Varaha avatar

VARAHA AVATARA – Varaha, the boar, was the third avatar of Vishnu. Varaha
Avatar dexterously recovered the sinking Earth from disaster and from the
demonic clutches.

Pralaya or Destruction of the Cosmos in the Great Flood, during the Satya Yug,
was followed by the beginning of a new Kalpa or cycle of existence. Brahma, the
Creator of the Universe, was engaged in the mighty assignment of the creation
of the cosmos. But Earth or Bhoomadevi, was in a topsy-turvy state, being
ravaged by the surging waves. Ultimately, the wretched Bhoomadevi sank to the
bottom of the measureless depths of the ocean.

Brahma witnessing such terrible misery fervently appealed to the Benevolent
Authority of Lord Vishnu, "O Lord, please come to my rescue and retrieve Mother
Earth". As he uttered this prayer with an attitude of absolute helplessness, a
tiny white boar, even smaller than the size of his thumb, appeared out one of
his nostrils. To his sheer surprise, the boar continued outgrowing, until it
has assumed a gigantic structure. Brahma realized the Boar or Varaha, as the
Protector, Lord Vishnu.

With a thundering roar, the Boar stormed through the clouds and zealously
plunged into the ocean. After a frantic search, the Varaha Avatar discovered
Bhoomadevi, stuck in the ocean-bed. Penetrating the ocean-bed with his tough
tusks, he dug up Bhoomadevi. Then, he carried Bhoomidevi upwards, towards the
surface.

Meanwhile, there arrived the disruptive demon or Asura, called Hiranyaksha.
Hiranyaaksha had turned out to be a formidable foe of the Devas or gods, after
achieving boon from Brahma, through a severe penance. He heinously used to
invite the Devas for combat, threaten them with his ferocity and defeat them
decisively. He approached Varuna, the God of water, for the malicious sport.
But Varuna understood his mal intentions, and own self-limitation, unsuitable
to be at par with the Asura`s stength. He refused and at the same time,
suggested Hiranyaksha to pose a challenge to Vishnu.

Hiranyaksha met Narada Muni, the Divine sage and a dedicated devotee of Lord
Vishnu, and gathered the news from him, that Vishnu was escalating upwards with
Bhoomadevi on his tusks, from the ocean. The impudent Hiranyaksha, blinded by
pride and overriding arrogance, leaped into the ocean. He noticed the Varaha
Avatar of Vishnu, bearing Bhoomadevi, and rushed to him, instigating the Lord
for a fight - "Hey beast, leave Bhoomadevi alone and come and fight me." The
Varaha, heedless of the Asura`s loathsome activities, first deposited
Bhoomadevi on the shore, to ensure her safety. He bestowed Divine Benediction
on Bhoomadevi, "May you fit into the Divine order".

It was time to ward off the evil with the greatest of valor, exercisable by
Vishnu only. A tremendous battle was generated. Simultaneously, Brahma, spurred
the wrathful Varaha, with the caution, "Twilight is approaching and in an hour
he will become more powerful and formidable. So, slay him quickly and rid us of
all menace." The urgency propelled the Lord to fiercely cast the crushing
deathblow upon the vicious Asura. The Asura was destroyed. The Bliss of peace
and order was returned to the Universe. Varaha Avatar, like Matsya and Kurma
Avatar, reinforces the inviolable truth, that God can take any form, while
coming to the rescue of the virtuous.



This world which consists of friends, enemies and neutrals, which affects you
with pleasure and pain, is only a creation of your mind which is a product of
ignorance.
 - Sri Swami Sivananda


Complete glossary can be found at:
http://www.sivananda.org/teachings/glossary/glossary.html
 

 

knr
--
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.

  Every moment, thank God