Editing Varaha (section)

== Legends and scriptural references ==

=== Vedic origins ===
[[File:WLA lacma Varaha the Boar Avatar of Vishnu Mathura.jpg|thumb|left|A 3rd century CE sandstone statue of Varaha holding his consort Bhumi, [[Art of Mathura]], housed in [[Los Angeles County Museum of Art|LACMA]].]]

The origin of Varaha is found in the [[Vedas]], the oldest Hindu scriptures.<ref name="macdonell" /><ref name=":11">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.283974|title=Vedic Index Of Names And Subjects Vol.ii|last=Arthur Anthony Macdonell|date=1912|pages=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.283974/page/n248 245]}}</ref><ref name="keith" /><ref name=":10" />{{sfn | Roy | 2002 |p=91}} Varaha is originally described as a form of [[Prajapati]] (who is equated to the god [[Brahma]]), but on evolved into the avatar of Vishnu in later Hindu scriptures.<ref name="Dalal2011"/> Two other avatars of Vishnu - [[Matsya]] (the fish) and [[Kurma]] (the tortoise) were also equated with Prajapati, before being shown as forms of Vishnu in later traditions.<ref name="keith"/>

[[Arthur Anthony Macdonell]] traces the origins of the Varaha legend to two verses (1.61.7 and 8.66.10) of the [[Rigveda]], the oldest Veda. Vishnu, aided by the god [[Indra]], steals hundred buffaloes from a boar (identified [[Vritra]] by Macdonell based on verse 1.121.11); and then Indra - shooting across a mountain slays the ''emusha'' ("fierce") beast.<ref name="macdonell">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/vedicmythology00macd_0|title=... Vedic mythology|last=Macdonell|first=Arthur Anthony|date=1897|publisher=Strassburg : Karl J. Trübner|others=Princeton Theological Seminary Library|pages=[https://archive.org/details/vedicmythology00macd_0/page/41 41]}}</ref><ref>1.61.7: {{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/rv01061.htm|title=Rig Veda: Rig-Veda Book 1: HYMN LXI. Indra.|website=www.sacred-texts.com|access-date=2019-11-25}}</ref><ref>8.66.10:{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/rv08066.htm|title=Rig Veda: Rig-Veda, Book 8: HYMN LXVI. Indra.|website=www.sacred-texts.com|access-date=2019-11-25}}</ref><ref>1.121.11: {{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/rv01121.htm|title=Rig Veda: Rig-Veda Book 1: HYMN CXXI. Indra.|website=www.sacred-texts.com|access-date=2019-11-26}}</ref> [[Arthur Berriedale Keith]] also agrees with Macdonell; interpreting the mountain as a cloud and the slaying a retelling of the killing of the ''[[asura]]'' Vritra by Indra.<ref name="keith"/> The 14th century Vedic commentator [[Sayana]] states the ''[[Taittiriya Shakha|Taittiriya Samhita]]'' (6.2.4) elaborates the Rigveda version.{{sfn|Aiyangar|1901|p=183}} However, the Rigveda does not hint at the classical legend of the rescue of the earth by the boar.{{sfn|Roy|2002|p=92}} In the scripture, the god [[Rudra]] is called the "boar of the sky". Even Vishnu has killed a boar. The hunting and butchering of a boar using dogs is also referred to.<ref name=":11" />{{sfn|Roy|2002|p=92}}

The ''Taittiriya Samhita'' (6.2.4) mentions that the boar, "the plunderer of wealth", hides the riches of the asuras, beyond the seven hills. Indra kills the boar by striking it a blade of [[Desmostachya bipinnata|sacred ''kusha'' grass]], piercing the mounts. Vishnu, "the sacrifice" (''[[yajna]]''), brings the killed boar as a sacrificial offering to the gods, thereby the gods acquiring the treasure of the asuras.<ref name="macdonell"/><ref name="keith"/><ref name=":17">6.2.4:{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/yv/yv06.htm|title=Yajur Veda Kanda VI|website=www.sacred-texts.com|access-date=2019-11-26}}</ref> Vishnu is both the sacrifice as well as the "bringer of sacrifice"; the boar being the sacrifice.{{sfn | Aiyangar | 1901|p=185}} The tale is also recalled in ''Charaka [[Brahmana]]'' and ''Kathaka Brahmana''; the latter calls the boar Emusha.{{sfn | Aiyangar | 1901|p=186}}<ref name="macdonell" />

According to J. L. Brockington, there are two distinct boar mythologies in Vedic literature. In one, he is depicted as a form of Prajapati, in other an asura named Emusha is a boar that fights Indra and Vishnu. The section 14.1.2 of the ''Shatapatha Brahmana'' harmonizes the two myths and Emusha is conflated into Prajapati.{{sfn|Brockington|1998|p=280}}

The earliest versions of the classical Varaha legend are found in the ''Taittiriya Samhita'' and the ''[[Shatapatha Brahmana]]''; scholars differ on which one is the core version.{{sfn|Nanditha Krishna|2010|pp=54–55}}{{sfn|Roy|2002|p=92}}<ref name=":10">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rfgkCrumMfYC&q=rig+veda+emusa&pg=PA187|title=Legend of Ram: Antiquity to Janmabhumi Debate|last=Ghose|first=Sanujit|date=2004|publisher=Bibliophile South Asia|isbn=978-81-85002-33-0|pages=187–188|language=en}}</ref> The ''Shatapatha Brahmana'' narrates that the universe was primordial waters. The earth which was the size of a hand, was trapped in it. Prajapati in the form of a boar (''varaha'') plunges into the waters and brings the earth out. He also marries the earth thereafter. The ''Shatapatha Brahmana'' calls the boar as Emusha, which Keith relates to the boar's epithet ''emusha'' in the Rigveda.{{sfn|Nanditha Krishna|2010|pp=54–55}}<ref name="keith">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/TheReligionAndPhilosophyOfTheVedaAndUpanishads01|title=The Religion And Philosophy Of The Veda And Upanishads 01|last=Keith|first=Arthur Berriedale|pages=[https://archive.org/details/TheReligionAndPhilosophyOfTheVedaAndUpanishads01/page/n131 111]}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/sbr/sbe44/sbe44118.htm|title=Satapatha Brahmana Part V (SBE44): Fourteenth Kânda: XIV, 1, 2. Second Brâhmana (see also note 451:1)|website=www.sacred-texts.com|access-date=2019-12-04}}</ref> In the ''Taittiriya Samhita'' (7.1.5), Prajapati - who was roaming as the wind - acquires the form of a "[[Cosmogony|cosmogonic]]" boar lifting the earth goddess from the primeval waters. As [[Vishvakarma]] (the creator of the world), he flattened her, thus she - the earth - was called [[Prithvi]], "the extended one". They produce various deities.<ref name="macdonell"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/yv/yv07.htm|title=Yajur Veda Kanda VII|website=www.sacred-texts.com|access-date=2019-11-26}}</ref><ref name="Daniélou"/>

The ''[[Aranyaka|Taittiriya Aranyaka]]'' (10.1.8) states the earth is lifted by a "black boar with hundred arms".<ref name="Daniélou">{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/mythsgodsofindia00dani|url-access=registration|title=The Myths and Gods of India: The Classic Work on Hindu Polytheism from the Princeton Bollingen Series|last=Daniélou|first=Alain|date=1991|publisher=Inner Traditions / Bear & Co|isbn=978-0-89281-354-4|pages=[https://archive.org/details/mythsgodsofindia00dani/page/n201 168]|language=en}}</ref> The ''[[Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa|Taittiriya Brahmana]]'' (1.1.3.6) expands the ''Taittiriya Samhita'' narrative.<ref name="macdonell" /> The "Lord of creation" was pondering on how the universe should be. He saw a lotus leaf and took the form of a boar to explore under it. He found mud and outstretched it on the leaf, rising above the waters. It was called the earth - [[Bhumi (goddess)|Bhumi]], literally "that which became (spread)".<ref name="Daniélou"/><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_8sBtAEACAAJ|title=Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa: Text in Devanāgari and Translation|date=2017|publisher=Sri Aurobindo Kapāli Sāstry Institute of Vedic Culture|isbn=978-81-7994-166-9|page = 107 (Volume 1)|language=en}}</ref>

===Creation legend===
[[File:Varaha, the Boar Avatar of Vishnu LACMA M.87.160.2 (1 of 2).jpg|thumb|Varaha with his consort Bhumi, a copper statue from [[Tamil Nadu]], 1600 CE.]]

The ''Ayodhya Kanda'' book of the epic ''[[Ramayana]]'' refers to Varaha retaining his connection to Prajapati as Brahma. In a cosmogonic myth, Brahma appears in the primal universe full of water and takes the form of a boar to lift the earth from the waters; creation begins with Brahma and his progeny.<ref>Ayodhya Kanda - CX (110):{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/ramayanaofvalmee035120mbp|title=Ramayana Of Valmeeki|last=Sreenivasa Ayyangar|publisher=A L V Press And Guardian Press Madras|others=BRAOU, Digital Library Of India|pages=[https://archive.org/details/ramayanaofvalmee035120mbp/page/n843 452]}}</ref><ref name=":4">Yuddha Kanda - CX (110):{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/Ramayana_201309|title=Ramayana|last=Manmathnath Dutt|date=1891|pages=[https://archive.org/details/Ramayana_201309/page/n486 481]}}</ref>{{sfn|Roy|2002|p=91}} The ''Yuddha Kanda'' book of the epic praises Rama (the hero of the epic, who is identified with Vishnu) as "the single-tusked boar", which is interpreted as an allusion to Varaha and links Varaha with Vishnu.<ref name="Vālmīki Goldman Goldman 2009 p.">{{cite book | author=Vālmīki | last2=Goldman | first2=R.P. | last3=Goldman | first3=S.J.S. | title=The Ramayana of Valmiki | publisher=Princeton University Press | series=Princeton library of Asian translations | year=2009 | isbn=978-0-691-06663-9 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mCtAAQAAIAAJ | access-date=2020-05-15 | pages = 459, 1446}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/The.Ramayana.of.Valmiki.by.Hari.Prasad.Shastri|title=The Ramayana of Valmiki, translated by Hari Prasad Shastri - 3 Volumes Combined - 1709 Pages, with complete Outline|last=Hari Prasad Shastri|pages=[https://archive.org/details/The.Ramayana.of.Valmiki.by.Hari.Prasad.Shastri/page/n351 339]|language=en}}</ref>{{sfn|Brockington|1998|pp=461, 471}} In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', [[Narayana]] ("one who lies in the waters", an appellation of Brahma which was later transferred to Vishnu) is praised as the one who rescues the earth as a boar.{{sfn|Brockington|1998|pp=280-1}}<ref>Narayana praised as Varaha: 
* {{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03102.htm|title=The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Tirtha-yatra Parva: Section CII|website=www.sacred-texts.com|access-date=2019-11-21}}
* {{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03188.htm|title=The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Markandeya-Samasya Parva: Section CLXXXVIII|website=www.sacred-texts.com|access-date=2019-11-27}}
* {{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01022.htm|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Astika Parva: Section XXI|website=www.sacred-texts.com|access-date=2019-11-27}}
</ref>

The Puranas complete the full transition of Varaha from the form of Prajapati-Brahma to the avatar of Narayana-Vishnu. The ''[[Brahmanda Purana]]'', the ''[[Vayu Purana]]'', the ''[[Vishnu Purana]]'', the ''[[Linga Purana]]'', the ''[[Markendeya Purana]]'', the ''[[Kurma Purana]]'', the ''[[Garuda Purana]]'', the ''[[Padma Purana]]'' and the ''[[Shiva Purana]]'' have similar narratives of the cosmogonic myth, wherein Brahma, identified with Vishnu, takes the Varaha form to raise the earth from the primeval waters.{{sfn|Rao|1914|p=129}}{{sfn|Shastri|1990|pp=15-16, 316-7}}{{sfn|Dutt|1896|pp=205-6}}{{sfn|Tagare|2002|p=37}}{{sfn|Tagare|1960|p=43}}{{sfn|Garuda Purana|2002|p=16}}{{sfn|Gupta|1972|pp=xvi, 34-36}}{{sfn|Shastri|2002a|pp=1810-2}}{{sfn|Deshpande|1988|pp=19-21}}

The ''Brahmanda Purana'', one of the oldest [[Puranas]], narrates that in the present ''[[kalpa (aeon)|kalpa]]'' ("aeon") called ''Varaha kalpa'', Brahma wakes from his slumber. Brahma is called Narayana ("he who lies in the waters").{{sfn|Tagare|2002|p=37}} The ''Vayu Purana'' says that Brahma roams as the wind in the waters, which is interpreted as allusion to the Vedic ''Taittiriya Brahmana'' version.{{sfn|Tagare|1960|p=43}} Similarly alluding to the Vedic version, the detailed ''Brahmanda Purana'' version says that Brahma is "invisible" and a shorter summary says that he becomes the wind.{{sfn|Tagare|2002|p=37, 65-6}} In the ''Brahmanda Purana'', realizing that the earth was in the waters, he decides to take the form of Varaha as the beast likes to sport in the water.{{sfn|Tagare|2002|pp=36-38}} Similar reasons for taking the boar form particularly are also given in the ''Linga Purana'',{{sfn|Shastri|1990|pp=316-7}} the ''[[Matsya Purana]]''{{sfn|Talukdar of Oudh|1916|p=282|loc=Part II}} and the ''Vayu Purana''.{{sfn|Wilson|1862|p=59}}{{sfn|Tagare|1960|p=44}} The ''Vishnu Purana'' and the ''Markendeya Purana'' add that Brahma-Narayana decides to take the form of Varaha, similar to the forms of the fish (Matsya) and tortoise (Kurma), he took in previous ''kalpa''s.{{sfn|Wilson|1862|pp=55-67}}{{sfn|Roy|2002|pp=92-3}}{{sfn|Dutt|1896|p=204}}

The ''[[Brahma Purana]]'', the ''Venkatacala Mahatmya'' in the ''Vaishnava Khanda'' Book of the ''[[Skanda Purana]]'' and  the ''[[Vishnu Smriti]]'' narrate the tale with slight variation, however Brahma is missing; it is Vishnu who unambiguously becomes Varaha to lift the sunken earth from the waters.{{sfn|Brahma Purana|1955|pp=524-5}}<ref name="vishnusmriti"/>{{sfn|Skanda_Purana|1951|p=204}} In late addition in the ''Mahabharata'', the single-tusked (''Eka-shringa'') Varaha (identified with Vishnu) lifts the earth, which sinks under the burden of overpopulation when Vishnu assumes the duties of [[Yama (Hinduism)|Yama]] (the god of Death) and death seizes on earth.{{sfn|Brockington|1998|p=281}}<ref name="CXLI"/> In the ''[[Matsya Purana]]'' and the ''[[Harivaṃśa|Harivamsa]]'', at the beginning of a ''kalpa'', Vishnu creates various [[loka|worlds]] from the cosmic [[Hiranyagarbha|golden egg]]. The earth, unable to bear the weight of the new mountains and losing her energy, sinks in the waters to the subterranean realm of [[Patala|Rasatala]] - the abode of the demons.{{sfn|Talukdar of Oudh|1916|pp=278-283|loc=Part II}}{{sfn|Dutt|1897|p=898}} In the first account in the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'' states that in early stages of creation, Brahma creates various beings, however finds the earth under the waters.{{sfn|Shastri|Tagare|1999|p=292}}{{sfn|Wilson| 1862|p=62}} Varaha (identified with Vishnu, the Lord of sacrifice) emerges as a tiny beast (a size of a thumb) from the nostrils of Brahma, but soon starts to grow. Varaha's size increases to that of an elephant and then to that of an enormous mountain and later, he becomes larger than the whole earth and raises it to the intrastellar space where Brahma places the created beings on top of.<ref name="Dalal2011"/>{{sfn|Shastri|Tagare|1999|pp=292-3}}

[[File:Eran Boar.jpg|left|thumb|The Colossal Varaha at [[Eran]] is one of the earliest known completely theriomorphic icons of Varaha. [[Eran boar inscription of Toramana|It was dedicated]] by the [[Alchon Huns|Huna]] king [[Toramana]] circa 510 CE]]
The scriptures emphasize Varaha's gigantic size. The ''Brahmanda Purana'', the ''Vayu Purana'', the ''Matsya Purana'', the ''Harivamsa'' and the ''Linga Purana'' describes Varaha as 10 ''[[yojana]]''s (The range of a ''yojana'' is disputed and ranges between {{convert|6|-|15|km}}) in width and a 1000 ''yojana''s in height. He is large as a mountain and blazing like the sun. Dark like a rain cloud in complexion, his tusks are white, sharp and fearsome. His body is the size of the space between the earth and the sky. His thunderous roar is frightening. In one instance, his mane is so fiery and fearsome that [[Varuna]], the god of the waters, requests Varaha to save him from it. Varaha complies and folds his mane.{{sfn|Tagare|2002|p=38}}<ref name="Dalal2011"/><ref name="Mani">{{cite book | last = Mani | first = Vettam | title = Puranic Encyclopaedia: a Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature | url = https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft | publisher = Motilal Banarsidass Publishers | year = 1975 <!-- | location = Delhi --> | isbn = 978-0-8426-0822-0 | author-link = Vettam Mani|pages=[https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/826 826–827] }}</ref><ref name="Krishna">[[#Krishna|Krishna]] 2009, pp. 45-6</ref>{{sfn|Wilson|1862|pp=61-2}}{{sfn|Shastri|1990|p=61}}{{sfn|Talukdar of Oudh|1916|pp=282-3|loc=Part II}}{{sfn|Tagare|1960|p=44}}{{sfn|Dutt|1897|p=900}}

Early texts like the ''Brahmanda Purana'' and the ''Vayu Purana'' build up on the ''Taittiriya Brahmana'' Vedic cosmogonic concept of ''Yajna-varaha'' (Varaha as sacrifice).{{sfn|Narada_Purana|1995|pp=207-8}}{{sfn|Tagare|1960|pp=44-5}}{{sfn|Shastri|Tagare|1999|pp=294-5}} The ''Brahmanda Purana'' describes that acquiring the boar form composed of Vedic sacrifices, he plunges in waters, finding the earth in the subterranean realm. Varaha's various body parts are compared with various implements or participants of a ''yajna'' (sacrifice). This description of ''Yajna-varaha'' was adopted in various other Puranas (like the ''Brahma Purana'',{{sfn|Brahma Purana|1955|pp=523-5}} the ''Bhagavata Purana'',{{sfn|Tagare|1960|pp=44-5}} the ''Matsya Purana'',{{sfn|Talukdar of Oudh|1916|p=282|loc=Part II}} the ''[[Padma Purana]]'',{{sfn|Deshpande|1988|pp=20, 189-91}} the ''Venkatacala Mahatmya'' of the ''Skanda Purana'',{{sfn|Skanda_Purana|1951|pp=204-5}} the ''[[Vishnudharmottara Purana]]''), the ''Harivamsa'',{{sfn|Dutt|1897|pp=170-1, 900-1}} [[Smriti]] texts (including the ''Vishnu Smriti'',<ref name="vishnusmriti">{{cite book| title= The Institutes of Vishnu | publisher = Oxford, the Clarendon Press| url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/sbe07/sbe07003.htm | year = 1880| series = Sacred Books of the East|volume=7|pages=2–4|author-link=Julius Jolly (Indologist)|last = Jolly|first = Julius}}</ref>), [[Hindu tantric literature|Tantras]] and [[Adi Shankara]]'s commentary on the ''Vishnu Sahasranama'' explaining the epithet ''Yajnanga'' ("whose body is ''yajna''").{{sfn|Tagare|2002|p=38}}{{sfn|Narada_Purana|1995|pp=85-6}}{{sfn|Shastri|Tagare|1999|pp=44-5}} The ''Vishnu Purana'', the ''Bhagavata Purana'' and the ''Padma Purana'' embeds the sacrificial description within a paean to Varaha by the sages of [[Urdhva lokas|Janaloka]] after he saves the earth.{{sfn|Wilson|1862|pp=62-5}}{{sfn|Shastri|Tagare|1999|pp=44-6}}{{sfn|Deshpande|1988|p=20}} Roshen Dalal describes the symbolism of his iconography  based on the ''Vishnu Purana'' as follows:<ref name="Dalal2011"/>
<blockquote>His four feet represent the [[Vedas]] (scriptures). His tusks represent sacrificial stakes. His teeth are offerings. His mouth is the altar, the tongue is the sacrificial fire. The hair on his head denotes the sacrificial grass. The eyes represent the day and night. The head represents the seat of all. The mane represents the hymns of the Vedas. His nostrils are the oblation. His joints represent the various ceremonies. The ears are said to indicate rites (voluntary and obligatory).</blockquote>

Some texts like the ''Vishnu Purana'',{{sfn|Wilson|1862|pp=55-67}} the ''Matsya Purana'',{{sfn|Talukdar of Oudh|1916|pp=280-2|loc=Part II}} the ''Harivamsa''{{sfn|Dutt|1897|pp=899-900}} and the ''Padma Purana''{{sfn|Deshpande|1988|pp=19-20}} contain a panegyric - dedicated to Varaha - and a plea of rescue by the earth. They clearly identify Varaha with Vishnu at this stage. Further in the ''Brahmanda Purana'' and other texts, Varaha rose from the waters carrying the earth on his tusks and restored her on the waters, where she floated like a boat. Varaha flattened the earth and divided it into seven great portions by creating mountains.{{sfn|Wilson|1862|pp=55-67}}{{sfn|Roy|2002|pp=92-3}}{{sfn|Shastri|1990|pp=316-7}}{{sfn|Tagare|2002|pp=40-41}}{{sfn|Tagare|1960|p=46}} Further, Brahma, identified with Vishnu, creates natural features like mountains, rivers, oceans, various worlds as well as various beings.{{sfn|Wilson|1862|p=68}}{{sfn|Shastri|1990|pp=148-9}}{{sfn|Tagare|2002|pp=40-41}}{{sfn|Tagare|1960|pp=44-5}}{{sfn|Deshpande|1988|p=21}} The ''Venkatacala Mahatmya'' and the first account in the ''Bhagavata Purana'' mentions only the rescue of the earth by Varaha, omitting the creation activities attributed to him in other texts. The ''Venkatacala Mahatmya'' states that Varaha placed beneath the earth the [[World Elephant|world elephants]], the serpent [[Shesha]] and the [[World Turtle|world turtle]] as support. At his behest, Brahma creates various beings. The ''Bhagavata Purana'' alludes to the slaying of a demon - identified with Hiranyaksha in other narratives in the Purana.{{sfn|Shastri|Tagare|1999|p=294}}{{sfn|Skanda_Purana|1951|pp=205-6}}

The ''Linga Purana'' and the ''Markendeya Purana'' clearly identifies Varaha, as the rescuer of the earth, with Vishnu, barring the cosmogonic myth.{{sfn|Dutt|1896|pp=20-1}}

===Slayer of demons===
[[File:Emerald Buddha Temple - Varaha.jpg|thumb|300px|Scene from the Thai version of the ''[[Ramayana]]'' - the ''[[Ramakien]]'' - Vishnu (Witsanu) transforms into a boar to kill the demon Hiranyaksha (Hiranta) who curls the earth up in an attempt to take over the world.]]

While early references in the ''Mahabharata'' to the demon [[Hiranyaksha]] do not relate him to Varaha, Vishnu is said to be taken the boar form to slay a demon named Naraka.{{sfn|Brockington|1998|pp=280-1}}<ref name="CXLI">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03141.htm|title=The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Tirtha-yatra Parva: Section CXLI|website=www.sacred-texts.com|access-date=2019-11-21}}</ref> Another late insertion describes Vishnu lifting the earth as well as defeating all the [[Danava (Hinduism)|danava]]s (demons).{{sfn|Brockington|1998|p=281}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03270.htm|title=The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Draupadi-harana Parva: Section CCLXX|website=www.sacred-texts.com|access-date=2019-11-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m12/m12b036.htm|title=The Mahabharata, Book 12: Santi Parva: Mokshadharma Parva: Section CCIX|website=www.sacred-texts.com|access-date=2019-11-27}}</ref> Late passages start the association of Hiranyaksha with Varaha. Vishnu is praised as Varaha, the vanquisher of Hiranyaksha in three instances.{{sfn|Brockington|1998|p=281}}<ref name="CCCXL" />

The ''[[Agni Purana]]'' mentions the obliteration of the demon Hiranyaksha as Varaha's main purpose.{{sfn|Narada_Purana|1995|pp=85-6}} The ''Linga Purana'' and the ''Kurma Purana'' narrate that the ''[[daitya]]'' (demon; lit. "son of [[Diti]]") Hiranyaksa defeats the gods and entraps the earth in the subterranean realm. Taking the Varaha form, Vishnu slays the demon by piercing him by his tusks. Later, he uplifts the earth from the netherworld and restores her to her original position.{{sfn|Gupta|1972|pp=113-4}}{{sfn|Shastri|1990|pp=504-5}}{{sfn|Rao|1914|p=137}} The ''Linga Purana'' continues further: Later, Vishnu discards his boar body and returns to his heavenly abode of Vaikuntha; the earth cannot bear the weight of his tusks. Shiva relieves the earth by using the same as an ornament.{{sfn|Shastri|1990|pp=504-5}}{{sfn|Rao|1914|p=137}}

The ''Brahmanda Purana'', the ''Vayu Purana'', the ''Matsya Purana''{{sfn|Talukdar of Oudh|1916|p=330|loc=Part I}} and the ''Padma Purana''{{sfn|Deshpande|1988|p=125}} mentions that Varaha's battle with the ''asura''s (demons) is one of twelve in this ''kalpa'' between the gods and the demons. The ''Brahmanda Purana'' states that Hiranyaksha is pierced by Varaha's tusk,{{sfn|Tagare|2002a|pp=908-9}} while ''Vayu Purana'' comments that Hiranyaksha is killed in this battle before Varaha rescued the earth.{{sfn|Tagare|1960a|p=765-6}} The ''Harivamsa'' narrates that the demons led by Hiranyaksha overpower and imprison the gods, Vishnu assumes the boar form and slays the demon-king with his [[Sudarshana Chakra|Sudarshana]] chakra (discus) after a fierce war.{{sfn|Dutt|1897|pp=910-5}}

The ''Shrishti Khanda'' book of the ''Padma Purana'' provides an elaborate description of the war between the gods and the demons led by Hiranyaksha. The demon army is routed by the gods, who in turn by overpowered by the demon-king. Vishnu combats with Hiranyaksha for a hundred divine years; finally the demon expands his size and seizing the earth escapes to the netherworld. Vishnu follows him, taking up the Varaha form and rescues the earth. After engaging in a fierce mace-battle, Varaha finally beheads the demon with his discus.{{sfn|Deshpande|1989|pp=848-53}}

In the ''Shiva Purana'', the annihilation of Hiranyaksha appears as a cursory tale in the story of subduing of his adopted son [[Andhaka]] by Shiva. The demon king Hiranyaksha confines the earth to Patala. Vishnu becomes Varaha (identified with Sacrifice) and slaughters the demon army by trashing them by his snout, piercing by tusks and kicking by his legs. Finally, Varaha decapitates the demon king with his discus and crowns Andhaka as his successor. He picks the earth on his tusks and places it in her original place.{{sfn|Shastri|2000|pp=978-84}}
[[File:Varaha and Hiranyaksha.jpg|thumb|300x300px|Varaha battles the demon Hiranyaksha, Scene from the <nowiki>''Bhagavata Purana''</nowiki> by [[Manaku of Guler]] (c. 1740)]]
A detailed second account in the ''Bhagavata Purana'' narrates that [[Jaya-Vijaya|Jaya and Vijaya]], the doorkeepers of Vishnu's abode [[Vaikuntha]], were cursed by the [[four Kumaras]] to be born as demons. In their first birth, they are born as the daityas [[Hiranyakashipu]] (who is slain by another of Vishnu's avatara of [[Narasimha]]) and Hiranyaksha as the twin sons of Diti and the sage [[Kashyapa]].{{sfn|Wilson|1862|p=62}}{{sfn|Shastri|Tagare|1999|p=316}} Blessed by Brahma, the king of daityas Hiranyaksha became powerful and conquered the universe. He challenges the sea god Varuna to combat, who redirects him the more powerful Vishnu. The demon confronts Vishnu as Varaha, who is rescuing the earth at the time. The demon mocks Varaha as the animal and warns him not to touch earth. Ignoring the demon's threats, Varaha lifts the earth on his tusks. Varaha engages in a mace-duel with the demon. Varaha destroys with the discus, the demon horde created by the demon's magic; finally slaying Hiranyaksha hitting him with his foreleg after the thousand-year battle.{{sfn|Wilson| 1862|p=62}}{{sfn|Shastri|Tagare|1999|pp=318-28}}

The ''Garuda Purana'', that refers to the ''Bhagavata Purana'', alludes to the curse in the Hiranyaksha tale. The cursed Vijaya is born as the demon Hiranyaksha, begins a boon from Brahma. He takes the earth to Patala. Vishnu, as Varaha, enters Patala via the ocean. He lifts the earth with the tusks and annihilates the demon; then places the four world elephants to support the earth and settles in [[Srimushnam]].{{sfn|Garuda Purana|2002b|pp=1096-7}} The ''Uttarakhanda'' book of the ''Padma Purana'' also narrates about the curse of the Kumaras. Jaya and Vijaya choose three births on the earth as foes of Vishnu, rather than seven existences as his devotees to lessen the period of the curse. Hiranyaksha carries the earth away to the underworld. Varaha pierces the demon fatally by his tusk and then places the earth over the hood of the serpent and becomes the world turtle to support it.{{sfn|Padma_Purana|1956|pp=3195-8}} The ''Avantikshetra Mahatmya'' section of the ''Avantya Khanda'' Book of the ''Skanda Purana'' also refers to the curse. The earth sinks in the waters tormented by the daityas; Varaha vanquishes Hiranyaksha.{{sfn|Skanda Purana|2003|pp=203-8}}

In a passing reference in the ''Brahmanda Purana'', the ''Vayu Purana'' and ''Matsya Purana'', Varaha is said to have slain Hiranyaksha on Mount Sumana (also called Ambikeya or Rishabha) on/ near the legendary island [[Jambudvipa]].{{sfn|Talukdar of Oudh|1916|p=330|loc=Part I}}{{sfn|Tagare|2002|p=175}}{{sfn|Tagare|1960|pp=315}} Besides to alluding to the raising of the earth from the waters by Varaha, the ''[[Brahmavaivarta Purana]]'' also mentions that Hiranyaksha was slain by Varaha.{{sfn|Nagar|2005|pp=35, 500}} The ''Garuda Purana'' and the ''[[Narada Purana]]'' also refers to Varaha as the slayer of Hiranyaksha.{{sfn|Garuda Purana|2002|pp=270, 411}}{{sfn|Narada_Purana|1995|p=195}}

The ''Brahma Purana'' narrates another tale where a ''[[rakshasa]]'' (demon) named Sindhusena defeated the gods and took the sacrifice to the netherworld Rasatala. Implored by the gods, Vishnu takes the form of Varaha and enters Rasatala. He slew the demons and recovered the sacrifice holding it in his mouth (''mukha''), thus sacrifice known as ''makha''. Near [[Brahmagiri (hill), Maharashtra|Brahmagiri]] hill in [[Trimbak]], Varaha washed his blood-stained hands in the river Ganga (identified with the [[Godavari]] alias Gautami river); the water collected forms the sacred pond called ''Varaha-[[Tirtha (Hinduism)|tirtha]]'' or ''Varaha-kunda''.{{sfn|Brahma Purana|1955|pp=799-801}}<ref name="Söhnen Söhnen-Thieme Schreiner 1989 p. 143">{{cite book | last1=Söhnen | first1=R. | last2=Söhnen-Thieme | first2=R. | last3=Schreiner | first3=P. | title=Brahmapurāṇa | publisher=O. Harrassowitz | series=Purāṇa research publications, Tübingen | year=1989 | isbn=978-3-447-02960-5 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J2c6-tAt4vwC&pg=PA143 | language=bs | access-date=2020-06-03 | page=143}}</ref>

===Saviour of the ancestors===
[[File:Brooklyn Museum - Varaha Rescuing the Earth page from an illustrated Dasavatara series.jpg|thumb|Varaha rescuing the earth, c. 1720-50|left]]

In an instance in the ''Mahabharata'' after raising the earth, Vishnu as Varaha, shakes his tusk and three balls of mud fall in the South, which he declares as the three ''[[Pinda (riceball)|pinda]]''s (riceballs) to be given to the [[Pitrs]] (ancestors). Varaha's association with the three ''pinda''s is reiterated in later texts like the epic's appendix ''Harivamsa'', the ''Vishnudharmottara Purana'' and the ''Brahma Purana''.{{sfn|Brockington|1998|p=281}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m12/m12c045.htm|title=The Mahabharata, Book 12: Santi Parva: Section CCCXLVI|website=www.sacred-texts.com|access-date=2019-11-27}}</ref> This tale constitutes the mythology of ''Pitr-yajna'' or [[Śrāddha|Shraddha]], sacrifice to the ancestors.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.172560|title=The Mahabharata|last=Rai Promatha Nath Mullick Bahadur|first=Bharat Bani Bhusan|date=1934|pages=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.172560/page/n57/mode/2up 51]}}</ref>

The ''Brahma Purana'' narrates about Varaha's deliverance of the Pitrs (manes). Once, the Pitrs lust for Urja (also known as Svadha and Koka), the daughter of the moon-god [[Chandra]]. Cursed by Chandra, the Pitrs fall as humans on the [[Himalaya]]n mountains from their elevated positions, while Koka transforms into a river in the mountains. The demons attack the Pitrs, who hides under a slab in the Koka river. Eulogized by the Pitrs, Varaha uplifted the drowning Pitrs from the river by his tusks. Then, he performs the rites of Shraddha by performing [[Tarpana|libations]] and ''pinda''s to the Pitrs with the Earth acting as Chaya - his consort in the rituals. Varaha liberated the Pitrs from the curse and blessed Koka to be reborn as Svadha (the food or oblations offered to Pitrs) and become the wife of the Pitrs. Further, Narakasura (also called Bhauma) was born to the earth due to her contact with Varaha. Also, Varaha's temple was established at [[Baraha Kshetra|Kokamukha]], where Varaha freed the Pitrs.{{sfn|Brahma Purana|1955|pp=575-84}}

===Children===

The ''[[Vishnu Purana]]'', the ''[[Brahma Purana]]'' and the ''Bhagavata Purana'', in the episode of the killing of the demon [[Narakasura]] by [[Krishna]] avatar of Vishnu, mentions that he was the foster son of Varaha and the earth goddess Bhumi.{{sfn|Wilson|1862a|p=90}}{{sfn|Brahma Purana|1955|p=484}}{{sfn|Shastri|Tagare|1999|p=1634}} In some versions of the tale, Vishnu-Varaha promises the earth that he will not kill their son, without any consent. In Krishna form, Vishnu slays the demon with the support of [[Satyabhama]], Krishna's consort and the avatar of Bhumi.{{sfn|Shastri|Tagare|1999|p=1628}}

The ''Brahmavaivarta Purana'' narrates that Varaha slew Hiranyaksha and rescued the earth from the waters. Varaha and the earth goddess were attracted to each other and made love. After they regained consciousness, Varaha worshipped the earth and decreed that the earth be worshipped at specific occasions, such as the construction of a house, lakes, wells, dams, etc. From their union, [[Mangala]], the god of the planet [[Mars]], was born.{{sfn|Nagar|2005|pp=188-9}}

The ''Avantikshetra Mahatmya'' of the ''Skanda Purana'' states that after slaying Hiranyaksha, the [[Shipra River]] springs from the heart of Varaha. Thus, the sacred river is described as the daughter of Varaha.{{sfn|Skanda Purana|2003|pp=203-8}}

===In avatar listings===
[[File:NarayanaTirumala13.JPG|thumb|Varaha depicted as a Dashavatar in a modern temple in [[Srikakulam]]. Varaha holds the earth as a globe.]]
The ''Mahabharata'' lays the foundation for the [[avatar]] concept in Vishnu theology; the term ''pradurbhava'' ("manifestation") appears in the early lists, instead the term ''avatar''. Varaha is listed as one of the four incarnations of Narayana-Vishnu who "relieve the burden of the earth" in an early list; in another list which may be a later addition to the epic, Varaha is one among eight ''pradurbhava''s. Some manuscripts of the epic expand the list to the classical ten [[Dashavatara|Dashavatar]] list; with Varaha listed as third or fourth ''pradurbhava''. Varaha is referred to ''yajna-varaha'' ("sacrifice boar") in some instances.{{sfn|Brockington|1998|pp=278-9, 281}}<ref name="CCCXL">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m12/m12c039.htm|title=The Mahabharata, Book 12: Santi Parva: Section CCCXL|website=www.sacred-texts.com|access-date=2019-11-27}}</ref>

The ''[[Agni Purana]]'' while narrating tales of the Dashavatar in sequence briefly mentions that the Hiranyaksa, a chief of ''[[asura]]''s (demons) defeated the gods and captured [[Svarga]] (heaven). Vishnu, in his third avatar as Varaha, slew the demons.{{sfn | Shastri | Bhatt | Gangadharan | 1998 | p=7}}{{sfn|Rao|1914|pp=131-2}}

The ''Linga Purana'' mentions that Vishnu takes the avatars due to a curse by the sage [[Bhrigu]]. It mentions Varaha as the third of the Dashavatar.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://archive.org/details/LingaPuranaJ.L.ShastriPart2|title=Linga Purana - English Translation - Part 2 of 2|last=J.L.Shastri|date=1951|page=774}}</ref> The ''Narada Purana'', the ''Shiva Purana'' and the ''Padma Purana'' concurs placing Varaha as third of ten avatars.{{sfn|Narada_Purana|1997a|p=1486}}{{sfn|Shastri|2000|p=873}}{{sfn|Shastri|2002a|p=2031}}{{sfn|Padma_Purana|1952|pp=2560, 2573}}{{sfn|Varaha Purana|1960|p=13}}

The ''Bhagavata Purana''{{sfn|Shastri|Tagare|1999|pp=24, 188}} and ''Garuda Purana'' mention Varaha as second of 22 avatars. They say that Varaha, "the lord of sacrifices", rescued the earth from the netherworld or the waters.{{sfn|Garuda Purana|2002|pp=2-3}}{{sfn|Garuda Purana|2002b|p=1036}}{{sfn|Shastri|Tagare|1999|pp=24, 188}} In two other instances in the ''Garuda Purana'', Varaha is mentioned as third of the classical Dashavatar.{{sfn|Garuda Purana|2002|p=265}}{{sfn|Garuda Purana|2002b|p=870}}

The ''Narada Purana'' has a variant of [[Caturvyuha]] with Krishna, Varaha, [[Vamana]] and [[Balarama]] (Haladhara) as the four emanations.{{sfn|Narada Purana|1952|p=2049}}

===Other legends and textual references===
[[File:Hale Beedu Temple 6.JPG|thumb|left|Varaha tramples the killed demon Hiranyaksha with Bhumi on his shoulder, [[Hoysaleswara Temple|Hoysaleshvara Temple]].]]
The ''[[Linga Purana]]'', the ''[[Shiva Purana]]'' and the ''Shaiva Khanda'' Book of the ''[[Skanda Purana]]'' mention Vishnu taking the Varaha form in the tale of the base of Shiva as the [[Lingam|linga]] (the aniconic symbol of Shiva) along with Brahma taking the Hamsa form in the tale of the tip of Shiva as the linga (the aniconic symbol of Shiva). Once, Brahma and Vishnu contest for superiority. A large, fiery pillar which was Shiva himself as the linga appears. Brahma as a ''[[Hamsa (bird)|hamsa]]'' (swan) flies up to find its top; while Varaha as large ''varaha'' (boar) digs down to find its bottom. However, both fail the ends of the linga. Shiva appears in the place of linga and enlightens them that he is the Supreme Being.{{sfn|Shastri|1990|pp=58-64}}{{sfn|Shastri|2002|pp=52-63, 199-204}}{{sfn|Skanda Purana|1990|pp=127-144}} The ''Shiva Purana'' says that Vishnu chose the boar form due to the animal's inborn ability to burrow in this story. It also notes that the current kalpa is known as ''Varaha-kalpa'' due to Vishnu's form as Varaha in the beginning of the kalpa when this incident happened.{{sfn|Shastri|2002|pp=244-5}} This tale is iconographically depicted in the [[Lingodbhava]] icon of Shiva where Shiva is shown as emerging from a fiery cosmic pillar which is he himself, while Vishnu as Varaha is seen at the base going down and Brahma as Hamsa is seen at the top going up. The Lingodbhava icon of the Shiva-worshipping [[Shaiva]] sect was aimed to counter the avatar theory of Vishnu that presented him as the Supreme Being. The icon elevated Shiva to the Supreme Being position and demoted Vishnu as inferior to Shiva by belittling the Varaha avatar of his by defeating him. Similarly, the [[Sharabha]] form of Shiva belittled [[Narasimha]], the lion-man avatar of Vishnu by killing him.{{sfn|Verma|2012|pp=104-5}}

Another legend in the minor Purana named ''[[Kalika Purana]]'' also depicts the sectarian conflicts between the [[Vaishnava]] followers of Vishnu and the Shaiva followers of Shiva.<ref name="Dalal2011"/> Varaha lifts Bhumi by piercing his tusks through her. He then assumes the form of the seven-hooded serpent [[Shesha]] (Ananta) and supports the earth on one of his hoods. Thereafter, Varaha and Bhumk enjoy amorous dalliance as Varaha and Varahi. They have three boar sons named Suvrtta, Kanaka, Ghora. Varaha and his three boar sons create mayhem in the world. The gods and goddesses go to Varaha to abandon his boar form. Vishnu requests Shiva to take the form of Sharabha (also called Varahaghna Murti), to kill Varaha and the three sons of his. The retinues of Sharabha and Varaha, aided by Narasimha, fight. In the war, Narasimha is killed by Sharabha. Thereafter, Varaha requests Sharabha to dismember him and create implements of sacrifice from his body parts; Sharabha complies by slaying Varaha and he kills his three sons and creates implements of sacrifice from his body.<ref name="Dalal2011"/><ref>{{cite book|author=Usha Dev|title=The Concept of Śakti in the Purāṇas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sxMqAAAAYAAJ|year=1987|publisher=Nag Publishers|isbn=978-81-7081-151-0|pages=152–154}}</ref>

Varaha also appears in the [[Shaktism|Shakta]] (Goddess-oriented) narrative in the final episode of the ''[[Devi Mahatmya]]'' text embedded in the ''[[Markandeya Purana|Markendeya Purana]]''. Vishnu as Varaha creates his ''[[shakti]]'' [[Varahi]] (along with other deities, together called the eight [[Matrikas|matrika]] goddesses) to aid the [[Mahadevi|Great Goddess]] to fight the demon [[Raktabīja|Raktabija]] and they kill him.{{sfn|Dutt|1896|pp=361-2}}

The scripture ''[[Varaha Purana]]'' is believed to be narrated by Vishnu to Bhumi, as Varaha. The Purana is devoted more to the "myths and genealogies" connected to the worship of Vishnu.<ref name="Dalal2011"/> Though Varaha is praised numerous times as the saviour of the earth from the waters, the detailed legend is not given in the Purana. Bhumi praises Vishnu as Varaha who rescued her numerous times in various avatars and sees the complete universe in his mouth, when Varaha laughs.{{sfn|Varaha Purana|1960|pp=1-2}} The ''[[Varaha Upanishad]]'', a minor [[Upanishad]], is narrated as a sermon from Varaha to the sage Ribhu.<ref name=aiyar220>KN Aiyar, Thirty Minor Upanishads, University of Toronto Archives, {{oclc|248723242}}, page 220 with footnotes</ref>

The ''[[Agni Purana]]'', ''[[Brahma Purana]]'', the ''Markendeya Purana,'' the ''Vishnu Purana'' say that Vishnu resides as Varaha in Ketumala-''varsha'', one of the regions outside the mountains surrounding [[Mount Meru]].{{sfn|Wilson|1862b|pp=125-6}}{{sfn | Shastri | Bhatt | Gangadharan | 1998 | p = 326}}{{sfn|Dutt|1896|pp=246, 262}}{{sfn|Brahma Purana|1955|p=104}} The ''Bhagavata Purana'' says that Vishnu dwells as Varaha with Bhumi in the Uttara Kuru-''varsha''.{{sfn|Shastri|Tagare|1999|p=729}} The ''Vayu Purana'' describes an island called Varaha-dvipa near Jambudvipa, where only Vishnu as Varaha is worshipped.{{sfn|Tagare|1960|pp=313-4}}