Srimad Bhagavatam - Varaha Avatara

(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 01 - 3.7, Skanda 02 - 7.1, Skanda 03 - 13.x to 18.x)

• Meditation: I meditate on Varaha Avatara of Lord Vishnu.

• Lord Varaha incarnating: Second, the Lord incarnated in the form of Varaha (Saukaram-vapu) and lifted the earth (Mahi) from the nether worlds (Rasatala); the Lord who is the Lord of sacrifice (Yajnesha). (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 01 - 3.7)

•. Lord Varaha lifting Mother Earth from Ocean: For the purpose of lifting the Earth (Kshiti) from the Great Ocean (Maha Arnava), the Lord by his Leela, assumed the form (of Varaha) which is the embodiment of all Sacrifices (Sakala-Yagna-Mayim) and is Infinite (Ananta) in essence. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 02 - 7.1)

• Lord Varaha slaying demon Hiranyaksha: The Lord (in that incarnation) pierced the first demon (Hiranyaksha) by his tusk. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 02 - 7.1)

• Swayambhuva Manu requesting Lord Brahma to life the Earth: When Lord Brahma instructed Swayambhuva Manu to engage in the process of creation, Manu requested Lord Brahma to lift the Earth which was submerged in the great Waters (Maha-Ambhasi). (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 03 - 13.14 to 13.15)

• Lord Varaha appearing from nostrils of Lord Brahma: Seeing the Earth submerged in water while he was engaged in the process of creation, Lord Brahma contemplated on how the Earth could be lifted. While Brahma was thus contemplating, the Lord assuming the form of a miniature Varaha suddenly came out of the nostrils of Brahma. Then he grew to the size of an elephant and became situated in the sky. Seeing this, the great sages argued in various ways. The Lord awakened Harsha (Spiritual Joy) in Brahma and the great sages by roaring with his tumultuous voice. That reverberating voice of the Lord destroyed the layer of self-dejection created by Maya from the minds, and the residents of the Jana, Tapa and Satya Loka started chanting the Vedas. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 03 - 13.16 to 13.25)

• Sages chanting the Vedas seeing Lord Varaha: Seeing Lord Varaha, the great sages argued in various ways. The Lord awakened Harsha (Spiritual Joy) in Brahma and the great sages by roaring with his tumultuous voice. That reverberating voice of the Lord destroyed the layer of self-dejection created by Maya from the minds, and the residents of the Jana, Tapa and Satya Loka started chanting the Vedas. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 03 - 13.16 to 13.25)

• Lord Varaha lifting Mother Earth from Ocean: The Lord raised his tail and slashed hard in the sky, shook his hairs of the head and shoulders, struck the clouds with his hooves and shining white tusks (and scattered them). Then detecting the Earth by his smell, he entered the waters. Diving into the Ocean with great force and spitting it with his hooves raising huge waves, the Lord saw the Earth within the Ocean. The Lord lifted the Earth by his tusks and came out of the Waters. He was looking beautiful. He assumed a bluish complexion like a Tamala tree. The Lord raised the Earth amidst the chanting and eulogy of the residents of the Jana, Tapa and Satya Loka, and placed it upon the Waters. Then he returned to his abode. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 03 - 13.27 to 13.47)

• Lord Varaha killing demon Hiranyaksha: The Lord rushed towards the demon (Hiranyaksha) with great anger and killed him like a lion kills an elephant. The cheeks and tongue of the Lord became smeared with the blood of the demon. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 03 - 13.31 to 13.32)

• Sages eulogizing Lord Varaha: The sages of the Jana, Tapa and Satya Lokas eulogized Lord Varaha as the embodiment of sacrifices (Yagna-Murti). (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 03 - 13.34 to 13.39)

• Sage Kashyapa and Diti giving birth to demons: Diti, the wife of sage Kashyapa was once afflicted by lust during the evening time. She had union with her husband during that inauspicious hour (when Lord Shiva roams with ghosts), inspite of the sage trying to prevent her in various ways. Later on Diti realized that her husband was angry and asked for the protection of her womb from him. Sage Kashyapa said that because of her polluted mind and inauspicious hour, two sons (Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu) who will be abhadra (indecent, subject of contempt) will be born from her womb who will be the cause of constant sufferings of the three Lokas. The Supreme Lord will incarnate and kill them later. Diti was happy that his sons will be killed by the Lord himself. Sage Kashyapa then said that due to her faith in the Supreme Lord and adoration of Lord Shiva, she will have a grandson (Prahlada) who will be a great devotee of the Lord. Diti became very happy hearing this. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 03 - 14.1 to 14.51)

• Devas getting afflicted by the womb of Diti: When Diti became pregnant (with Jaya-Vijaya in her womb who were to be born as demons Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakshipu), all the Lokas were enveloped in darkness. The Devas (Lokapalas) went to Lord Brahma to ask the reason why the womb of Diti which was having the ojas of sage Kashyapa has created this darkness. They said that the darkness is hampering with the performance of their respective duties. Lord Brahma then told them about the curse of the Kumaras on Jaya-Vijaya, their fall from Vaikuntha, and subsequently entering the womb of Diti (to be born as demons). (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 03 - 15.1 to 15.10)

• Kumaras cursing doorkeepers of Vaikuntha Jaya-Vijaya: Once the Kumaras visited Vaikuntha by the power of their Yoga. They crossed the six entrances of Vaikuntha and saw two doorkeepers (Jaya-Vijaya) at the seventh gate. When the Kumaras were about to enter the seventh gate, the doorkeepers blocked their way with their staffs. The Kumaras became angry due to their eagerness to see the Lord. The Kumaras said that the behaviour of the doorkeepers were quite unbecoming since they saw enemies in Vaikuntha where everything is in harmony. The Kumaras therefore cursed them to be born on Earth. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 03 - 15.26 to 15.34)

• Kumaras having the darshan of Lord Vishnu and Sri Devi in Vaikuntha: After the Kumaras had cursed Jaya and Vijaya, the Lord himself came out with Sri Devi and gave darshan to the Kumaras. The fragrance of the Tulasi leaves from the feet of the Lord made the body and mind of the Kumaras agitated (with spiritual joy). Seeing the form of the Lord, their hearts were full and they meditated on the Lord again and again. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 03 - 15.37 to 15.44)

The Supreme Lord asked for forgiveness from the Kumaras, because the doorkeepers who are his servants have committed offence against the brahmanas. The Lord said that brahmanas are very dear to him and this offence by his servants are like offence committed by him. The Lord however asked the Kumaras that after reaping the fruits of their actions, the doorkeepers may return to his abode. The Kumaras glorified the Lord and in turn expressed their repentance for cursing the doorkeepers. The Lord said that it was ordained by him and they will be born in the family of demons but will be united with him through thoughts of anger (i.e. as enemies). The Kumaras circumambulated the Lord and returned to their abodes with their minds satiated. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 03 - 16.1 to 16.28)

• Devi Lakshmi ordaining curse on Jaya-Vijaya: The Lord said to Jaya and Vijaya that the curse on them were destined by Devi Lakshmi before when she was also prevented from entering Vaikuntha by them (in an earlier occasion). (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 03 - 16.30)

• Jaya-Vijaya taking birth from sage Kashyapa and Diti: As predicted by sage Kashyapa, Diti gave birth to two demons. On their birth, fearful disturbances appeared in the Universe. Mountains shook and Meteors (Ulka) fell from the sky. Everyone except the Kumaras thought that the time of dissolution of the Universe has come. The demons were born with bodies as strong as steel. Their huge bodies adorned with ornaments as if blocked the Sun. Sage Kashyapa named the twins as Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakshipu. Hiranyaksha to please his younger brother (who was ever ready to satisfy him) used to travel to Heaven with a Gada (Mace) in hand seeking combat with the Devas. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 03 - 17.3 to 17.21)

• Devas hiding due to the fear of demon Hiranyaksha: Demon Hiranyaksha was fearless due to his stength and the boon of Lord Brahma. When he travelled to Heaven seeking combat with the Devas, the Devas hid themselves like snakes hide from Garuda. Not finding the Devas, Hiranyaksha roared loudly. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 03 - 17.21 to 17.23)

• Varuna deva telling Hiranyaksha to fight with Lord Vishnu: Then Hiranyaksha dived into the Ocean. The inhabitants of the Ocean started running away in fear. Moving in the Ocean for many years and raising huge waves by his mace, Hiranyaksha entered Vibhavari, the abode of Varuna. Hiranyaksha made fun of Varuna and stooping down (in fun) asked for a combat. Varuna said that they have now desisted from warfare. Varuna pointed him to Purana Purusha (Vishnu) who is able to defeat him in combat (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 03 - 17.24 to 17.31)

• Lord Varaha slaying demon Hiranyaksha: Learning about the whereabouts of the Lord, Hiranyaksha went to his presence for a combat. He saw the Varaha incarnation of the Lord bearing the Earth on his tusks and moving upwards. The demon challenged the Lord with abusive words and said that he has no right to take the Earth which was entrusted to the inhabitants of the region. Seeing the Earth frightened, the Lord first took her upwards. The demon thinking that the Lord is fleeing chased him like an alligator. The Lord placed the Earth on the water. Lord Brahma and Devas extolled the Lord and showered flowers on him. The Lord now faced demon Hiranyaksha for a combat. They fought with their maces for a long time and injured each other. Then Brahma arrived there and prayed to the Lord to quickly kill the demon before the hour favourable for the demons arrive. The Lord laughed and accepted his prayer. In the meantime demon Hiranyaksha struck the Lord with his mace and made his mace fall down. There was a cry of alarm from the devas and the sages. The Lord then took up his Sudarshana Chakra and allowed the demon to hurl his weapons towards him. The demon hurled a mace. The Lord knocked it down with his left foot. The demon hurled the mace again. The Lord seized that mace as Garuda would seize a serpent. The demon then hurled a trident. The Lord broke it to pieces with his Sudarshana Chakra. The demon then struck the Lord with his fist on his chest. The Lord was unmoved. The demon thereafter spread his Maya and brought darkness accompanied with storms. The Lord dispelled his Maya with his Sudarshana Chakra. Demon Hiranyaksha then tried to embrace the Lord and crush him. The Lord however stood outside the circle of his arms. Hiranyaksha then began to hit the Lord with his fists. Then Lord Varaha finally struck demon Hiranyaksha below his ear. With that powerful strike, the body of Hiranyaksha wheeled, and he fell down dead with his eyes bulging and limbs broken. Brahma and devas arrived there and eulogized the Varaha incarnation of the Lord. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 03 - 18.1 to 19.38)

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