Nectar aboutLord Varaha

[Paramananda das]

 

 

vasati dasana-sikhare dharani tava lagna

sasini kalanka-kaleva nimagna

kesava dhrita-sukara-rupa jaya jagadisa hare

"0 Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of a boar! All glories to You! The earth, which had become immersed in the Garbhodaka Ocean at the bottom of the universe, sits fixed upon the tip of Your tusk like a spot upon the moon."

===================

(1) Lord Varaha in Shri Navadvipa Dhama:

Lord Nityananda spoke, "Listen everyone! This is Pancaveni in Navadvipa, where five rivers join the Ganges. The Bhagirathi mixes with the Mandakini and Alakananda, and the Sarasvati flows here hidden from view. From the west, the Yamuna flows along with the Bhogavati. The Manasa-ganga also quickly flows there. This place is called Maha-Prayaga by the rishis, who performed millions of sacrifices here along with Lord Brahma. The glories of this place are incomparable. If one takes bath here, he will not take another birth. Who can describe the glories of this place? All other tirthas become like dried up rivers in comparison. One who leaves his body here on the earth, in the air, or in the water will attain Shri Goloka Vrindavana. This place, known as Kuliya Pahada, is situated on the bank of the Ganges and is raised up like a mountain. This place is called Koladvipa in the scriptures. Now hear one story from Satya-yuga.

"A young brahmana named Vasudeva was always engaged in the service of Varaha. As he worshiped the form of Varaha, he always prayed to the Lord in these words `Please be merciful and appear before me. Let my eyes and life be successful.' Saying this, he cried and rolled on the ground. `If my Lord does not show Himself, my life is worthless.'

"Shortly thereafter, the merciful Lord showed Himself to Vasudeva in the form of a boar. His body was decorated with ornaments, and His feet, neck, nostrils, face, and eyes were all-attractive. His body was as tall as a mountain. Seeing him, the brahmana thought himself very fortunate. He fell on the earth and offered his respects. Crying and confused, he rolled on the ground. "Seeing the vipra's devotion, Varaha sweetly said, `O Vasudeva, as you are My devotee, I am

satisfied by your worship. When Kali-yuga comes I will display My pastimes here. Hear My words. In the three worlds, there is no comparison to Navadvipa.

Though it is hidden now, it is My very dear abode. The scriptures confirm that all holy places such as Brahmavarta reside here. "`The place where Brahma performed a sacrifice and I appeared to kill Hiranyaksha with My tusks, that holy place is present here, where I have appeared now. By serving Navadvipa, all tirthas are served; and by living in Navadvipa, the fruit of living at all other tirthas is attained. You are fortunate to serve Me in Navadvipa. When Gauranga advents, you will be born here again. You will see the maha-sankirtana and the astounding form of Gauranga.'

"After speaking these words, Varaha disappeared, and the vipra researched the meaning of the Lord's words. Being a great pandita, Vasudeva scrutinized the scriptures and thus clearly understood that during the reign of Vaivasvata Manu, at the beginning of Kali-yuga, Lord Gauranga would manifest His pastimes at Nadia. The sages kept this secret, but they indicated by hints so that intelligent men could understand. After the Lord manifested His pastimes on earth, the scriptural evidences would also become clear. Thus the brahmana received the hint about the secret truths of Gaura.

"In great bliss, the brahmana performed sankirtana. He constantly sang the name of Gaura within his mind. After seeing the mountainous form of Varaha, Vasudeva carefully decided to call this place Koladvipa Parvata [kola-boar; parvata-mountain], but it is now known as Parvata. The devotees know that this is Giri Govardhana of Vrindavana.

=================

(2) Lord Varaha has come twice

Shri Laghu Bhagavatamrita of Shrila Rupa Goswami 3.8-17:

shri-varahah tatraiva

"dvitiyam tu bhavayasya

rasatala-gatam mahim

uddharishyann upadatta

yajnesah saukaram vapuh"

Lord Varaha is described in Shrimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.7:

"The supreme enjoyer of all sacrifices accepted the incarnation of a boar (the second incarnation), and for the welfare of the earth He lifted the earth from the nether regions of the universe."*

Text 9

shri-dvitiye ca

"yatrodyatah kshiti-taloddharanaya bibhrat

kraudim tanum sakala-yajna-mayim anantah

antar-maharnava upagatam adi-daityam

tam damshtrayadrim iva vajra-dharo dadara" iti

In Shrimad-Bhagavatam 2.7.1 also:

"Lord Brahma' said: When the unlimitedly powerful Lord assumed the form of a boar as a pastime, just to lift the planet earth, which was drowned in the great ocean of the universe called the Garbhodaka, the first demon (Hiranyaksha) appeared, and the Lord pierced him with His tusk."*

Text 10

dvir avirasit kalpe 'sminn

adye svayambhuvantare

ghranad vidher dharoddhrityai

cakshshiye tu niratah

In this, the first kalpa, He appeared twice. To rescue the eartâ he appeared during the Svayambhuva-manvantara from Brahma's nostril, and during the Cakshusha-manvantara He appeared from the water.

Texts 11 and 12

hiranyaksham dharoddhare

nihantum damshtri-pungavah

catuspat shri-varaho 'sau

nri-varahah kvacin matah

kadacij jalada-syamah

kadacic candra-pandurah

yajna-murtih sthavishtho 'yam

varna-dvaya-yutah smritah

Lord Varaha, the best of tusked beasts, appears to kill Hiranyaksha and rescue the earth. Sometimes Varaha is a wild animal of the forest and sometimes He is a domesti animal. Sometimes He is dark as a rain-cloud, and sometimes He is white as the moon. In this way Smriti-sastra describes two giganti forms of Lord Varaha, the form of Vedi sacrifices.

Text 13

dakshat pracetasat shrishtih

sruyate cakshuse 'ntare

atas tatraiva janmasya

hiranyakshasya yujyate

The scriptures explain that the Pracetas' son, Daksha, begat childred during the reign of Cakshusa Manu. It was then that Hiranyaksha was born.

Text 14

tatha hi shri-caturthe

"cakshushe tv antare prapte

prak-sarge kala-vidrute

yah sauarja praja ishtah

sa daksho daiva-coditah" iti

In Shrimad-Bhagavatam 4.30.49:

"His previous body had been destroyed, but he, the same Daksha, inspired by the supreme will, created all the desired living entities in the Cakshusha-manvantara."*

Text 15

uttanapada-vamsyanam

tanayasya pracetasam

dakshasyaiva ditih putri

hiranyaksho diteh sutah

In King Uttanapada's dynasty, Diti was the daughter of the Pracetas' son, Daksha. Diti's son was Hiranyaksha.

Text 16

kalparambhe tada nasti

sutotpattir manor api

kvasau pracetaso dakshah

kva ditih kva diteh sutah

In the beginning of the kalpa no one had been born yet, even from Manu. Where, then, was the Pracetas' son, Daksha? Where was Diti? Where was Diti's son?

Text 17

atah kala-dvayodbhutam

shri-varahasya ceshtitam

ekatraivaha maitreyah

kshattuh prasnanurodhatah

In answer to Vidura's question, Maitreya Muni described Lord Varaha's pastimes at two different times as if they had happened at the same time.

==================