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| Varaha | |
|---|---|
 Incarnation of Vishnu as a Boar |
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| Devanagari | वराह |
| Affiliation | Avatar of Vishnu |
| Weapon | Chakra and Mace |
| Consort | Bhuma |
Varaha (Sanskrit: वराह) is the third Avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu, in the form of a Boar. He appeared in order to defeat Hiranyaksha, a demon who had taken the Earth (Prithvi) and carried it to the bottom of what is described as the cosmic ocean in the story. The battle between Varaha and Hiranyaksha is believed to have lasted for a thousand years, which the former finally won. Varaha carried the Earth out of the ocean between his tusks and restored it to its place in the universe. Vishnu married Prithvi (Bhudevi) in this avatar.
Varaha is depicted in art as either purely animal or as being anthropomorphic, having a boar's head on a man's body. In the latter form he has four arms, two of which hold the wheel and conch-shell while the other two hold a mace, sword or lotus or make a gesture (or "mudra") of blessing. The Earth is held between the boar's tusks.
The avatar symbolizes the resurrection of the Earth from a pralaya (deluge) and the establishment of a new kalpa (cosmic cycle).
The Varaha Purana is a Purana in which the form of narration is a recitation by Varaha.
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Temples dedicated to Varaha
- Sri Varaha Temple - Marawanthe-Padukone Kundapaur Taluk Udupi District Karnataka India
- Sri Varaham - in Trivandrum, near South Fort.
- Srimushnam - This temple in Tamil Nadu named is considered a Swayambhu image
- Varah shyam temple - This temple is located in Bhinmal city in Jalore District. Here is present a large idol of God VARAHA. It is an ancient temple and is situated in the middle of the city.
- Varaha temple - This temple is in Varaha Village in Jind District, Haryana. Here is a Swayambhu Murthi of God VARAHA.
- Thiruvidandai- In this temple near Chennai Varaha is also called Nityakalyana Perumal. It is famous for marriages and is one of the Divya desam.
- Simhachalam - The famous Varaha LakshmiNarasimha swamy temple, one of the most prominent in Andhra Pradesh.
- Tirupati - Sri VarahaMurthy Temple at Tirumala is considered to be a very ancient temple. Pilgrims should first worship Lord Varaha and then Lord Venkateswara. It is also known as Aadhi Varaha Kshetra.
- ThirukKalvanoor - Aadi Varaha Perumal in Kamakshi Amman Temple, Kanchipuram.
- Thiruvalavendhai / Valavendhai Piraan / Gnaanapiraan - Thirukkadalmallai (Mammallapuram) - Aadi Varaha Perumal holding Akhilavalli Thaayaar (Bhudevi) on His right. The only Varaha temple where Perumal holds Thaayaar on His right.
- Sukarkshetra Temple - This temple is situated on the bank of Sarayu river in Paska village of Paraspur circle in Gonda district of eastern Uttar Pradesh (India).
- YagnaVaraha- This temple is located in Karimnagar District, AndhraPradesh. The rituals are done according to Vaikhanasa Agama.
- Varaha temple- Khajuraho. There were probably more Varaha temples around khajuraho built in the same time period that were destroyed by invaders. A twin of the Varaha idol in the khjuraho temple stands in a museum in Mrignaini's Palace, Gwalior.
Other Names
- Bhoovaraghan
- Bhuvaraghan
- Varaghan
- Varha
- YagnaVaraha
- SreeVaraham
- AdhiVaraha
- Gnaanapiraan (also spelt Gnanapiran / Gnaanapiran / Jnanapiran)
See also
External links
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