Pralaya or Destruction of the Cosmos in the Great Flood, during the Satya Yug, was followed by the beginning of a new Kalpa or cycle of existence. Brahma, the Creator of the Universe, was engaged in the mighty assignment of the creation of the cosmos. But Earth or Bhoomadevi , was in a topsy -turvy state, being ravaged by the surging waves. Ultimately, the wretched Bhoomadevi sank to the bottom of the measureless depths of the ocean.
Brahma witnessing such terrible misery, fervently appealed to the Benevolent Authority of Lord Vishnu, "O Lord, please come to my rescue and retrieve Mother Earth". As he uttered this prayer with an attitude of absolute helplessness, a tiny white boar, even smaller than the size of his thumb, appeared out one of his nostrils. To his sheer surprise, the boar continued outgrowing, until it has assumed a gigantic structure. Brahma realized the Boar or Varaha, as the Protector, Lord Vishnu.
With a thundering roar, the Boar stormed through the clouds and zealously plunged into the ocean. After a frantic search, the Varaha Avatar discovered Bhoomadevi , stuck in the ocean-bed. Penetrating the ocean-bed with his tough tusks, he dug up Bhoomadevi. Then, he carried Bhoomidevi upwards, towards the surface.
Meanwhile, there arrived the disruptive demon or Asura, called Hiranyaksha. Hiranyaaksha had turned out to be a formidable foe of the Devas or gods, after achieving boon from Brahma, through a severe penance. He heinously used to invite the Devas for combat, threaten them with his ferocity and defeat them decisively. He approached Varuna, the God of water, for the malicious sport. But Varuna understood his mal intentions, and own self-limitation, unsuitable to be at par with the Asura`s stength. He refused and at the same time, suggested Hiranyaksha to pose a challenge to Vishnu.
He met Narada Muni, the Divine sage and a dedicated devotee of Lord Vishnu, and gathered the news from him, that Vishnu was escalating upwards with Bhoomadevi on his tusks, from the ocean. The impudent Hiranyaksha, blinded by pride and overriding arrogance, leaped into the ocean. He noticed the Varaha Avatar of Vishnu, bearing Bhoomadevi, and rushed upto him, instigating the Lord for a fight - " Hey beast, leave Bhoomadevi alone and come and fight me." The Varaha, heedless of the Asura`s loathsome activities, first deposited Bhoomadevi on the shore, to ensure her safety. He bestowed Divine Benediction on Bhoomadevi, " May you fit into the Divine order".
It was time to ward off the evil with the greatest of valor, exercisable by Vishnu only. A tremendous battle was generated. Simultaneously, Brahma, spurred the wrathful Varaha, with the caution, "Twilight is approaching and in an hour he will become more powerful and formidable. So, slay him quickly and rid us of all menance." The urgency propelled the Lord to fiercely cast the crushing deathblow upon the viscious Asura. The Asura was destroyed andb the Bliss of peace and order, was restored to the Universe.Brahma and Devas, expressed their gratitude by eulogizing The Lord`s Magnificence.
Varaha Avatar, like Matsya and Kurma Avatar, reinforces the inviolable truth, that God can take any form, while coming to the rescue of the virtuous. Therefore, true religion must impart the essential education that God resides in every creature, because all are but His Manifestations.
More on Varaha
Varaha Purana
Varaha Temple , Khajuraho
Varaha Cave Temple ,Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu
Simhachalam Varaha Lakshminarasimha Temple
