Lord Vishnu has incarnated himself a number of times to bring an end of tyranny and lawlessness in this world.
Varaha Jayanti is the celebration of the appearance of the third incarnation of Lord Vishnu as Varaha or a boar in this world. As a huge boar he held up the world in his two tasks from under the deep ocean.
This day is observed with dedication and rituals are followed on the dwadashi tithi of the Shukla paksha. In 2019, Varaha Jayanti will be observed in the month of September, 1st, Sunday.
Legend behind Varaha Jayanti
Diti had given birth to two robust sons called Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakshayapu, who possessed demonic powers. As they grew up they made severe penances and after pleasing Lord Brahma asked for unending and limitless power for both of them. Lord brahma granted the boon to them. However the tyranny and the oppression of the 2 demonic brothers kept increasing when finally they reached the Vibhaari Nagari, which was the kingdom of Varun Deva. Varun Deva got furious by listening to their demands of giving up on his kingdom and reminded them that may be they were powerful, but they could no way be more powerful than Lord Vishnu. Hearing this Hiranyakshayapu went in search of Lord Vishnu to find and fight him.
Meanwhile Lord Vishnu had incarnated as the Varaha and was holding the earth in his two trunks after pulling it out from the ocean, when Hiranyakshayapu approached him and started goading him to drop the earth and fight him. However Lord Vishnu carefully save dthe earth from immediate destruction and finally fought Hiranyakshayapu and killed him.
Symbolism behind the Varaha Jayanti
Symbolically the dragging out of the earth by the tasks of Varaha Avatar is extremely symbolic. It signifies the emergence of human being into light form the darkness of ego. Filled with ego man falls into the deep dark sea of misery and only self realization can bring respite and upliftment.
Rituals of Varaha Jayanti
- Varaha Jayanti is mainly observed in the southern states of India. Devout devotees wake up early in the morning, have a ritual holy bath and offer worship to the Lord.
- An idol of Lord Varaha is kept in a metal pot or a kalash. It is then filled with water and mango leaves along with a coconut is kept on top. Coconut is considered to be extremely auspicious. This is then donated to a Brahmin. There is a visarjan orimmersion of the kalash or the metal pots.
- After the puja is over, the devotees read Shrimad Bhagwad Gita and chant various other hymns to please the Lord and seek his blessings.
- Varaha Mantra such as Varahay Namah, Sookraya Namah, Dhritsookarrupkeshvaya Namah etc are religiously chanted by the devotees.
- Devotees observing this auspicious day by fasting should also do some dan dhyan or charity to gain more blessings from Lord Vishnu as it is considered to be auspicious to do so on this day.
- It is believed that worshipping Lord Varaha on this auspicious day is sure to bring happiness, wealth and fortune to the devotees.
Places of worship
In Mathura there is an old Varaha Avatar’s temple where devotees throng to observe this pious day. Varaha Swamy is the reigning deity in the temple called the Bhu Varaha Swamy temple in Tirumala where Varaha Swami is given a bath with butter, honey, milk, ghee and coconut water on this day and then worshipped with a lot of fanfare and devotion.