Editing Varaha (section)

==Worship==
[[File:Sundaravarada Perumal temple12.JPG|thumb|Varaha with his consort on his lap, worshipped as a subsidiary deity in the [[Sundaravarada Perumal temple]] dedicated to Vishnu.]]
The ''Agni Purana'' prescribes that Varaha be in the north-east direction in Vishnu temples or worship.{{sfn | Shastri | Bhatt | Gangadharan | 1998 | pp = 116, 120, 527}} Installation of the icon of Varaha is said to bestow one with sovereignty, prosperity and ''[[moksha]]'' (emancipation).{{sfn | Shastri | Bhatt | Gangadharan | 1998 | pp= 126,129,343}}{{sfn|Rao|1914|p=134}}

The ''Narada Purana'' mentions Varaha's mantra "Om namo Bhagavate Varaharupaya Bhurbhuvassvah pataye Bhupatitvam me dehi dadapaya svaha" and recommends Varaha to be worshipped for kingship.{{sfn|Narada Purana|1997|pp=999-1000}} A shorter mantra "Om bhu varahay namah" is also given for gaining peosperity. Varaha is prescribed to be worshipped for ''ucchatana'' (eradication) of foes, ghosts, poison, disease, [[Navagraha|"evil planets"]]. The one-syllabed mantra ''hum'' for Varaha is also noted.{{sfn|Narada Purana|1997|p=1002}} The ''Bhagavata Purana'' invokes Varaha for protection while travelling.{{sfn|Shastri|Tagare|1999|p=820}} The ''Venkatacala Mahatmya'' of the ''Skanda Purana'' mentions the mantra of Varaha as ''Om Namah Srivarahaya Dharanyuddharanaya Ca Svaha'' ("Saluation to Varaha who lifted the Earth").{{sfn|Skanda_Purana|1951|p=14}} The ''Agni Purana''{{sfn| Shastri | Bhatt | Gangadharan | 1998 | p=527}} and the ''Garuda Purana''{{sfn|Garuda Purana|2002|p=38}} associate the mantra ''Bhuh'' with Varaha.

The ''Garuda Purana'' recommends the worship of Varaha for sovereignty.{{sfn|Garuda Purana|2002|p=265}} A ''[[vrata]]'' involving the worship of a gold Varaha image on [[ekadashi]] (eleventh lunar day) in bright half of [[Magha (month)|Magha]] month (i.e. Bhaimi Ekadakshi), is told in the ''Garuda Purana'' and the ''Narada Purana''.{{sfn|Garuda Purana|2002|pp=379-80}}{{sfn|Narada Purana|1997a|p=1711}} Varaha Jayanti, the birthday of Varaha, is celebrated on the third lunar day in the bright fortnight of the [[Bhadrapada]] month. The worship of Varaha and overnight vigil ([[jagran]]) with Vishnu tales being told are prescribed on this day.<ref name="Dainik Bhaskar">{{cite web | title=Varaha Jayanti: 1 September Varaha Avatar saved the Earth from the Hiranyaksha - भगवान विष्णु के वराह अवतार ने दैत्य हिरण्याक्ष से बचाया था पृथ्वी को | website=Dainik Bhaskar | url=https://www.bhaskar.com/religion/dharam/varaha-jayanti-on-1-september-varaha-avatar-saved-the-earth-from-the-hiranyaksha-01629365.html | language=hi | access-date=2020-06-27| date = Aug 29, 2019}}</ref><ref name="punjabkesari 2019">{{cite web | title=वराह जयंती : आज कर लें इन मंत्रों का जाप, वराह भगवान दिलाएंगे मान-सम्मान | website=punjabkesari | date=2019-09-01 | url=https://www.punjabkesari.in/dharm/news/chant-these-mantras-today-lord-varaha-will-remove-all-your-problems-1047510 | language=hi | access-date=2020-06-27}}</ref>

The ''[[Vishnu Sahasranama]]'' embedded in the thirteenth Book ''[[Anushasana Parva]]'' of the epic is a [[Sahasranama|hymn]] listing the thousand names of Vishnu. The Varaha legend is alluded to in the following epithets: ''Mahibharta'' ("husband of the earth"), ''Dharanidara'' ("one who upholds the earth", may also refer to other Vishnu forms - [[Kurma]], [[Shesha]] or Vishnu in general), ''Maha-varaha'' ("the great boar"), ''Kundara'' ("One who pierced the earth"), ''Brihadrupa'' ("who takes form of a boar"), ''Yajnanga'' ("whose body is ''[[yajna]]'' or sacrifice) and ''Vaikhana'' ("one who dug the earth"). The epithet ''Kapindra'' ("Kapi-Lord") may refer to Varaha or [[Rama]] avatar, depending the interpretation of the word ''kapi'' as boar or monkey respectively. The title ''Shringi'' ("horned") generally interpreted as [[Matsya]], may also refer to Varaha.<ref name="krishnanda">{{Cite book|url=http://archive.org/details/SriVishnu_201905|title=Sri Vishnu Sahararanama Stotram|last=Krishnananda|first=Swami|pages=43, 46, 79|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m13/m13b114.htm|title=The Mahabharata, Book 13: Anusasana Parva: Section CXLIX|website=www.sacred-texts.com|access-date=2019-11-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m13/m13b123.htm|title=The Mahabharata, Book 13: Anusasana Parva: Section CLVIII|website=www.sacred-texts.com|access-date=2019-11-27}}</ref><ref name="Pāṇḍuraṅgārāva">{{cite book | last=Pāṇḍuraṅgārāva | first=Ā. | title=The Universe that is God: An Insight Into the Thousand Names of Lord Viṣṇu| publisher=Jñāna-pravāha | year=1999 | isbn=978-81-246-0153-2 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l2ApAAAAYAAJ | access-date=2020-05-17 | pages= 66, 205, 292, 305}}</ref> The ''Vishnu Sahasranama'' version from the ''Garuda Purana'' mentions ''Shukura'' (Boar) as an epithet of Vishnu.{{sfn|Garuda Purana|2002|p=59}} The ''Padma Purana'' includes Varaha in a hundred-name hymn of Vishnu.{{sfn|Padma_Purana|1999|p=1228}} The thousand-name hymn version in the ''Padma Purana'' mentions that Vishnu is Varaha, the protector of sacrifices and destroyer of those who obstruct them.{{sfn|Padma_Purana|1956|p=2585}}

===Temples===
[[File:Srimushnam (4).jpg|thumb|[[Bhu Varaha Swamy temple|Bhuvarahasvami Temple]] in [[Srimushnam]].]]
The most prominent temple of Varaha is the [[Varahaswamy Temple, Tirumala|Sri Varahaswami Temple]] in [[Tirumala]], [[Andhra Pradesh]]. It is located on the shores of a temple pond, called the Svami Pushkarini, in Tirumala, near [[Tirupati (city)|Tirupati]]; to the north of the [[Tirumala Venkateswara Temple|Tirumala Venkateshvara Temple]] (another temple of Vishnu in the form of [[Venkateswara|Venkateshvara]]). The region is called ''Adi-Varaha Kshestra'', the abode of Varaha. The legend of the place is as follows: at the end of [[Satya Yuga]] (the first in the cycle of four aeons; the present one is the fourth aeon), devotees of Varaha requested him to stay on earth, so Varaha ordered his mount [[Garuda]] to bring his divine garden Kridachala from his abode Vaikuntha to Venkata hills, Tirumala. Venkateswara is described as having taken the permission of Varaha to reside in these hills, where his chief temple, Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, stands. Hence, pilgrims are prescribed to worship Varaha first and then Venkateswara. In the ''Atri Samhita'' (''Samurtarchanadhikara''), Varaha is described to be worshipped in three forms here: Adi Varaha, Pralaya Varaha and Yajna Varaha. The image in the sanctum is of Adi Varaha.<ref name=Tiru>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tirumala.org/ptv_tm_varaha.htm|title=Sri Varahaswami Temple|access-date=4 January 2012|publisher=Tirumala.Org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103221028/http://www.tirumala.org/ptv_tm_varaha.htm|archive-date=3 January 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>[[#Krishna|Krishna]] 2009, pp. 46–7</ref>

The ''Venkatacala Mahatmya'' of the ''Skanda Purana'' says that Varaha resides with Bhudevi on the banks of the Svami Pushkarini lake, [[Tirupati]]. Varaha is said to rest there in the jungle after rescuing the earth. Varaha roams in the forest near the lake as a lustrous boar. A tribal chief called Vasu follows the boar, who enters an anthill. Vasu digs the anthill but cannot trace the boar, finally swoons due to fatigue. His son finds him. Varaha possesses Vasu and instructs him to inform the king Tondaman to build his temple at the place. Varaha is also presented as the narrator of the tale of [[Venkateswara|Venkateshvara]], whose chief temple is in Tirupati, to the Earth in a part of ''Venkatacala Mahatmya''.{{sfn|Skanda_Purana|1951|pp=12, 59-61, 208}}

Another important temple is the [[Bhu Varaha Swamy temple|Bhuvarahaswami Temple]] in [[Srimushnam]], [[Tamil Nadu]]. It was built in the late 16th century by Krishnappa II, a [[Thanjavur Nayak kingdom|Thanjavur Nayak ruler]].<ref name="Raman2006">{{cite book|author=K. V. Raman|title=Temple art, icons and culture of India and South-East Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vb2fAAAAMAAJ|access-date=4 January 2013|date=1 January 2006|publisher=Sharada Pub. House|isbn=978-81-88934-31-7}}</ref> The image of Varaha is considered a [[swayambhu]] (self-manifested) image, one of the eight self-manifested ''Swayamvyakta kshetra''s. An inscription in the [[prakaram]] (circumambulating passage around the main shrine) quoting from the legend of the ''Srimushna Mahatmaya'' (a local legend) mentions the piety one derives in observing festivals during the 12 months of the year when the sun enters a particular zodiacal sign.<ref name="Ayyar1982">{{cite book|author=P. V. Jagadisa Ayyar|title=South Indian Shrines: Illustrated|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NLSGFW1uZboC&pg=PA423|access-date=4 January 2013|year=1982|publisher=Asian Educational Services|isbn=978-81-206-0151-2|pages=23, 423}}</ref> This temple is venerated by Hindus and [[Muslim]]s alike. Both communities take the [[Uthsavar|utsava murti]] (festival image) in procession in the annual temple festival in the [[Tamil month]] of [[Maasi|Masi]] (February–March). The god is credited with many miracles and called ''Varaha [[sahib]]'' by Muslims.<ref name="Krishna p. 47"/>

The Varaha temple in [[Pushkar]] is also included in the ''Swayamvyakta kshetra'' list.<ref name="speaking tree">{{Cite web |title=Swayam Vyakta Kshetras of Lord Vishnu |url=https://www.speakingtree.in/allslides/swayam-vyakta-kshetras-of-lord-vishnu |website=www.speakingtree.in |access-date=2020-05-17|publisher= Speaking Tree, Times of India group}}</ref> The ''Garuda Purana'' says Varaha performs a sacrifice near [[Pushkar lake]] in every [[Kārtika (month)|Kartika]] month.{{sfn|Garuda Purana|2002a}} The ''Padma Purana'' narrates that Brahma organizes a great sacrifice in [[Pushkar]] for the benefit of the universe. Varaha, appears there as the embodiment of Sacrifice (his sacrificial attributes are reiterated), to protect the sacrifice against any obstruction or evil. Brahma requests Varaha to always reside in and protect the sacred place of Pushkar (identified with Kokamukha).{{sfn|Deshpande|1988|pp=189-191}}
 
Varaha shrines are also included in [[Divya Desam]]s (a list of 108 abodes of Vishnu). They include Adi Varaha Perumal shrine Tirukkalvanoor, located in the [[Kamakshi Amman Temple]] complex, [[Kanchipuram]] and [[Nithyakalyana Perumal temple|Thiruvidandai]], 15&nbsp;km from [[Mamallapuram|Mahabalipuram]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/df054.html|title= Tirukkalvanoor|publisher=templenet.com|access-date=19 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/df062.html|title= Tiruvidandai|publisher=templenet.com|access-date=19 March 2013}}</ref>

Another pilgrimage place where Varaha resides is mentioned in the ''Brahma Purana'' near [[Baitarani River|Vaitarana river]] and [[Biraja Temple|Viraja temple]], [[Utkala kingdom|Utkala]] (modern-day [[Odisha]]) (See [[Varahanatha Temple]]).{{sfn|Brahma Purana|1955|p=243}}<ref name="Jajpur"/>

In Muradpur in [[West Bengal]], worship is offered to an in-situ {{convert|2.5|m|adj=on}} zoomorphic image of Varaha (8th century), one of the earliest known images of Varaha.<ref name="Geer2008"/> A 7th century anthropomorphic Varaha image of Apasadh is still worshipped in a relatively modern temple.<ref name="Dalal2011"/> Other temples dedicated to Varaha are located across India in the states of Andhra Pradesh (including [[Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Simhachalam]] dedicated to a combined form of Varaha and Narasimha), in Haryana Pradesh at [[Baraha Kalan]],<ref name=Jajpur>{{Cite web|url=http://ignca.nic.in/asi_reports/orjajpur057.pdf|title=Varahanatha Temple, Jajpur Town, Dist. – Jajpur|access-date=4 January 2013|publisher=Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930181630/http://ignca.nic.in/asi_reports/orjajpur057.pdf|archive-date=30 September 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Lakshmi Varaha Temple, in [[Karnataka]] at [[Maravanthe]] and Kallahalli, [[Panniyur Sri Varahamurthy Temple]] in [[Kerala]], [[Sreevaraham Lakshmi Varaha temple, Thiruvananthapuram]] in [[Kerala]], Sree Varaha Swamy Temple, Varapuzha in Ernakulam, Kerala, Azheekal Sree Varaha Temple in Ernakulam, Kerala, in [[Majholi]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], in [[Odisha]] at [[Lakhmi Varaha Temple|Lakshmi Varaha Temple]], [[Aul, Odisha|Aul]], in Tamil Nadu and in [[Uttar Pradesh]]. A Varaha temple is also located in Mysore Palace premises at Mysore, Karnataka. The Varahashyam temple in [[Bhinmal]], [[Rajasthan]] also has an 8&nbsp;ft Varaha icon.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-09-01|title=वराहश्याम मंदिर में 8 फीट की प्रतिमा, इसलिए क्षेत्र में अलग पहचान|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/rajasthan/jalore/news/rajasthan-news-8-feet-statue-in-varahashyam-temple-hence-different-identity-in-the-area-074005-5376130.html|access-date=2021-03-05|website=Dainik Bhaskar|language=hi}}</ref>