksh asked him,” “Is there anyone as strong as or stronger than me?” Narad Muni said, “Yes, Lord Vishnu is the strongest.” Hiranyaksha searched for Lord Vishnu everywhere but could not find him. Then he gathered the whole Earth into a round ball and went underwater to Pataal Lok to search for Lord Vishnu. All the Gods were worried. They got together and rushed to Lord Vishnu for help. They said, “Lord please save us. Hiranyaksh has taken Earth and disappeared.”
“Don’t worry. I know he has taken Earth to Pataal Lok. I’ll soon get Earth back at its position.”
Then Lord Vishnu took the form of a Varaha, a wild boar with two tusks. He went to Pataal Lok and challenged Hiranyaksha so they had a fierce fight. Hiranyaksha used many weapons to strike Varaha but they had no effect on him. Lastly, Hiranyaksha wound his strong, muscled arms round the wild boar’s neck to strangle him. At that very moment, Lord Vishnu left his Varaha form and appeared in his true self.
And then Vishnu directed his chakra at Hiranyaksha . The chakra separated his head from his body. Hiranyaksha died then and there. Then Lord Vishnu again took the Varaha form. He picked the Earth, which was like a ball, balanced on his two tusks and left Pataal Lok through the sea. He placed Earth at its original position and again appeared in his true form.
Further, the earth goddess Bhudevi falls in love with her rescuer Varaha. Vishnu - in his Varaha form - marries Bhudevi, making her one of the consorts of Vishnu. In one narrative, Vishnu and Bhudevi indulge in vigorous embraces and as a result, Bhudevi becomes fatigued and faints, sinking a little in the primordial ocean. Vishnu again acquires the form of Varaha and rescues her, reinstating her in her original position above the waters. Some scriptures state that Bhudevi gives birth to Varaha's son, an asura called Narakasura.
The scripture Varaha Purana is believed to be narrated by Vishnu to Bhudevi, as Varaha. The Purana is devoted more to the "myths and genealogies" connected to the worship of Vishnu.
Temples
The most prominent temple of Varaha is the Sri Varahaswami Temple in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh. It is located on the shores of a temple pond, called the Swami Pushkarini, in Tirumala, near Tirupati; to the north of the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple (another temple of Vishnu in the form of Venkateswara). The region is called Adi-Varaha Kshestra, the abode of Varaha. The legend of the place is as follows: at the end of Satya Yuga (the first in the cycle of four aeons; the present one is the fourth aeon), devotees of Varaha requested him to stay on earth, so Varaha ordered his mount Garuda to bring his divine garden Kridachala from his abode Vaikuntha to Venkata hills, Tirumala. Venkateswara is described as having taken the permission of Varaha to reside in these hills, where his chief temple, Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, stands. Hence, pilgrims are prescribed to worship Varaha first and then Venkateswara. In the Atri Samhita (Samurtarchanadhikara), Varaha is described to be worshipped in three forms here: Adi Varaha, Pralaya Varaha and Yajna Varaha. The image in the sanctum is of Adi Varaha.
Another important temple is the Bhuvarahaswami Temple in Srimushnam town, to the northeast of Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu. It was built in the late 16th century by Krishnappa II, a Thanjavur Nayak ruler. The image of Varaha is considered a swayambhu (self manifested) image, one of the eight self-manifested Swayamvyakta Vaishnava kshetras. An inscription in the prakaram (circumambulating passage around the main shrine) quoting from the legend of the Srimushna Mahatmaya (a local legend) mentions the piety one derives in observing festivals during the 12 months of the year when the sun enters a particular zodiacal sign. This temple is venerated by Hindus and Muslims alike. Both communities take the utsava murti (festival image) in procession in the annual temple festival in the Tamil month of Masi (February–March). The deity is credited with many miracles and called Varaha saheb by Muslims.
Varaha shrines are also included in Divya Desams (a list of 108 abodes of Vishnu). They include Adi Varaha Perumal shrine Tirukkalvanoor, located in the Kamakshi Amman Temple complex, Kanchipuram and Thiruvidandai, 15 km from Mahabalipuram.
In Muradpur in West Bengal, worship is offered to an in-situ 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in) zoomorphic image of Varaha (8th century), one of the earliest known images of Varaha. A 7th century anthropomorphic Varaha image of Apasadh is still worshipped in a relatively modern temple. Other temples dedicated to Varaha are located across India in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Haryana Pradesh at Baraha Kalan, Karnataka at Maravanthe and Kallahalli, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha at Yajna Varaha Temple, and Lakhmi Varaha Temple, Rajasthan at Pushkar, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
Varaha may be depicted completely as a boar or in an anthropomorphic form, with a boar's head and human body. His consort, Bhudevi, the earth, is often depicted as a young woman, lifted by Varaha. The earth may be depicted as a mass of land too.
Varaha has four arms, two of which hold the Sudarshana chakra (discus) and shankha (conch), while the other two hold a gada (mace), a sword, or a lotus or one of them makes the varadamudra (gesture of blessing). Varaha may be depicted with all of Vishnu'a attributes in his four hands: the Sudarshana chakra, the shankha, the gada and the lotus. Sometimes, Varaha may carry only two of Vishnu's attributes: a shankha and the gada personified as a female called Gadadevi. Varaha is often shown with a muscular physique and in a heroic pose. He is often depicted triumphantly emerging from the ocean as he rescues the earth.
Legends
The earliest versions of the Varaha legend are found in the Taittiriya Aranyaka and the Shatapatha Brahmana. They narrate that the universe was filled with the primordial waters. The earth was the size of a hand and was trapped in it. The god Prajapati (the creator-god Brahma) in the form of a boar (varaha) plunges into the waters and brings the earth out. He also marries the earth thereafter. The Shatapatha Brahmana calls the boar as Emusha. The epic Ramayana and the Vishnu Purana - considered sometimes as the oldest of the Puranic scriptures - are the first to associate Varaha with Vishnu. Various Puranic scriptures including the Agni Purana, the Bhagavata Purana, the Devi Bhagavata Purana, the Padma Purana, the Varaha Purana, the Vayu Purana and the Vishnu Purana narrate the legend of Varaha with some variations.
One day Lord Vishnu was resting in his palace, when Lord Brahma’s four sons came to meet him. They were stopped at the entrance by two guards, Jaya and Vijaya. They did not allow them to enter as their master was resting, Brahma’s sons were very angry and cursed Jaya and Vijaya to be born as humans on earth and to leave their godly status.
A little while later Lord Vishnu arrived at the spot and apologized for Jaya and Vijaya’s behaviour as they were merely doing their duty. So as a compensation Brahma’s sons said that curse would be lifted when Jaya and Vijaya in human forms would meet their death at Lord Vishnu’s hands.
So Jaya and Vijaya were born as humans on Earth. They were named Hiranyakashyap and Hiranyaksh. When they were born both the earth and the heaven shook violently. Indra went to Lord Vishnu and said, “At their birth itself, there is so much chaos. What will happen when they’ll grow up?”
“Don’t worry, Indra,” said Lord Vishnu. “I’ll kill them when the time comes and no harm will come to anybody.”
Many years went by and Hiranyaksha became a young man. He was a great devotee of Lord Brahma. He gave a lot of time in penance when Lord Brahma appeared and gave him a boon. According to the boon, no God, human, Daitya or Asura would be able to kill him. So Hiranyaksha started displaying his strength as he was assured of his immortality.
He turned his waist side to side and began churning the sea. Due to this, waves lashed the sea. Varun Dev got very scared on seeing such a scene. He started searching for a place to hide. But Hiranyaksh confronted him and challenged him. At this, Varun Dev accepted his defeat and declared that he could not defeat Hiranyaksha as he was the strongest of all. And then Hiranyaksha was filled with pride. He went on churning the sea waters and walked through the sea. Then he met Narad Muni. Hiranyaksh asked him,” “Is there anyone as strong as or stronger than me?” Narad Muni said, “Yes, Lord Vishnu is the strongest.” Hiranyaksha searched for Lord Vishnu everywhere but could not find him. Then he gathered the whole Earth into a round ball and went underwater to Pataal Lok to search for Lord Vishnu. All the Gods were worried. They got together and rushed to Lord Vishnu for help. They said, “Lord please save us. Hiranyaksh has taken Earth and disappeared.”
“Don’t worry. I know he has taken Earth to Pataal Lok. I’ll soon get Earth back at its position.”
Then Lord Vishnu took the form of a Varaha, a wild boar with two tusks. He went to Pataal Lok and challenged Hiranyaksha so they had a fierce fight. Hiranyaksha used many weapons to strike Varaha but they had no effect on him. Lastly, Hiranyaksha wound his strong, muscled arms round the wild boar’s neck to strangle him. At that very moment, Lord Vishnu left his Varaha form and appeared in his true self.
And then Vishnu directed his chakra at Hiranyaksha . The chakra separated his head from his body. Hiranyaksha died then and there. Then Lord Vishnu again took the Varaha form. He picked the Earth, which was like a ball, balanced on his two tusks and left Pataal Lok through the sea. He placed Earth at its original position and again appeared in his true form.
Further, the earth goddess Bhudevi falls in love with her rescuer Varaha. Vishnu - in his Varaha form - marries Bhudevi, making her one of the consorts of Vishnu. In one narrative, Vishnu and Bhudevi indulge in vigorous embraces and as a result, Bhudevi becomes fatigued and faints, sinking a little in the primordial ocean. Vishnu again acquires the form of Varaha and rescues her, reinstating her in her original position above the waters. Some scriptures state that Bhudevi gives birth to Varaha's son, an asura called Narakasura.
The scripture Varaha Purana is believed to be narrated by Vishnu to Bhudevi, as Varaha. The Purana is devoted more to the "myths and genealogies" connected to the worship of Vishnu.
Temples
The most prominent temple of Varaha is the Sri Varahaswami Temple in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh. It is located on the shores of a temple pond, called the Swami Pushkarini, in Tirumala, near Tirupati; to the north of the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple (another temple of Vishnu in the form of Venkateswara). The region is called Adi-Varaha Kshestra, the abode of Varaha. The legend of the place is as follows: at the end of Satya Yuga (the first in the cycle of four aeons; the present one is the fourth aeon), devotees of Varaha requested him to stay on earth, so Varaha ordered his mount Garuda to bring his divine garden Kridachala from his abode Vaikuntha to Venkata hills, Tirumala. Venkateswara is described as having taken the permission of Varaha to reside in these hills, where his chief temple, Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, stands. Hence, pilgrims are prescribed to worship Varaha first and then Venkateswara. In the Atri Samhita (Samurtarchanadhikara), Varaha is described to be worshipped in three forms here: Adi Varaha, Pralaya Varaha and Yajna Varaha. The image in the sanctum is of Adi Varaha.
Another important temple is the Bhuvarahaswami Temple in Srimushnam town, to the northeast of Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu. It was built in the late 16th century by Krishnappa II, a Thanjavur Nayak ruler. The image of Varaha is considered a swayambhu (self manifested) image, one of the eight self-manifested Swayamvyakta Vaishnava kshetras. An inscription in the prakaram (circumambulating passage around the main shrine) quoting from the legend of the Srimushna Mahatmaya (a local legend) mentions the piety one derives in observing festivals during the 12 months of the year when the sun enters a particular zodiacal sign. This temple is venerated by Hindus and Muslims alike. Both communities take the utsava murti (festival image) in procession in the annual temple festival in the Tamil month of Masi (February–March). The deity is credited with many miracles and called Varaha saheb by Muslims.
Varaha shrines are also included in Divya Desams (a list of 108 abodes of Vishnu). They include Adi Varaha Perumal shrine Tirukkalvanoor, located in the Kamakshi Amman Temple complex, Kanchipuram and Thiruvidandai, 15 km from Mahabalipuram.
In Muradpur in West Bengal, worship is offered to an in-situ 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in) zoomorphic image of Varaha (8th century), one of the earliest known images of Varaha. A 7th century anthropomorphic Varaha image of Apasadh is still worshipped in a relatively modern temple. Other temples dedicated to Varaha are located across India in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Haryana Pradesh at Baraha Kalan, Karnataka at Maravanthe and Kallahalli, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha at Yajna Varaha Temple, and Lakhmi Varaha Temple, Rajasthan at Pushkar, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
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