Varaha
वराह
Varāha
Form: Cosmic boar — tusks long enough to lift the Earth
Purpose
To rescue Bhumi-devi (Goddess Earth) from the depths of the cosmic ocean, where she had been dragged by the asura Hiranyaksha.
Demon / threat
Hiranyaksha — the asura who stole the Earth and hid her at the bottom of the cosmic ocean
Weapons
- • Tusks
- • Gada (mace)
- • Chakra
Consort
Bhumi-devi (Earth) — whom he rescues and marries
Associated tirthas
- • Sri Mushnam (Tamil Nadu)
- • Pushkar (Varaha temple)
- • Khajuraho (Lakshmi-Varaha)
Story
Hiranyaksha, a great asura, dragged the Earth into the cosmic ocean and hid her at the bottom. Vishnu took the form of a colossal boar, dove into the waters, fought Hiranyaksha for a thousand divine years, and finally slew him. Then, lifting Bhumi-devi gently on his curved tusks, he raised her out of the waters and re-established her in cosmic space. The image of the gigantic boar carrying the small, recovered Earth on his tusk is one of the most powerful icons in Hindu sculpture, found from the Udayagiri caves to Khajuraho.
Key teaching
The Earth, the support of all life, is divine and worthy of being rescued at any cost. The dharma is, in part, the protection of the planet itself.
Principal scripture
Varaha Purana, Bhagavata Purana 3.13, Vishnu Purana 1.4
Modern relevance
The Varaha avatara is often invoked in contemporary Hindu environmental thought — the rescue of Bhumi-devi from being dragged into darkness as a paradigm for ecological responsibility.