Varaha, Vārāha, Varāha, Varāhā: 50 definitions

Introduction:

Varaha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit, Hindi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

Alternative spellings of this word include Varah.

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In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Wisdom Library: Mahābhārata

Varaha is one of the five large hills protecting the city of Girivraja. Mentioned in the Mahabharata, Second book, Section XXI; The other hills being: Vaihara, Vrishava, Rishigiri, Chaitya;

Source: archive.org: The Garuda puranam

The Varāha stone resembles a Sakti in shape and has two rugged and uneven circular marks.

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

1) Varāha (वराह).—An ancient hermit. It is mentioned in Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva, Chapter 4, Stanza 17, that this hermit stayed in the palace of Yudhiṣṭhira. (See full article at Story of Varāha from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

2) Vārāha (वाराह).—A holy place in the middle of Kurukṣetra. It is mentioned in Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 83, Stanza 88, that Mahāviṣṇu stayed in this place for a while in the shape of Varāha (Boar) and that those who bathe in this holy bath would obtain the fruits of performing the sacrifice Agniṣṭoma.

3) Varāha (वराह).—(Boar). One of the ten incarnations of Mahāviṣṇu. Need for this incarnation. Jaya and Vijaya, two doorkeepers of Mahāviṣṇu showed disrespect towards the famous hermits Sanaka and others who went to visit Mahāviṣṇu. The angry hermits cursed them to take birth as asuras. Accordingly Jaya and Vijaya took birth as the two asuras Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu and were born from Prajāpati Kaśyapa by his wife Diti.

4) Varāha (वराह).—A mountain near Girivraja, the capital city of Magadha. (Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva, Chapter 21, Stanza 2).

Source: archive.org: Nilamata Purana: a cultural and literary study

Varāha (वराह, “board”).—According to the Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Viṣṇu assumed the form of a boar (varāha) to lift up the earth while according to the Agni Purāṇa, Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa and Matsya Purāṇa the cause was the slaying of the demon Hiraṇyākṣa.

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Vārāha (वाराह) refers to a “boar” and represents the form Viṣṇu assumed when discovering the origins of a Liṅga that appeared, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.15:—“[...] a boar (vārāha) has the power of steadily going deep below. Hence Viṣṇu, the wanderer in the forest, assumed the form of the boar. Or Viṣṇu, the protector of all the worlds assumed the form of a Boar to start a new Kalpa (Aeon). Since the day he assumed the form of a Boar, the aeon by the title of Vārāha has started. Or the Vārāhakalpa can be considered to have started since the day we two decided to assume these forms”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Varāha (वराह).—(also vārāha)—an incarnation of Hari; born out of Brahmā's nostrils; roaring, he entered the waters and rescued the earth above, after vanquishing the Asura who attacked him. Prayer to, by the sages.1 Slew Hiraṇyākṣa in the Sumana hill of Plakṣadvīpa.2 The third avatār.3 Killed Hiraṇyākṣa by cutting the ocean into two by his teeth;4 mother-earth taken to rasātalam, appealed to Viṣṇu for protection; he took up the Varāha avatār and released the earth above the waters by raising her with his teeth;5 his next avatār was Vāmana;6 Icon of.7

  • 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa III. 13. 18-45; X. 2. 40; Viṣṇu-purāṇa V. 5. 15.
  • 2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 19. 13; III. 36. 11; 72. 73-8.
  • 3) Matsya-purāṇa 47. 43.
  • 4) Ib. 47. 47.
  • 5) Ib. Chh. 247 and 248; 102. 11.
  • 6) Ib. 122. 16; 244. 6.
  • 7) Ib. 259. 2; 260. 28-9; 285. 6.

1b) Mountain in Varāhadvīpam;1 a hill that entered the sea for fear of Indra.2

  • 1) Vāyu-purāṇa 48. 38.
  • 2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 18. 77; Vāyu-purāṇa 42. 70; 47. 74.

1c) The name of the 12th Kalpa when Saṇḍa and Marka were slain. Kalpa where avyakta became turned into vyakta;2 the present aeon?3

  • 1) Ib. 23. 114; 109. 35.
  • 2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa I. 4. 33; 6. 6; Vāyu-purāṇa 5. 49; 21. 12, 23-4.

1d) The boar's flesh for śrāddha.*

  • * Matsya-purāṇa 17. 33.

1e) A Dānava in the Tārakāmaya.*

  • * Matsya-purāṇa 173. 16; 177. 6.

2a) Vārāha (वाराह).—(Viṣṇu). An avatār of Hari who raised the earth from the waters, see Varāha, the form which Viṣṇu takes in the Śvetakalpa with four feet, four hands, etc., becomes Samvatsara and assumes the form of yajña; the four yugas are four feet, the kratus are aṅgas or limbs, the four Vedas are the hands ṛtu, sandhimukhas, two ayanas are the faces and eyes, three parvas are the heads, etc.,1 appropriate to water sports; description of;2 helped by Māyā, wife (Chāyā, Vāyu-purāṇa) out of the recovered earth came mountains and seven worlds; creation of human beings;3 where Brahmā is said to assume this form.4

  • 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa XI. 4. 18; Vāyu-purāṇa 23. 103-7; 48. 40; 49. 11; Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 4. 8, 26.
  • 2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa I. 5. 11, ff.
  • 3) Ib. I. 5. 19.
  • 4) Ib. II. 7. 7-9.

2b) A mountain afraid of Hiraṇyakaśipu's arms.*

  • * Matsya-purāṇa 163. 81.

2c) The 26th kalpa.*

  • * Matsya-purāṇa 290. 9.

2d) The present kalpa; fourteen Manus beginning with Svāyambhuva; name and features explained.*

  • * Vāyu-purāṇa 21. 12, 23, 26 f. Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 3. 28; II. 1. 43.

2e) A Janapada of the Bhadrā continent.*

  • * Vāyu-purāṇa 43. 22.

2f) A mahāpurāṇa, comprising 24,000 ślokas;1 narrated by Viṣṇu to Kṣoṇi containing the māhātmya of Mahāvārāha; he who gives it with a golden eagle on the Full Moon day of Madhu reaches oneness with Viṣṇu.2

  • 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa XII. 7. 24; 13. 7; Viṣṇu-purāṇa III. 6. 23.
  • 2) Matsya-purāṇa 53. 39-41.
Source: Archaeological Survey of India: Śaiva monuments at Paṭṭadakal (purāṇa)

Varāha (वराह).—The story of the third incarnation of Viṣṇu appearing in the form of a boar is well known but there are many versions. Almost each purāṇic text gives its own version. The Bhāgavata, the Matsya elaborate the episodes of Viṣṇu saving the earth, whereas the Liṇga and the Śivapurāṇa speak of Viṣṇu in the form of a black boar digging the earth to find the lower end of the luminous column in which appears Śiva (see Liṅgodbhavamūrti).

Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Varāhā (वराहा) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. VIII.30.32, IX.44.74, VIII.30.73) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Varāhā) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

Purana book cover
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The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

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Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: archive.org: The mirror of gesture (abhinaya-darpana)

One of the saṃyutta-hastāni (Twenty-four combined Hands).—Varāha (boar): Mṛga-śīrṣa hands one upon the other (back to back), the thumbs and little fingers linked. Usage: boar.

Source: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (natya)

Varāha (वराह) or Varāhāvatāra refers to one of the Daśāvatāra (“ten incarnations”) (of Lord Viṣṇu) to which are assign various hand gestures (in Indian Dramas), according to the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, an ancient Sanskrit text which (being encyclopedic in nature) deals with a variety of cultural topics such as arts, architecture, music, grammar and astronomy.—In the Hindu scriptures, different stories are found, related to lord Viṣṇu, where we find the magnanimity of different incarnations of lord Viṣṇu. Moreover, a great influence of these ten incarnations of lord Viṣṇu (e.g., Varāha-avatāra) seems to fall in the field of Dance also.

Natyashastra book cover
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Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).

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Ayurveda (science of life)

Dietetics and Culinary Art (such as household cooking)

Source: Shodhganga: Dietetics and culinary art in ancient and medieval India

Varāha (वराह) refers to the “wild boar”, whose meat (māṃsa) is classified as “terrestrial” (bhūcara) according to the 17th century Bhojanakutūhala (dravyaguṇāguṇa-kathana), and is commonly found in literature dealing with the topics of dietetics and culinary art, also known as Pākaśāstra or Pākakalā.—The text [māṃsa-prakaraṇa] says the three fold division of meat [such as terrestrial (bhūcara)...]. Here different types of meat and their properties are discussed in detail. The terrestrial animals are [viz., varāha (wild boar)].

The meat of the boar (varāha) is mutually incompatible (viruddhāhāra) with Dadhi (curds).

Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)

Source: Shodhganga: Portrayal of Animal Kingdom (Tiryaks) in Epics An Analytical study

Varāha (वराह) refers to the Hog (Sus Scrofa), according to scientific texts such as the Mṛgapakṣiśāstra (Mriga-pakshi-shastra) or “the ancient Indian science of animals and birds” by Hamsadeva, containing the varieties and descriptions of the animals and birds seen in the Sanskrit Epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Agriculture (Krishi) and Vrikshayurveda (study of Plant life)

Source: Shodhganga: Drumavichitrikarnam—Plant mutagenesis in ancient India

Varāha (वराह) refers to a “hog” or “boar”, the urine of which is used in various bio-organical recipes for plant mutagenesis, according to the Vṛkṣāyurveda by Sūrapāla (1000 CE): an encyclopedic work dealing with the study of trees and the principles of ancient Indian agriculture.—Accordingly, “Musa paradisiaca trees create wonder by producing pomegranate fruits if fed by water mixed with the urine of a hog (varāha-meha) and Alangium salviifolium. (A word is unintelligible). Ricinus communis tree produced from a seed cultured by the marrow of a boar, treated further by the process in the previous verse, produces Momordica charantia fruits”.

Unclassified Ayurveda definitions

Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botany

Varāha (वराह) is a Sanskrit word referring to the animal “hog”. The meat of this animal is part of the māṃsavarga (‘group of flesh’), which is used throughout Ayurvedic literature. The animal Varāha is part of the sub-group named Ānupamṛga, refering to animals “who live in marshy land”. It was classified by Caraka in his Carakasaṃhitā sūtrasthāna (chapter 27), a classical Ayurvedic work. Caraka defined such groups (vargas) based on the dietic properties of the substance.

The meat of the hog (varāha) is uncting, bulk-promoting, aphrodisiac, alleviates fatigue and vāta, promots strength, relish in food and weating, and is heavy.

Source: archive.org: Sushruta samhita, Volume I

Varāha (वराह)—Sanskrit word for the animal “boar” (Sus scrofa). This animal is from the group called Kūlacara (‘shore-dwellers’). Kūlacara itself is a sub-group of the group of animals known as Ānupa (those that frequent marshy places).

The flesh of the boar (Barāha/Varāha) or common pig is constructive, tonic, spermatopoietic and diaphoretic, and imparts a greater strength to the system. It is heavy (as regards digestion), demulcent, cooling, refrigerant, and pleasant, and destroys the deranged Vāyu.

Ayurveda book cover
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Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

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Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Śaivism

Varāha (वराह) is the Sanskrit name of a deity presiding over Vindhyāparvata, one of the sixty-eight places hosting a svāyambhuvaliṅga, which is one of the most sacred of liṅgas according to the Śaivāgamas. The list of sixty-eight svāyambhuvaliṅgas and presiding deities (e.g., Varāha) is found in the commentary on the Jirṇoddhāra-daśaka by Nigamajñānadeva. The word liṅga refers to a symbol used in the worship of Śiva and is used thoughout Śaiva literature, such as the sacred Āgamas.

Source: Shodhganga: Iconographical representations of Śiva

Varāha (वराह) or Varāhāgama refers to one of upāgamas (supplementary scriptures) of the Prodgītāgama which is one of the twenty-eight Siddhāntāgama: a classification of the Śaiva division of Śaivāgamas. The Śaivāgamas represent the wisdom that has come down from lord Śiva, received by Pārvatī and accepted by Viṣṇu. The purpose of revealing upāgamas (e.g., Varāha Āgama) is to explain more elaborately than that of mūlāgamas (e.g., Prodgīta-āgama) and to include any new idea if not dealt in mūlāgamas.

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions

Varāha (वराह) refers to a “pig”, according to the Guhyasūtra chapter 3.—Accordingly, “[...] [Using the mantra] ‘oṃ namo vāyupathacāriṇe amitagatiparākramāya vimale kulu kulu svāhā’, [and taking] arsenic, gold [and?] a mineral, …, ground up with pig fat/marrow (varāha-vaśa-saṃpiṣṭa), over which one has recited [the navātman] 1000 times, he should smear [the mixture] on his feet/legs, while once again reciting the navātman: he will travel 200 yojanās unwearied!”.

Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantra

Varāha (वराह) refers to a form of Viṣṇu, according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 13.1-9, while describing the appearance and worship of Viṣṇu]—“Or, [the Mantrin] worships a very handsome, eight-armed, yellow Deva. [...] He remembers [Viṣṇu’s] many forms. Thus, he thinks [of him] with a collection of many faces, many weapons and [many] arms [i.e., the cosmic Viṣṇu], reclining, taking a wife, joined with Lakṣmī, alone, [as] Narasiṃha, Varāha, or Vāmana, Kapila, or an honorable man, unadorned, or even without parts. [...]”.

Shaivism book cover
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Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

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Kavya (poetry)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara

Varāha (वराह) is the name of a king allied to Devamāya who marched in war against Naravāhanadatta, as mentioned in the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 109. Accordingly, “... and Devamāya too, when he heard it, marched out towards him to give battle, accompanied by numerous kings, Varāha, Vajramuṣṭi, and others, and followed by his army. Then there took place on Kailāsa a battle between those two armies, and while it was going on the sky was obscured by the chariots of the gods, who came to look on”.

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Varāha, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.

Source: Shodhganga: A critical appreciation of soddhalas udayasundarikatha

Varāha (वराह).—One of the incarnations of Viṣṇu.—In his Varāha incarnation, he rescued the earth from the Daityas.

Kavya book cover
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Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.

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Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: archive.org: Pratima Kosa Encyclopedia of Indian Iconography - Vol 6

Varāha (वराह) refers to one of the many varieties of the Śālagrāma (ammonite fossil stones).—The Varāha is large-sized; colour of blue beetle (indranīla); without any lines (virekhā). Śālagrāma stones are very ancient geological specimens, rendered rounded and smooth by water-currents in a great length of time. They (e.g., Varāha stones) are distinguished by the ammonite (śālā, described as “vajra-kīṭa”, “adamantine worms”) which having entered into them for residence, are fossilized in course of time, leaving discus-like marks inside the stone.

Source: Archaeological Survey of India: Śaiva monuments at Paṭṭadakal (śilpa)

Varāha (वराह) is found as a sculpture at the temple of Lokeśvara, north wall, north façade.—Between the images of Aṣṭabhuja Viṣṇu and Śūlaparaśudhāri Śiva is represented a scene of Bhū Varāha-mūrti. With regard to the representation of Bhūvarāha the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa gives the following explanations for representing it: “Hari as Aniruddha is Varāha, the embodiment of might and by the power of his might he lifts up the earth on the tip of his tusk (śloka 1). Further the text also mentions that Varāha may be represented in another way too. Like Narasiṃha Varāha can also be represented with a human body having the face of a Boar. On the span (aratni) of his left hand should be placed Vasundharā in the form of a woman”.

On the back of Śeṣa the god should be shown in the ālīḍha pose. Śaṅkha should be depicted in the hand which holds the earth Goddess. His other hands should carry padma, cakra and gadā. For the illustration of the image in the Lokeśvara temple, we do not know the source but we see the goddess sitting on his right arm folded.

Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-beras (śilpa)

1) Varāha (वराह, “boar”) refers to a type of animal form, representing one of the several “attributes” (āyudha) or “accessories” of a detiy commonly seen depicted in Hindu iconography, defined according to texts dealing with śilpa (arts and crafs), known as śilpaśāstras.—The śilpa texts have classified the various accessories under the broad heading of āyudha or karuvi (implement), including even flowers, animals, and musical instruments. The animals and birds found as vehicles for the deities or held as attributes or weapons in the hands of the deities are, for example, Varāha.

2) Varāha (वराह, “boar”) or Varāhāvatāra refers to one the “ten incarnations of Lord Viṣṇu”.—The hand gestures for the daśāvatāra in dancing and iconography are similar in some cases and dissimilar in most of the cases. In dancing, after showing varāha-hasta at the level of the shoulder, the hands assume añjali-hasta and are placed at the mouth and the legs are shortened. This posture denotes a wild boar. In iconography, Varāha is represented with a boar’s head holding Bhūmidevī (the goddess of the earth, consort of Viṣṇu) seated on his left knee in āliṅgana-hasta. Here also there is no similarity between the position of the hands used in dancing and images for Viṣṇu in varāha-avatāra.

Varāha-avatāra is depicted at Ramaswamy Temple in Kumbakonam (Kumbhakonam), representing a sacred place for the worship of Viṣṇu.—Varāha-avatāra of Viṣṇu is found seated in sukhāsana posture with two hands. The right hand holds cakra and the left hand holds śaṅkha in kartarīmukha hasta.

Shilpashastra book cover
context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

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Dharmashastra (religious law)

Source: Prācyā: Animals and animal products as reflected in Smṛti texts

Varāha (वराह) or Sūkara refers to the animal “Boar” or “Hog” (Sus scrofa).—The Smṛtis mention several domestic as well as wild animals that are enumerated in context of specifying expiation for killing them, the flesh being used as a dietary article to give satisfaction to the Manes (Pitṛs) in Śrāddha rites, the law of transmigration due to various sins committed as well as in the context of specifying gifts to be given on various occasions. These animals [viz., Varāha] are chiefly mentioned in the Manusmṛti, Parāśarasmṛti [Chap.6], Gautamasmṛti [17.2 and 15.1], Śātātapasmṛti [II.45-54], Uśānasmṛti [IX.7-9; IX.12-13], Yājñavalkyasmṛti [I.170-171; I.175; I.258- 260], Viṣṇusmṛti [51.3;51.6;51.26;51.33;80.3-14], Uttarāṅgirasasmṛti [X.15-17], Prajāpatismṛti [Śrāddhatyājyavastuvarṇanam. 138-143], 9 Kāśyapasmṛti [Section on Prāyaścittavarṇanam], Vṛddha Hārītasmṛti [6.253-255] and Kātyāyanasmṛti [27.11].

Dharmashastra book cover
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Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.

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Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: Pure Bhakti: Brhad Bhagavatamrtam

Varāha (वराह) refers to:—Avatāra of Lord Viṣṇu in the form a boar; one the daśāvatāras, ten famous incarnations of the Lord. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).

Vaishnavism book cover
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Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).

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Sports, Arts and Entertainment (wordly enjoyments)

Source: archive.org: Syainika Sastra of Rudradeva with English Translation (art)

Varāha (वराह) refers to “wild boars” (which were commonly the victim of hunters), according to the Śyainika-śāstra: a Sanskrit treatise dealing with the divisions and benefits of Hunting and Hawking, written by Rājā Rudradeva (or Candradeva) in possibly the 13th century.—Accordingly, “Hunting on horseback (āśvina) represents one of the eight subdivisions of Hunting (mṛgayā). [...] By the eating of the wholesome meat of wild boars (varāha) and buffaloes bagged in hunting, sexual desire and capacity are increased, which leads to the enjoyment of women by the increase of strength. [...]”.

Arts book cover
context information

This section covers the skills and profiencies of the Kalas (“performing arts”) and Shastras (“sciences”) involving ancient Indian traditions of sports, games, arts, entertainment, love-making and other means of wordly enjoyments. Traditionally these topics were dealt with in Sanskrit treatises explaing the philosophy and the justification of enjoying the pleasures of the senses.

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General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Hinduism

Varāha (वराह, “boar”) is a Sanskrit word referring to one of the ten incarnations of Viṣṇu. This incarnation appeared in the satyayuga. Viṣṇu is the name of a major Hindu deity and forms part of the trinity of supreme divinity (trimūrti) together with Brahmā and Śiva. They are seen as the cosmic personifications of creation (brahmā), maintenance (viṣṇu), and destruction (śiva).

Source: Apam Napat: Indian Mythology

During the reign of the Swayambhuva_Manu, the earth had sunk to the bottom of the ocean (some say by the action of Hiranyaksha), and life could not exist there. Heeding the prayers of the Devas, Lord Vishnu changed himself into a boar and raised the earth from the bottom of the ocean, supported on his teeth (tusks?). This is the Varaha-avatar.

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

1. Varaha (Sanskrit: वराह, "boar") is the avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu in the form of a boar. Varaha is listed as third in the Dashavatara, the ten principal avatars of Vishnu. When the demon Hiranyaksha stole the earth (personified as the goddess Bhudevi) and hid her in the primordial waters, Vishnu appeared as Varaha to rescue her. Varaha slew the demon and retrieved the Earth from the ocean, lifting it on his tusks, and restored Bhudevi to her place in the universe.

2. Avatar of Viṣnu. Varaha, the boar, from the Satya Yuga. He appeared to defeat Hiranyaksha, a demon who had taken the Earth, or Prithvi, and carried it to the bottom of what is described as the cosmic ocean in the story. The battle between 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.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: academia.edu: A Critical Study of the Vajraḍākamahātantrarāja (II)

Varāha (वराह) is the name of a Vākchomā (‘verbal secrect sign’) which has its meaning defined as ‘keśa’ according to chapter 8 of the 9th-century Vajraḍākamahātantrarāja, a scripture belonging to the Buddhist Cakrasaṃvara (or Saṃvara) scriptural cycle. These Vākchomās (viz., varāha) are meant for verbal communication and can be regarded as popular signs, since they can be found in the three biggest works of the Cakrasaṃvara literature.

Tibetan Buddhism book cover
context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

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India history and geography

Source: Wisdom Library: India History

Varaha refers to one of the thirty-six Rajput clans, according to various inscriptions and literature. They are possible part Padmanabha list, who compiled the 15th-century Kanhadadeprabandha, a work describing the Muslim invasion of Gujarat of 1298 AD. The kingdom or dynasty of the Varahas had their own princes and nobles and were further separated into sub-clans and families. Their name can also be spelled as Varāhā.

The Rajputs are a Hindu race claiming to be descendants of the ancient Kṣatriya-varṇa (warrior caste). Originally, the Rajputs consisted of two principal branches: the Sūryavaṃśa (solar race) and the Candravaṃśa (lunar race), to which later was added the Agnivaṃśa (fire-born race).

Source: Ancient Buddhist Texts: Geography of Early Buddhism

Varāha (वराह) is another name for Girivraja or Giribbaja: an ancient capital of Magadha, one of the sixteen Mahājanapadas of the Majjhimadesa (Middle Country) of ancient India, according to the Mahābhārata.—Early Pāli literature abounds in information about the Magadha country, its people, and its ancient capital Giribbaja. Magadha roughly corresponds to the modern Patna and Gayā districts of Bihar. The Mahābhārata seems to record that Girivraja was also called Bārhadrathapura as well as Māgadhapura and that Māgadhapura was a well-fortified city being protected by five hills. Other names recorded in the Mahābhārata are Varāha, Vrishabha, Rishigiri, and Caityaka. The statement of the Mahābhārata that Girivraja was protected by five hills is strikingly confirmed by the Vimānavatthu Commentary in which we read that the city of Giribbaja was encircled by the mountains Isigili, Vepulla, Vebhara, Paṇḍava and Gijjhakūṭa.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Varāha.—(IE 8-8; EI 25; SITI; SII 1), also called hūn or hon; name of a gold coin called pagoda or ‘star pagoda’ in English; Cf. doḍḍa-varāha (EI 20), varāha-paṇam (SITI), varāhanpuḻḻi- kuḻigai (SITI), parumuḻai-varāhan (SITI); etc. Note: varāha is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

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Varāha.—a gold coin; same as hūn or hon (q. v.); also called pagoda (q. v.) or ‘star pagoda’. Note: varāha is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

India history book cover
context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

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Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

varāha : (m.) a hog; a boar.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Varāha, (Vedic varāha & varāhu, frequent in Rigveda) a boar, wild hog Dh. 325=Th. 1, 17; J. V, 406=VI, 277; Miln. 364; Sdhp. 378. (Page 602)

Pali book cover
context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

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Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

varāha (वराह).—m (S) A boar. 2 The boar-avatar of Vishn̤u.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

varāha (वराह).—m A boar.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

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Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Varāha (वराह).—[varāya abhīṣṭāya mustādilābhāya āhanti bhūmim ā-han-ḍa Tv.]

1) A boar, hog; विस्रब्धं क्रियतां वराहततिभिर्मुस्ताक्षतिः पल्वले (visrabdhaṃ kriyatāṃ varāhatatibhirmustākṣatiḥ palvale) Ś.2.6.

2) A ram.

3) A bull.

4) A cloud.

5) A crocodile.

6) An array of troops in the form of a boar.

7) Name of Viṣṇu in the third or boar incarnation; cf. वसति दशनशिखरे धरणी तव लग्ना शशिनि कलङ्ककलेव निमग्ना । केशव धृतशूकररूप जय जगदीश हरे (vasati daśanaśikhare dharaṇī tava lagnā śaśini kalaṅkakaleva nimagnā | keśava dhṛtaśūkararūpa jaya jagadīśa hare) Gītagovinda 1.

8) A particular measure.

9) Name of Varāhamihira

1) Name of one of the 18 Purāṇas.

11) A mountain; L. D. B.

12) A coin; L. D. B.

13) A kind of grass; L. D. B.

Derivable forms: varāhaḥ (वराहः).

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Vārāha (वाराह).—a. (- f.) [वराहस्येदं प्रियत्वात् अण् (varāhasyedaṃ priyatvāt aṇ)] Relating to a boar; वाराहीमात्मयोनेस्तनुमवनविधावास्थितस्यानुरूपाम् (vārāhīmātmayonestanumavanavidhāvāsthitasyānurūpām) Mu.7. 19; Y.1.259; शक्तिः साप्याययौ तत्र वाराहीं विभ्रती तनुम् (śaktiḥ sāpyāyayau tatra vārāhīṃ vibhratī tanum) Devīmāhātmya.

-haḥ 1 A boar.

2) A kind of tree.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Varāha (वराह).—m.

(-haḥ) 1. A hog. 2. A name of Vishnu in the third Avatar or descent, in which be assumed the shape of a boar. 3. A bull. 4. A ram. 5. A cloud. 6. A crocodile. 7. An array of troops in the form of a hog. 8. A mountain. 9. A fragrant grass, (Cyperus.) 10. A particular measure. 11. One of the eighteen smaller Dwipas or divisions of the universe. E. vara best, han to injure, with āṅ prefix, and ḍa aff.

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Vārāha (वाराह).—mfn.

(-haḥ-hī-haṃ) Relating to a boar, belonging to, derived from, &c. f. (-hī) 1. An esculent root, a Yam, (Dioscorea.) 2. One of the divine mothers. 3. A measure. 4. The earth. 5. A sow. E. varāha a hog or Vishnu in that form, &c., aṇ aff. and ṅīp, fem. form.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Varāha (वराह).—m. 1. A hog, [Pañcatantra] 120, 14. 2. Viṣṇu, who assumed in his third avatāra, or descent, the shape of a boar, [Uttara Rāmacarita, 2. ed. Calc., 1862.] 132, 6. 3. A form of marching an army, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 7, 187. 4. A mountain. 5. A sort of measure. 6. One of the smaller Dvīpas, or divisions of the world.

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Vārāha (वाराह).—i. e. varaha + a, I. adj. Relating to a boar, boarish, [Johnson's Selections from the Mahābhārata.] 93, 52. Ii. f. . 1. A sow. 2. The earth. 3. One of the divine mothers. 4. A measure. 5. An esculent root, Dioscorea.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Varāha (वराह).—[masculine] boar, hog; a cert. array of troops, [Epithet] of Viṣṇu.

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Vārāha (वाराह).—[feminine] ī relating to a boar (Viṣṇu), boarish, made of hog’s leather, etc.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

1) Varāha (वराह) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—Often abridged from Varāhamihira.

2) Varāha (वराह):—a contemporary of Śāśvata. Mentioned at the end of his Kośa.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Varāha (वराह):—m. (derivation doubtful) a boar, hog, pig, wild boar, [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc. (ifc. it denotes, ‘superiority, pre-eminence’; See [gana] vyāghrādi)

2) a cloud, [Naighaṇṭuka, commented on by Yāska i, 10]

3) a bull, [Colebrooke]

4) a ram, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

5) Delphinus Gangeticus, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

6) Name of Viṣṇu in his third or boar-incarnation (cf. varāhāvatāra), [Taittirīya-āraṇyaka; Mahābhārata] etc.

7) an array of troops in the form of a boar, [Manu-smṛti vii, 187]

8) a [particular] measure, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

9) Cyperus Rotundus, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

10) yam, manioc-root, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

11) = varāha-purāṇa and hopaniṣad (q.v.)

12) Name of a Daitya, [Mahābhārata]

13) of a Muni, [ib.]

14) of various authors (also with paṇḍita and śarman), [Catalogue(s)]

15) abridged [from] varāha-mihira, [ib.; Uṇādi-sūtra [Scholiast or Commentator]]

16) of the son of a guardian of a temple, [Rājataraṅgiṇī]

17) of a mountain, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa]

18) of one of the 18 Dvīpas, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

19) Vārāha (वाराह):—mf(ī)n. ([from] varāha) coming from or belonging to a boar (with upānahau [dual number] shoes made of pig’s leather; with māṃsa n. pig’s flesh), [Brāhmaṇa; Yājñavalkya] etc.

20) relating to the Boar form of Viṣṇu, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.

21) taught or composed by Varāha id est. Varāha-mihira (See [compound])

22) m. ‘the Boar’ (id est. Viṣṇu in his third incarnation, as a varāha q.v.), [Mahābhārata; Pañcarātra] ([varia lectio] varāha)

23) a banner with the representation of a boar, [Mahābhārata]

24) a kind of bulbous plant, Dioscorea (cf. -kanda)

25) Name of a mountain, [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa] ([varia lectio] varāh)

26) [plural] Name of a school of the Black Yajur-veda, [Harṣacarita; Āryavidyā-sudhākara]

27) n. Name of a Sāman (vārāham uttaram), [Ārṣeya-brāhmaṇa]

28) of a Tīrtha, [Mahābhārata]

29) = varāha-dvīpa, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Varāha (वराह):—[varā+ha] (haḥ) 1. m. A hog; Vishnu's 3rd incarnation; a mountain; a grass; a measure; one of the divisions of the universe.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Varāha (वराह) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Varāha, Vārāha.

[Sanskrit to German]

Varaha in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

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Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

1) Varāha (वराह) [Also spelled varah]:—(nm) a boar, pig; —[avatāra] one of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu.

2) Vārāha (वाराह) [Also spelled varah]:—(a) of or related with a boar.

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Prakrit-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary

1) Varāha (वराह) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Varāha.

2) Vārāha (वाराह) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Vārāha.

context information

Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Varaha (ವರಹ):—

1) [noun] the hog Sus scrofa from which domestic hogs are derived; wild boar.

2) [noun] the domesticated hog; a pig.

3) [noun] (hist.) a monetary coin of gold, being in currency at different periods having different weight and value.

4) [noun] the weight of this, as a unit.

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Varahā (ವರಹಾ):—[noun] = ವರಹ [varaha].

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Varāha (ವರಾಹ):—

1) [noun] the hog Sus scrofa from which domestic hogs are derived; wild boar.

2) [noun] the domesticated hog; a pig.

3) [noun] the third of the ten incarnations of Viṣṇu, in which he took the form of a wild boar.

4) [noun] Viṣṇu, who took this form.

5) [noun] (hist.) a monetary coin of gold, being in currency at different periods having different weight and value.

6) [noun] name of a mountain in Āndhra Pradēsh.

7) [noun] one of the eighteen major Purāṇas.

8) [noun] a particular kind of military array.

9) [noun] a unit of measure (of capacity).

10) [noun] a male sheep.

11) [noun] an ox; a bull.

12) [noun] a crocodile.

13) [noun] a cloud.

14) [noun] the grass Cyperus rotundus ( = C. hexastachyus) of Cyperaceae family; nut grass; sedge.

15) [noun] the plant Dioscorea globosa of Dioscoreaceae family.

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Vārāha (ವಾರಾಹ):—

1) [adjective] of or relating to a a boar, hog.

2) [adjective] of or relating to the incarnation of Viṣṇu, as a boar.

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Vārāha (ವಾರಾಹ):—

1) [noun] a boar; a hog.

2) [noun] Viṣṇu, incarnated in the form of a boar.

3) [noun] name of one of the eighteen major Purāṇas.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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