Varaha

Varaha
Embodiment of Sacrifice
Member of Dashavatar
Varaha killing Hiranyaksha and saving Bhumi, 1740 CE, Chamba painting
Devanagariवराह
AffiliationAvatara of Vishnu
AbodeVaikuntha
MantraOm Bhuvarāhāya Vidmahe
Hiranyakarabhāya Dhimahi
Tanno Krodha Prachodayāt
WeaponSudarshana Chakra, Kaumodaki (Gada)
SymbolsPadma
FestivalsVaraha Jayanti
Genealogy
ConsortBhumi
ChildrenNarakasura, Mangala

Varaha (Sanskrit: वराह, Varāha, "boar") is the avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu, in the form of a boar. Varaha is generally listed as third in the Dashavatar, the ten principal avatars of Vishnu.

In legend, when the demon Hiranyaksha steals the earth goddess Bhumi and hid her in the primordial waters, Vishnu appears as Varaha to rescue her. Varaha kills Hiranyaksha and retrieves the earth from the cosmic ocean, lifting her on his tusks, and restores her to her place in the universe.

Varaha is depicted as a boar or in an anthropomorphic form, with a boar's head and the human body. Varaha often depicted lifing his consort Bhumi, the earth.


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