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Varaha facts for kids

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Bhagavatapurana
Varaha.

Hindus believe that Vishnu had many important Avatars, and the Varaha avatar was the third avatar of Vishnu. In this avatar, Vishnu took the form of a black varaha. Varaha is a Sanskrit language word that means a boar. The Hindu scriptures tell a story about this avatar. There was a daitya (a demon) named Hiranyaksha. He threw the Earth (called Prithivi by the Hindus) into the waters of the ocean. The earth was about to sink in the ocean. At this point, Vishnu took the form of a black boar. He entered the water and carried the earth on its body and brought the earth safely to where it should be. Thus, Vishnu as a varaha saved the earth from being destroyed. This is a parody on the Judeo-Christian story of Noah's Ark.

Images for kids

  • WLA lacma Varaha the Boar Avatar of Vishnu Mathura

    3rd century sandstone Varaha sculpture, Art of Mathura, housed in LACMA.

  • Varaha, the Boar Avatar of Vishnu LACMA M.87.160.2 (1 of 2)

    Varaha with his consort Bhudevi, copper sculpture from Tamil Nadu. c. 1600.

  • Eran Boar

    The Colossal Varaha at Eran is one of the earliest known completely theriomorphic icons of Varaha. It was dedicated by the Huna king Toramana circa 510 CE

  • Emerald Buddha Temple - Varaha

    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.

  • Varaha and Hiranyaksha

    Varaha battles the demon Hiranyaksha, Scene from the Bhagavata Purana by Manaku of Guler (c. 1740)

  • Brooklyn Museum - Varaha Rescuing the Earth page from an illustrated Dasavatara series

    Varaha rescuing the earth, c. 1720-50

  • NarayanaTirumala13

    Varaha depicted as a Dashavatar in a modern temple in Srikakulam. Varaha holds the earth as a globe.

  • Varaha halebid

    Varaha tramples the fallen demon with Bhudevi on his shoulder, Hoysaleswara Temple.

  • Varaha Khajuraho

    Zoomorphic Varaha, Khajuraho. On its body are carved saints, sages, gods, seven mothers and numerous beings which he symbolically protects. The goddess earth is ruined and missing.

  • VarahaVishnuAvatarPratiharaKings850-900CE

    Coin with Varaha on a Gurjara-Pratihara coin possibly from the reign of King Mihira Bhoja, 850–900 CE, British Museum.

  • The God Vishnu in Three Incarnations. Northern India (Mathura), Gupta period, mid-5th century AD. Boston Museum

    Varaha as the left head in the Vaikuntha Chaturmurti icon of Vishnu. Mathura, Gupta period, mid-5th century CE. Boston Museum.

  • Sundaravarada Perumal temple12

    Varaha with his consort on his lap, worshipped as a subsidiary deity in the Sundaravarada Perumal temple dedicated to Vishnu.

  • Srimushnam (4)

    Bhuvarahaswami Temple in Srimushnam.

  • Varaha-mahabalipuram

    A rare right-facing Varaha holding Bhudevi, 7th century CE, Mahabalipuram.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Varaja para niños

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Varaha Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.