Varaha
Varaha is the boar avatara who descends to lift the earth from the cosmic ocean after the asura Hiranyaksha carries her away, killing him in single combat. The Bhagavata Purana tells it in Canto 3, and the Varaha Purana expands it; the earth he lifts, Bhumi, becomes his consort and the mother of Naraka.
The boar who lifts the earth is older than the avatara: the Brahmanas already tell it of Prajapati, and the Vaishnava telling is the later, Puranic layer. The planetary, elemental, zodiacal and tarot values are a modern Western overlay. The earth Varaha lifts, Bhumi, becomes his consort and the mother of Naraka - that is the tradition's account, not a Western syncretism.
Correspondences
- Planetary Correspondence
- Mars
Offerings
- Offerings
- RiceGheeFlowersWaterCoconut
Sacred timing
- Sacred Timing
Symbols and forms
- Alternate Names
- VarahavataraThe BoarVaraha Bhagavan
- Gender Expression
- Masculine
- Titles
- The Boar AvataraLifter of the EarthSlayer of HiranyakshaThird of the Dashavatara
- Symbols
- Boar tusksEarth on the tusksMace
Practice
- Invocation Approach
- ToneBlunt strongAddressVarahaVarahavataraLifter of the EarthRelationshipThe strength that goes down after what was takenWarningHe fights for the earth not for your angerResonanceThose recovering something sunk or stolen
- Modern Practice
Varaha is invoked for the recovery of something taken or sunk - a home, a livelihood, a land - and his image stands at the root of the Venkateshwara hill at Tirumala, where the oldest shrine is his. The practice is the lifting, not the mourning.
Nature and meaning
- Domain
- The earthRescueStrengthThe boarBattleRestorationFertility
- Mythology Summary
Varaha is the boar avatara who descends to lift the earth from the cosmic ocean after the asura Hiranyaksha carries her away, killing him in single combat. The Bhagavata Purana tells it in Canto 3, and the Varaha Purana expands it; the earth he lifts, Bhumi, becomes his consort and the mother of Naraka. The boar who raises the earth is older than the avatara - the Brahmanas tell it of Prajapati - and the Vaishnava telling is the later layer.
Details
- Correspondences
- ColorsBrownRedBlackScentsSandalwoodFrankincenseCamphorMetalsIronGoldAnimalsBoarPigSerpent
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