Varaha

Varaha
Embodiment of Sacrifice
Member of Dashavatara
Varaha killing Hiranyaksha and saving Bhumi, 1740 CE, Chamba painting
Devanagariवराह
AffiliationAvatara of Vishnu
AbodeVaikuntha
MantraOm Bhuvarahaya Vidmahe Hiranyakarbaya Dhimahi Thanno Kroda Prachodayata
WeaponSudarshana Chakra, Kaumodaki (Gada)
SymbolsPadma
FestivalsVaraha Jayanti
Genealogy
ConsortBhumi
ChildrenNarakasura, Mangala

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

Varaha lifts the earth goddess Bhumi out of the cosmic ocean when the demon Hiranyaksha stole the earth goddess and hid her in the primordial waters, Vishnu appeared as Varaha to rescue her. Varaha killed Hiranyaksha and retrieved the earth goddess from the cosmic ocean, lifting it on his tusks, and restored her to her place in the universe.

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


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