Veda - Varaha or Boar: Lifting the Earth from the Cosmic Waters

Hindu mythology is replete with rich allegories and multiple layers of meaning, and few stories capture the imagination as vividly as the Varāha Avatāra—the boar incarnation. Like the other early incarnations, the Varāha narrative presents conflicting accounts. Some ancient texts and modern interpretations attribute the act to Brahmā, while other sources, including popular belief and later scriptures, celebrate the deed as the work of Vishnu. This duality is emblematic of the fluid nature of divine roles in Hindu thought, where one supreme reality can manifest in myriad forms.

Conflicting Traditions: Brahmā or Vishnu?

The Varāha legend originates from the idea that the universe was once completely submerged in water—a state of primordial fluidity. In the older tradition, as found in texts such as the Taittiriya Saṃhitā and the Taittiriya Brāhmana, Prajāpati (often identified with Brahmā) transforms into a boar to raise the earth from the cosmic ocean. One verse recounts:

“The universe was formerly water, fluid. On it Prajāpati (Brahmā) becoming wind, moved. Becoming a boar, he took it up.”

A similar account appears in the Satapatha Brāhmana, where the boar—named Emusha—lifts the earth, then only the size of a span, from the waters. Later, in a recension of the Rāmāyaṇa, Brahmā is said to have taken on the boar form to lift the earth, while in a subsequent version Vishnu, in the form of Brahmā, accomplishes the same feat. This textual evolution reflects a broader trend: as the popularity of Vishnu grew, his attributes and heroic acts absorbed those originally assigned to Brahmā.

Cosmic and Ritual Significance

The Varāha Avatāra is more than a myth about lifting the earth—it is a profound allegory rich in symbolism:

• Cosmic Renewal: In one reading, the boar’s act represents the pure cosmic effort of raising the submerged earth from the waters—a literal and metaphorical extraction of order from chaos. This aligns with the ancient view of the earth's emergence through Brahmā’s intervention.
• Ritual Allegory: In other Purānic accounts, the transformation into a boar is seen as emblematic of the Vedic rituals. The elevation of the earth on the boar’s tusks symbolizes the extrication of the world from a deluge of iniquity through sacred rites. Here, each physical aspect of the boar is imbued with ritual significance: its tusks, eyes, and even the sound of its breath are analogized to components of Vedic sacrifice.

A hymn sung by the saints beautifully encapsulates this symbolism:

“Triumph, lord of lords, supreme! Kesava, sovereign of the earth…
Thou, lord, art the person of the sacrifice; thy feet are the Vedas; thy tusks are the stake to which the victim is bound; thy teeth are the offerings; thy mouth is the altar; thy tongue is the fire; and the hairs of thy body are the sacrificial grass.
Thy eyes, O omnipotent! are day and night; thy head is the seat of all—the place of Brahmā; thy name is all the hymns of the Vedas; thy nostrils are all oblations…
O thou, whose snout is the ladle of oblation… raise up this earth for the habitation of created beings!”

This exalted hymn links the boar to every facet of Vedic worship and highlights its role as a divine mediator between the cosmic and the ritualistic.

The Narrative from the Vishnu Purāṇa

In the Vishnu Purāṇa, the narrative is refined to present Vishnu in a composite role. It tells us that at the close of the previous age, the divine Brahmā—endowed with the quality of goodness—awoke and surveyed the universal void. Recognizing that the earth lay hidden within the waters, the supreme Nārāyana (Vishnu) assumed the form of Brahmā and then transformed into a boar. This new form, fashioned from the very essence of the Vedic sacrifices, plunged into the ocean to lift the earth. The account not only stresses the cosmic function of the Varāha but also cements the identification of Vishnu with the creative power originally attributed to Brahmā.

Dimensions and Descriptions

Further embellishing the legend, various Purānas describe the grandeur of the boar:

• The Vāyu Purāṇa states that the boar was “ten yojanas in breadth, and a thousand yojanas in height,” with a color akin to a dark cloud, and a roar like thunder.
• The Bhāgavata Purāṇa describes the boar as emerging from the nostrils of Brahmā, initially thumb-sized and growing to that of an elephant.

These descriptions not only accentuate the immense physicality of the avatar but also serve to elevate its symbolic stature as the cosmic upholder.

Conclusion

The Varāha or Boar Avatāra remains one of the most evocative myths in Hindu cosmology. Whether seen as an act of Brahmā or as a manifestation of Vishnu’s transformative power, the legend captures the essence of cosmic renewal and the sanctity of ritual. By raising the earth from the depths of the primordial ocean, the boar symbolizes the eternal cycle of creation, preservation, and purification—a cycle that continues to inspire and instruct devotees on the path of dharma.