Varaha Parvata

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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A map of Rajgir

Varaha Parvata (वराह पर्वत) is one of the five mountains mentioned in Mahabharata, situated near Rajgir in Bihar, India. Varaha is also ancient name of Shringagiri in Karnataka.

Variants

• Varaha Parvata वराह (AS, p.833)

Jat clans

Varaha (वराहा) - Varaha (वराहा) gotra Jats live in Nimach district in Madhya Pradesh and Chhoti Sadri tahsil in Chittorgarh district in Rajasthan.

Mention by Panini

Varaha (वराह) is name of a place mentioned by Panini in Ashtadhyayi under Varapadi (वरापादि) (4.2.80.16) group.

History

Sandhya Jain writes that tribal elements can be traced to the very core of Hindu dharma. Vishun's incarnation as Varaha and Narasimha bear the strong impress of the forest and reinforce tribal inputs into classical dharma. A L Basham believes Varaha probably came from the people of eastern Malwa. Through out the tribal belt , Varaha and Narasimha are worshipped as uniconical symbols.

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Varaha (वराहा) people mentioned in Mahabharata and Ramayana may be identified with Jat Gotra - Varaha (वराहा).

In Mahabharata

• Varaha Parvata (वराह) in Mahabharata (II.19.2)
• Varaha People (वराह) (IX.44.74),
• Varaha Tirtha (वाराह तीर्थ) (T) (III.81.15),
• Varahaka (वराहक) (Naga) (I.52.17),

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Sabha Parva, Mahabharata/Book II Chapter 19 mentions that Krishna, Bhima and Arjuna attacked Girivraja to kill Jarasandha. Varaha Parvata (वराह) is mentioned in Mahabharata (II.19.2). ....The five large hills of Vaihara, Varaha, Vrishabha, Rishigiri, and the delightful Chaityaka, all of high peaks and overgrown with tall trees of cool shade and connected with one another, seem to be jointly protecting the city of Girivraja.

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Vana Parva, Mahabharata/Book III Chapter 81 mentions names of Tirthas (Pilgrims). Varaha Tirtha (वाराह तीर्थ) is mentioned in Mahabharata (III.81.15).....Proceeding next with subdued senses and regulated diet to Panchanada (पञ्चनद) (3.81.14) and bathing in the tirtha there, called Kotiki (कॊटिकी तीर्थ) (3.81.14), one obtaineth the fruit of the horse-sacrifice. Proceeding then to the tirtha of the twin Aswins one obtaineth personal beauty. O virtuous one, one should next proceed to the excellent tirtha called Varaha Tirtha (वाराह तीर्थ), where Vishnu formerly stood in the form of a boar. Bathing there one obtaineth, O foremost of men, the merit of the horse-sacrifice.

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Adi Parva, Mahabharata/Book I Chapter 52 mentions the names of all those Nagas that fell into the fire of the snake-sacrifice. Varahaka (वराहक) is listed in Nagas of race of Dhritarashtra, verse (I.52.17). ....Varahaka, Varanaka, Sumitra, Chitravedaka, Parashara, Tarunaka, Maniskandha and Aruni.

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Shalya Parva, Mahabharata/Book IX Chapter 44 describes the Kings and clans who joined the ceremony for investing Kartikeya with the status of generalissimo. Varaha (वराह) is mentioned in Mahabharata (IX.44.74).

In Ramayana

किष्किन्धाकाण्डे द्विचत्वारिंशः सर्गः ॥४-४२॥ in Ramayana mentions varaha:

तम् गजाः च वराहाः च सिंहा व्याघ्राः च सर्वतः । अभिगर्जन्ति सततम् तेन शब्देन दर्पिताः ॥४-४२-३४॥

Nava Toran temple in Nimach

Nava Torana Temple of Varaha at Khor in Neemach

Nava Toran temple at village Khor near Vikram Cement campus is an important remnant of eleventh century temple which consists of ten decorative arches arranged in two rows - one length wise and the other width wise crossing each other at the centre and supported on a pair of pillars in the hall and porches. The temple is decorated with leaf shaped borders, heads of makaras, garland bearers etc. There is a statue of Varaha at the centre of the temple.

Varaha in Skanda Purana

THE GRANDEUR OF Avantipuri has been explained in Skanda Purana. Here it mentions about a temple of Varaha.

Sanatkumar says-' Once, Parvati requested Lord Shiva to explain why Avantipuri was considered so holy by the devotees. Lord Shiva told her that it was so because there were numerous holy places situated over there. Lord Shiva had told her-' There are four holy rivers flowing through the different regions of Avantipuri- Kshipra, Divya-nav, Neelganga and Gandhavati. There are temples belonging to eighty four shiva lingas, eight Bhairavas, eleven Rudras, Twelve Aadityas, six Ganeshas and twenty four goddesses. Not only this there are also temples of Lord Vishnu and Brahma. Avantipuri is spread in the radius of one yojan. There are temples belonging to ten different incarnations of Lord Vishnu- Vasudeva, Ananta, Balarama, Janardana, Narayana, Hrishikesha, Varaha, Dharnidhara, Vaman and Lord Vishnu himself taking rest on Sheshnaga. Apart from these there are many other holy places situated at Avantipuri, which enhances its sanctity and holiness.

Varaha in Hindu mythology

In Hinduism, Varaha (Sanskrit: वाराह) is the third avatar of Vishnu, in the form of a boar. He appeared in order to defeat Hiranyaksha, a demon who had taken the Earth (prthivi) and carried it to the bottom of what is described as the cosmic ocean in the story. The battle between Lord Varaha and Hiranyaksha is believed to have lasted for a thousand years, which the former finally won. Varaha carried the Earth out of the ocean between his tusks and restored it to its place in the universe. Vishnu married Prithvi (Bhudevi) in this avatar.

Varaha is depicted in art as either purely animal or as being anthropomorphic, having a boar's head on a man's body. In the latter form he has four arms, two of which hold the wheel and conch-shell while the other two hold a mace, sword or lotus or make a gesture (or "mudra") of blessing. The Earth is held between the boar's tusks.

The avatar symbolizes the resurrection of the Earth from a pralaya (deluge) and the establishment of a new kalpa (cosmic cycle).

The Varaha Purana is a Purana in which the form of narration is a recitation by Varaha.

वराह पर्वत

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर ने लेख किया है .....1. महाभारत सभा पर्व के अनुसार यह गिरिव्रज (राजगृह) के पांच पर्वतों में से एक था--'वैहारॊ विपुलः शैलॊ वराहॊ वृषभस तथा, तथैवर्षिगिरिस तात शुभाश चैत्यक पञ्चमाः (II.19.2) एते पञ्च महाशृङ्गाः पर्वताः शीतलद्रुमाः, रक्षन्तीवाभिसंहत्य संहताङ्गा गिरिव्रजम (II.19.3) महाभारत सभा पर्व 21,2-3 (दे.राजगृह)

2. कर्नाटक (मैसूर) में श्रृंगेरी से 9 मील दूर स्थित शृंगगिरि का प्राचीन नाम. इस पर्वत से तुंगा, भद्रा, नेत्रावती और वाराही ये चार नदियां निकलती हैं.