•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

Varaha Striking HiranyakshaHiranyaksha’s Death

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