Varaha

Varaha
Member of Dashavatara
Varaha killing Hiranyaksha and saving Bhumi, 1740 CE, Chamba painting
Devanagariवराह
AffiliationAvatar of Vishnu
AbodeVaikuntha
WeaponSudarshana Chakra, Kaumodaki, Panchajanya
SymbolsPadma
GenderMale
FestivalsVaraha Jayanti (August-September)
Personal information
ConsortBhumi
ChildrenNarakasura and Mangala
Dashavatara Sequence
PredecessorKurma
SuccessorNarasimha

Varaha (Sanskrit: वराह, lit.'Boar', IAST: Varāha) is an avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu, in the form of an Indian boar. Varaha is listed as third in the Dashavatara, the ten principal avatars of Vishnu.

Varaha is associated with the legend of lifting the earth (as the goddess Bhumi) out of the cosmic ocean. When the asura Hiranyaksha stole the earth and hid her in the primordial waters, Vishnu appeared as Varaha to rescue her. Varaha killed Hiranyaksha, and retrieved the earth from the ocean, lifting it on his tusks, restoring Bhumi to her place in the universe.

Varaha is depicted as a boar or in an anthropomorphic form, with a boar's head and a human body. His consort, Bhumi is generally depicted as a goddess, lifted by Varaha.


© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search