Varaha is the powerful boar incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who descended to rescue Bhudevi (Mother Earth) from the ocean after being abducted by the demon Hiranyaksha. Revered as one of the Dashavatara, Varaha represents cosmic strength and protection. His form is deeply symbolic in Hindu art, iconography, and temple worship, especially in South India. This article explores the legend, iconography, mantra, and sacred temples associated with this divine avatar.
In the rich tapestry of Hindu tradition, Varaha- the half-man, half-boar incarnation of Vishnu, one of his Dashavataras, is an awe-inspiring and powerful divinity in Hindu tradition. The most popular story of Varaha narrates his emergence to protect Bhudevi from the depths of the ocean, who was abducted by the demon Hiranyaksha.
The divine boar entered the ocean, annihilated the Asura, and emerged with the earth goddess (Bhudevi) on his brilliant tusks, an image remembered through ancient art that depicts Varaha with Bhudevi. The boar as a protector, guardian, and annihilator has existed in Indian tradition since the Vedic period, however, beyond the one story of Varaha told before, not much is known about this potent avatar of Vishnu.
In this article, we will take a look at the emergence of Varaha in Indian culture, the many stories of Varaha, the iconography of Varaha, the reason why Vishnu became Varaha, the depictions of Varaha in statues and paintings, and the popular temples of Varaha in India, where the boar-man aspect of Vishnu is worshipped.
The word “Varaha” is rooted in ancient Indo-Iranian languages. It closely aligns with words like “Varaza” (Avestan), “beraz” (Kurdish), and “goraz” (Persian), all meaning “wild boar.” In Sanskrit, the name carries an even deeper spiritual meaning.
According to Yaska’s Nirukta, an early treatise on Sanskrit grammar, the root of “Varaha” is “hr”, which means “to lift,” “to remove,” or “to surpass.” This beautifully reflects Varaha’s divine role to lift Bhudevi, remove evil at its source, and surpass all obstacles in restoring balance to the world.
In nature, the boar is a creature known for unearthing roots and overturning earth with fearless resolve. Spiritually, Varaha embodies this primal force, revered as the remover of deep-seated problems, both worldly and cosmic.
The divine story of Varaha finds expression across some of the oldest and most revered Hindu scriptures, from the Vedas to the Puranas. The third incarnation of Vishnu, Varaha is compared to Prajapati Brahma in Vedic texts.
In the Taittiriya Samhita, Varaha is identified with Prajapati, the creator deity, who assumes the form of a boar to raise the Earth from the cosmic waters. Taittriya Aranyaka describes him as a “dark-skinned boar with a hundred arms that raised the earth” with immense strength and compassion.
The Yuddha Kanda of the Ramayana likens Lord Rama himself to Varaha, evoking the avatar’s role as a protector of the world. Meanwhile, the Shiva Purana and many other Puranas narrate the story of Varaha slaying Hiranyaksha. But who is Hiranyakasha and his brother Hiranyakashyapu, who was annihilated by Vishnu’s Narasimha avatar? To find an answer to this, we go to the pages of the sacred Bhagavata Purana.
The Bhagavata Purana tells the story of the previous birth of the demon brothers Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashyapu. In their last life, demon brothers were not demons at all they were Jaya and Vijaya, the divine guardian or dvarapalas of Vishnu’s Vaikuntha.
One day, the four child-sages known as the Sanat Kumaras arrived to see Vishnu. Mistaking their youth for irreverence, Jaya and Vijaya blocked their entry. Angered by this, the Kumaras cursed Jaya and Vijaya to be born as demons on earth.
Hearing of this, Vishnu appeared before the sages and accepted the curse with grace. He also eased the pain of Jaya and Vijaya by telling them that they would be given Moksha by being slain at his hands. By killing Jaya and Vijaya born as Hiranyakshyapu and Hiranyaksha in his incarnations as Narasimha and Varaha, Sri Vishnu kept his promise.
When the menacing Hiranyaksha took Bhudevi to the depths of the ocean, the order of the world and the lives of its residents were in danger. The gods and sages rushed to the Pramapita Brahma, the divine creator for their protection. As they prayed to him, Varaha the size of a thumb emerged from his nose. This was none other than Varaha, Lord Vishnu himself, in a form suited for diving into the subterranean waters.
Soon, the diminutive boar grew larger than a mountain, causing the skies and underworld to tremble with his weight. The roar of Varaha was louder than lightning and his body was as dark as the night sky. Blazing like the Sun, Varaha entered the ocean.
The painting above is a depiction of the scene of Varaha’s emergence, a recreation of the original by Manaku, the master artist of the Guler court.
With his Chakra, Vishnu-Varaha slayed the demon and raised Bhudevi on his tusk. This painting presents Chamba’s 1750-75 artwork recreated, where Varaha supporting Earth and ending the demon can be seen in a dynamic visual language.
According to Puranic legends, as he was bringing the earth goddess to the surface, his sweat fell on her, impregnating Bhudevi with his essence. This seed became Narakasura, the son of Varaha and Bhudevi. His tusk also pierced the goddess slightly, and from this contact was born Bhauma or Mangala (the son of Bhumi), who went on to become a powerful planet god.
A question arises- among the many forms he could have taken, why did Bhagawan Vishnu choose to become a boar or Varaha? The answer lies in the location of this divine Lila- the underground or Rasatala, where the terrain is made up of a muddy marshland, which is the natural habitat of a boar.
In order to expertly reach the boggy underworld, Vishnu became Varaha, an animal who can effortlessly travel in the swamps. This fact of taking a form according to the situation can be seen in all the other incarnations among the Dashavataras, where Lord Vishnu chooses a dwarf (Vamana), a hybrid of man and animal (Narasimha) and female (Mohini) aspect, in order to skillfully save the world from falling into a state of disorder.
In becoming Varaha, Vishnu revealed a profound truth divine intelligence adapts, and the highest takes even the lowliest form for the sake of cosmic balance. The boar is a symbol of relentless will, rooted power, and unwavering protection.
Varaha as an embodiment of strength, royalty, and victory is an ideal for kings, who were the supporters of art and asthetics in ancient India. This connection marked between the virtues of Varaha and the idea of a perfect king, made this incarnation of Vishnu one of the most popular and grandly presented images in early Indian art.
The form of Varaha in Indian art is majestic it is filled with symbolism that reflects his divine strength, kingship, and cosmic role.
Varaha is often shown with:
A boar's head on a human body (zoo-anthropomorphic form)
Bhudevi delicately balanced on his tusk
A hand placed gently on his waist or thigh, symbolising ease in strength
Adornments that mark his divine and royal status
This posture mirrors the ideal kshatriya (warrior-king) fierce yet composed, powerful yet tender. In ancient courts, such imagery inspired rulers to uphold justice and protect their people, just as Varaha protected the Earth.
Varaha supporting Bhudevi on his snout, Shesha under his feet, and gods and sages around him, Udayagiri Varaha Panel (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
The classic iconography of Varaha can be found in the Udyagiri caves, a Gupta period architecture, where Varaha stands in the warrior’s alidha pose that expresses prowess, valor, and victory. He has broad shoulders that suggest strength, is adorned beautifully to highlight his regal aura, and has one hand on his waist and the other on his bent leg, to represent a balance of ease and effort that a royal warrior must possess.
Eran Boar, Madhya Pradesh (Source:Wikimedia Commons)
The half-human and half-animal form in divine beings is known as zooanthropomorphic (zoo-animal, anthropomorphic-human). Most images of Varaha are zooanthropomorphic, however, in rare cases, he is shown as a wild boar, standing on four legs.
One such iconic statues is the 11 feet large Eran Boar, dating back to the 6th century CE, made by the local Malwa ruler Dhyanavishnu, with a Sanskrit inscription hailing the Huna ruer Toramana as the Lord of the Earth. The majestic boar carries Bhudevi on his tusk and images of sages and gods etched on his body. Attached to a temple of Vishnu, the Eran boar is a nod to the grandeur of Varaha avatar.
The cult of Varaha is especially popular in the Southern India, where temples of the Lord and images of Varaha in various aspects have been created in the sacred spaces dedicated to Vishnu. One of the most beautiful and divine iconographies of Varaha comes in statues from Tamil Nadu.
The first statue here is from 17th century Tamil Nadu, depicting Varaha pleasngly carrying Bhudevi on his leg, in a regal, interactive and graceful pose. The second is a reproduction of the same icon in bronze, showing the delicate connection between Varaha and Bhudevi. This iconography of Varaha cardling the earth goddess is also presented in the sanctum icon of Bhu Varahaswamy Temple.
For worshipping Varaha-Vishnu alongside his divine Shakti, Bhudevi, icons of Varaha as Bhu-Varaha Swamy are also popular amongst the devotees. Goddess Bhudevi sits on the lap of Varaha, who positions himself in the royal Lalitasana pose, on a throne or coils of Sheshanaga.
Yes, the influence of Varaha extends beyond India, especially in Southeast Asia, where Hindu epics and deities have inspired temple art and royal traditions.
Mural from Emrald Buddha Temple showing the Boar attacking Hiranta (Source:Wikimedia Commons)
In Thailand, where the epic of Rama is popular as Ramakein, temple murals are a heavenly heritage, depicting dramatic scenes from the epic in lyrical visual idiom. Vishnu’s boar incarnation is shown in some of these murals, attacking the demon known as “Hiranta”. The murals capture the vigor of Varaha avatar by showing them as a powerful boar, annhilating the demon who can be seen lying on the ground, defeated.
Ever-present with her beloved Vishnu in all his avatars, goddess Sri Lakshmi is revered alongside Varaha as Varahi, the boar-faced goddess. Together, they represent divine balance: power and grace, protector and nurturer.
Boar-faced yet graceful and ornamented
Wearing a Kiritamukuta (Vaishnava crown)
Holding weapons and sacred symbols in her hands
Seated atop Garuda, the mount of Vishnu
Though fearsome in battle, Varahi is also deeply protective of devotees, offering courage, stability, and removal of inner darkness.
The iconogrpahy of Varahi mirrors that of Varaha, showing her with a boar-face, Kiritamukuta crown (a Vaishnava crown), with ornaments and weapons in her hands. Being an extension of Lakshmi, Varahi is beautiful and feminine, pleasing despite her animal face and warrior form. In art, such as the painting here, Varahi often appears seated on Garuda, who is the vahana or mount of Vishnu.
As Narayani, the female form of Narayana (Vishnu), Varahi is an extension of Sri Lakshmi, embodying both beauty and valor. In devotional art, she often appears in bronze sculptures and paintings, tender yet powerful, always aligned with the cosmic purpose of her divine counterpart.
The devotees of Lord Varaha worship him as a guardian, who removes troubles from their root, and brings tranqulity, auspiocusness and success in life. Though there are many temples of Varaha in India, most of them are situated in the Central and Southern part of the country, where this avatar of Vishnu is more popularly worshipped.
🌄 Top 10 Temples of Lord Varaha in India:
This temple is one of the 18 Kshteras of Sri Narasimha, and is known as the abode of Varaha and Narasimha as its deities- the avatar of Vishnu linked through their role in both avatars who defeated the demon brothers Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu.
In the land of Tirupati Balaji temple, Tradition says devotees must visit Varaha first before offering prayers to Lord Venkateswara, which is believed to bring them the blessings of both forms of Sri Vishnu.
Located in Hassan, this temple houses the Bhu-Varaha icon, showing the boar-faced Vishnu carrying the earth goddess. A temple built under the mighty Hoysala, who are known for their splendor in art, this temple is flocked by worshippers looking for progeny, fertility and bliss in family life.
In the sacred and historic region of Thanjavur, the Adi Varaha temple revers the god as “Perumal” or the supremely powerful god, alongside goddess Bhudevi as his wife.
A UNESCO world heritage site. This temple was built by the Chandelas of Madhya Pradesh in 10th century, whose architecture is popular world over for its divine, stylised and sensuous asthetics. The temple houses a gigantic boar sculpture made from sandstone with intricate carvings all over and a beautiful icon of Saraswati on its snout.
It is revered as a Divya Desam, one of 108 Vishnu temples worshipped by the Alvars since medeival period. The sanctum deity is Bhu Varaha Swami, who is worshipped with goddess Lakshmi (or Ambujavalli Thayar).
Famous for the Pushkar fair, the city is sanctified by its historic Varaha Temple made in 12th century by a Chauhan ruler. The image is zoo-anthropomorphic one, that underlines the presence of the boar deity in western part of India.
This temple is situated near the world famous Hoysaleshwara Temple, overshadowed by its grandeur, but unique in its own right.
Also known as Sri Adi Varaha Temple, this is one of the rarest temples of Varaha in northern India. The icon has large eyes that look animated, adorned with beautiful garments and carries Bhudevi seated on his tusk.
This is a rock-cut architecture, constructed under the royal Pallava dynasty of Tamil Nadu. It is a part of the larger rock cut monuments of Mahabalipuram, and is a popular site for heritage lovers as well as devotees. The main site is a massive Varaha, standing in a powerful poise, with Bhudevi in his arms, lifted from the depths of the ocean. The size and detail of the sculpture lend it a dramatic quality, making this a true-to-life representation of the Puranic legends of Varaha.
The Varaha Mantra is a sacred chant invoking the protective, grounding energy of Lord Varaha, the divine boar who lifted Earth from chaos. According to the Skanda Purana, Vishnu-Varaha and Bhudevi remined on earth as Balaji and his Shakti. It is used by spiritual seekers to cultivate inner strength, resilience, and stability during difficult times. Sri Varaha told her about the mantra which is to be chanted to please the Lord-
A simple and potent mantra. It invokes the core energy of the Varaha avatar to overcome obstacles and provide grounding in uncertain times.
(I worship Sri Varaha, who salvaged and protected Dharani or Earth Goddess)
Then Lord Varaha told that the devotee should worship him, by visualzing Varaha with Bhudevi, both adorned, seated on Shesha which is placed on the back of Kurma. Varaha narrates the stories of Indra, Dharma (embodiment of world order) and Ananta who gained benefits from the chanting of Varaha mantra.
Varaha is the third incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who appeared as a boar to rescue the Earth from the demon Hiranyaksha.
To access the muddy ocean floor where Earth was hidden, Vishnu incarnated as a boar an animal adept at navigating marshlands.
These are two demon brothers, who were Jaya and Vijaya, the door guardians of Vishnu in their previous birth and fell on earth due to the curse of Sanat Kumaras.
The Eran Varaha in Madhya Pradesh, where the avatar is presented as a boar, with inscription in Sanskrit, a mammoth 11-foot red sandstone sculpture, is among the largest and most intricate.
Bhudevi, the Hindu earth goddess is worshipped as the wife of Lord Varaha.
Narakasura and Mangala (Mars deity) are said to be their offspring according to Purana lore.
Bhudevi represents Earth. She is both the consort and symbolic mission of Varaha, rescued from cosmic destruction.
The Varaha mantra is chanted for protection, strength, and overcoming karmic and emotional obstacles.
Varaha is the third avatar in Vishnu’s Dashavatara, depicted as a boar or boar-headed man.
His mission was to rescue Earth (Bhudevi) from the demon Hiranyaksha.
Varaha’s story symbolizes divine intervention against chaos and ego.
The Eran Boar is the largest sculpture of Varaha in India.
Bhudevi is Varaha’s consort, and their union gave rise to Narakasura and Mangala.
Varaha is worshipped in temples across Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.
Chanting the Varaha mantra is believed to remove deep-rooted obstacles and bring divine protection.
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