Varaha Avatar – Varaha Jayanti
We all know that from time to time when evil strikes in various forms and the cosmos is thrown into disorder, Lord Vishnu comes to the rescue in various forms. Ten of these are considered primary avatars or manifestations. Among these is the Varaha avataram, the third of the avatars of Lord Vishnu.
Varaha Jayanti on 05.09.2024
The legend behind the Varaha ‘avataram’ is as follows: The demon king Hiranyaksha abducted Bhoomi Devi, the Mother Earth hid Her in the dark Rasatala region, the depths of the Cosmic Ocean, and nobody could trace her. There was no means of finding her except by the sense of smell. The distressed ‘munis’ approached Lord Brahma who went into deep meditation.
From His nostril emerged a tiny creature that soon expanded and was seen as a great white boar. This was the form chosen by Lord Vishnu as it has a highly developed sense of smell. Diving deep into the ocean, He was able to retrieve Bhoomi Devi. Placing her over his tusks, he gently brought her to safety.
In honour of this event, Varaha Jayanti is celebrated on the second day (Dwadashi tithi) of the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of the moon), in the month of Magha as per the Hindu calendar. Varaha Jayanti symbolizes the protection of dharma (righteousness) and the restoration of balance in the universe. It honours Lord Varaha’s intervention to protect the world from evil and is a reminder that the Divine ultimately triumphs over Evil.
One of the major Puranas was inspired by this incarnation. The Varaha Purana has, among other descriptions, a large portion dedicated to the conversation between Lord Varaha and Bhoomi Devi or Dharani, the Earth, held up by Him on His tusk. Bhoomi Devi asks a series of questions and Lord Varaha answers them.
They deal with the creation and destruction of the world and also how the world is sustained, and what constitutes the right conduct, correct behaviour and ultimate liberation from worldly existence.
A small conversation between the Lord and Goddess
There are many interesting points in this question-answer session. Bhoomi Devi asks if ‘this illustrious Narayana, the Supreme Soul and the Eternal, is God in all respects or not.’ To which Lord Varaha responds by listing the ten avatars and what they embody as the steps for those who wish to attain the vision of the Lord.
He spoke of the Earth as the first form of that God, with the other aspects being Water, Fire, Air and Ether (space), which we today are familiar with as the ‘Pancha Bhootas.’ The questions and answers are in great detail including the forms of worship, duties of different people, the greatness of different pilgrimage centres, thirthas and even what has to be done on a day-to-day basis.
The Varaha charama sloka has been described as perhaps the most beautiful of the three charama slokas, the verses of surrender that are integral to Vaishnavism.
Sthite manasi susvasthe shareere sati yo
narahaa dhaatusaamyesthite smartaa visvaroopam ca maamajam
tatas-tammriyamaanam tu kaashtaa paashaa na
sannibham ahamsmarami madbhaktam nayaami paramaam gatim.
“If anyone thinks of Me, when the mind is sound (Sthite manasi), with the body in good health (susvasthe shareere), and with all mental and physical faculties intact (dhaatusaamyesthite); if he thinks that I am indeed the very cause of this Universe or the form ‘Vishwaroopam’, that I am without birth (ajam) – then I assure you (Bhoomi devi), that I will remember this devotee of Mine, when he/she is on deathbed, lying like a stone or a log of wood, and personally take him/her to the supreme abode.”
The poet Kabir said ‘jo sukh mein sumiran kare, tho dukh kahe ko hoi’: if you worship when you are in comfortable conditions, why will there be sadness? He was reflecting on people who pray only when they are in difficulty. He was only saying what Lord Varaha told Bhoomi Devi – if a devotee worships Me when in good health and circumstances, then they don’t have to worry about their salvation when they are on their deathbed; ‘I will remember them and ensure they attain salvation’ is what the Lord has assured.
Temples
Lord Varaha is worshipped in many temples around India. Some of the most famous temples are the Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Simhachalam, Adi Varaha Swamy Temple, Andhra Pradesh, Bhuvaraha Swamy temple at Srimushnam and Nithyakalayana Perumal (Varaha) temple at Thiruvidanthai (near Chennai) in Tamil Nadu.
In many temples, the presence of an Adi Varaha shrine indicates that Lord Varaha was worshipped there from ancient times. In Tirumala, there is Sri Bhuvaraha Swamy temple located to the north of Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple, on the banks of Swami Pushkarini.
In fact, according to legend, Tirumala was originally called “Adivarahakshetra” and Bhuvaraha Swamy whose abode it was, granted Lord Venkateswara land to settle there. It is the custom for pilgrims to first pay obeisance to Lord Bhuvaraha Swamy before worshipping Lord Venkateswara.
On this Varaha Jayanti day, let us learn Sri Varaha Kavacham, and recite it regularly:
drishtvaa shvetavaraaham cha
maasamekam nayedyadi.
kaalamrityum vinirjitya shriyaa
paramayaa yutah (8)
aadhivyaadhivinirmukto
grahapeedaavivarjitah.
bhuktvaa bhogaananekaam’shcha
mokshamante vrajeddhruvam.(9)
Once a month worship the Varaha swami and His consort. Win over untimely death and be endowed with prosperity. Freedom from worry and disease and adverse impact of planets. Enjoy happiness and attain salvation.
