Varaha Avatar: 3rd Avatar of Lord Vishnu

We all know about the 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu. Out of these 9 have already taken place, and the 10th is yet to come. However, out of all these 10 avatars, one avatar of Lord Vishnu is not much popular. This is the Varaha Avatar of Lord Vishnu. Not many people know about the story of Lord Vishnu’s Varaha avatar and how it saved the Earth. Just like all the other avatars of Lord Vishnu, his Varaha avatar was also born to save Earth and mankind. The 3rd avatar of Vishnu is Varaha Avatar. This avatar has a long backstory which represents it being born. Moreover, the importance of the Varaha avatar is sometimes forgotten as it is not much popular.

The Varaha meaning in English is Boar. Thus, in English, it is also called the Boar avatar of Lord Vishnu.  In many instances, people have also ascribed scientific meaning to Lord Vishnu’s avatars. People tend to explain that the 9 avatars of Lord Vishnu do explain the theory of evolution. In this blog, we will have a look at the Varaha avatar of Lord Vishnu and also tell you the science relating to Vishnu’s avatars. If you are keen to read more about this, then continue reading the blog for the same. Moreover, if you want to read more such blogs, then do visit InstaAstro’s website, where you will be able to read many more informative yet interesting blogs. Now, let us dig deep into Lord Vishnu’s Varaha Avatar. 

About Varaha Avatar

The third avatar of Lord Vishnu is Varaha Avatar, wherein he emerged as a wild boar to protect Mother Earth. It was from the grips of a demon-named Hiranyaksha.

After bearing the Matsya (fish) avatar and Kurma (tortoise) avatar, Lord Vishnu changed into a boar to save the world from drowning in the celestial ocean. Therefore, he carried his third avatar, Varaha. It was to protect Earth from a demon named Hiranyaksha, who had taken the world’s control. Read on about the Varaha avatar of Lord Vishnu to know more.

Also Read: Matsya Avatar: The 1st Lord Vishnu Incarnation

Backstory Of Varaha Avatar

Varaha avatar of Lord Vishnu, was to save Mother Earth and kill Hiranyaksha. Hiranyaksha was an Asura. In his previous birth, he was a Dwarpala or gatekeeper of Lord Vishnu’s abode, Vaikuntha. He and his brother were known as Vijaya and Jaya. The Sanat Kumaras, sons of Lord Brahma, criticised Vijaya and his brother for not permitting them to meet Shri Vishnu. The four Kumaras argued with the two brothers to let them step inside, but Vijaya and Jaya arrogantly denied them permission. Vijaya and Jaya were under the impression that their master Lord Vishnu, was resting and no one should be able to disturb them. Thus, they denied them permission.

Both the brothers, Vijaya and Jaya, were great devotees of Lord Vishnu and were proud that they were the gatekeepers for their Lord. But, the Sanat Kumars got angry and cursed the gatekeepers to be born as humans on Earth. However, after getting cursed, Vijaya and Jaya insisted that Sanat Kumaras show mercy. Hearing all the chaos, Lord Vishnu came outside only to find the Sanat Kumars and his gatekeepers fighting. Lord Vishnu apologised on behalf of his gatekeepers and asked Lord Brahma’s sons to take back the curse. However, they told him that the curse could not be taken back.

Hearing this, Lord Vishnu informed his gatekeepers of a way to help them. He informed them that they would achieve Moksha only after getting killed at the hands of Lord Vishnu in their future lives. Thus, doing so drove them to realise that one must not misuse their powers. Vijaya and Jay had the ego that they were the gatekeepers of Lord Vishnu. Hence, they assumed they had the freedom to deny anyone entry to Vaikuntha.

Later, Vijaya was born, and Hiranyaksha and Jaya as Hiranyakashipu in their next life. The two brothers created devastation in the three worlds – Deva Loka, Prithvi Loka and Patal Loka. They became so greedy that they wished to become more powerful than the Gods.

Also Read: 2nd Vishnu Avatar: Kurma Or Tortoise Incarnation

The Birth of Varaha Avatar

The Varaha avatar story begins from Hiranyaksha. Hiranyaksha came to be a ruthless person. He was a great devotee of Lord Brahma. Thus, being pleased by his devotion, Lord Brahma granted him a boon. According to the boon, Hiranksha could not be killed by any God, human, Asura, devta, animal or beast. However, in the names he mentioned, he forgot to mention the name of Varaha (Boar). Moreover, he became arrogant about getting this boon from Lord Brahma and started harassing all three lokas.

He got so arrogant that he got hold of Dhartilok and submerged it in the celestial ocean. During that time, Manu and his wife were ruling the world. Seeing this, they went to Lord Brahma to ask him what to do. They all thought that the solution to this problem would be with Lord Vishnu itself. Thus, they started meditating.

During meditation, a small boar-like creature fell from Lord Brahma’s nostril. However, as they stood there, the boar continued to grow as big as a mountain. Lord Brahma then understood the boar to be Lord Vishnu itself. The Varaha avatar then proceeded towards the celestial ocean in order to rescue Mother Earth. He went deep into the ocean and found her. He rose from the ocean carrying Mother Earth on his tusk.  Moreover, during that time, Hiranyaksha reached there and condemned Dashavatar Varaha avatar actions. This further led to a fight between the two. The fight was long and trying, but, in the end, the Vraha avatar of Lord Vishnu won, and he restored Earth back to its position on its axis. 

Conclusion

This was the story of the Varaha avatar of Vishnu. Many people do not know about this avatar. However, this avatar is much well known in the southern part of India. Every year the festival of Varaha Jayanti is celebrated to worship and thank Lord Vishnu’s Varaha avatar. Moreover, there are many prominent temples of Varaha Avatar of Lord Vishnu. Along with this, people tend to see Lord Vishnu’s avatars as the tale of science that tells us about the story of evolution. The first avatar is of a fish, then the tortoise and the third incarnation of Lord Vishnu as a mammal.

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Also Read: The Three Pillars Of Hinduism: Brahma, Vishnu And Mahesh