•Vishnu – The Preserver and
Protector
•Incarnations – Avatars – to
correct an evil on earth
•At the end of Pralaya,
Bhoomadevi, or Pritvi, sank into
the ocean.
•Varaha Avatar – to save Mother
Earth
•Varaha – The Boar – 3rd
Incarnation.
•Images are divided into
animal and animal’s head
with human body with four
arms.
•Two hands – wheel and
conch
•The other two – mace,
lotus, sword, or protecting
and boon giving modes.
•At the end of Pralaya – all
material things getting destroyed
– Bhoomidevi was submerged.
•At this time, a small boar fell out
of one of Brahma’s nostrils
•It grew till it was as big as a
Mountain
•This was Varaha Avatar
•The Varaha went underwater to
save the Earth
•Hiranyaksha, an Asura, saw the
mountain-like boar
•His name means Golden Eyes
•Demon - Asura
•Son of Kashyapa and Diti
•Performs penance – Tapasya – to Lord Brahma
•Hiranyaksha asks Brahma protection from
specific creatures. Brahma grants it
•But, Hiranyaksha forgets to ask protection from
the Boar!
•Becomes very powerful and attacks Heaven
•Varuna refuses to fight. Hiranyaksha goes in
search of Vishnu
•Hiranyaksha told the boar that he knew it was
Vishnu.
•Hiranyaksha threatens to break
Varaha’s head.
•But, Varaha ignores him and saves
the earth
•Hiranyaksha insists on fighting
•Varaha agrees
•Brahma hopes the fight will end
before darkness begins – because
as darkness approaches, the
strength of Rakshasas increases
•Vishnu reads Brahma’s mind and
sends his Sudarshan Chakra
towards Hiranyaksha
•All of Hiranyaksha’s weapons are
destroyed
•Vishnu strikes a stunning blow on
Hiranyaksha’s cheek and kills the
Asura
So, the evil was outdone and Mother Earth was safely restored in
her place. Here are some more pictures of the fight...
Varaha Fighting Hiranyaksha
Hiranyaksha’s Death
Varaha Striking
Hiranyaksha
Question
• Why did Vishnu take the form of a boar to
go on Earth?
Answer
• To save Bhoomidevi, who was drowning
after the Pralaya
Question
• Who was the demon that challenged
Vishnu to a fight?
Answer
• Hiranyaksha
Question
• Why does Brahma hope that the fight end
before darkness?
Answer
• Because, as darkness approaches,
Asuras become stronger.
Question
• From what part of the body of Brahma did
the Varaha fall out?
Answer
• From his nostrils
Question
• Who was the god that didn’t fight
Hiranyaksha?
Answer
• Varuna