The Divine Boar Incarnation: Varaha and His Significance in
Hindu Mythology
Varaha Dev is the white Boar incarnation of Lord Shri Krishna,
the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Whenever there is a
discrepancy in the religious principles followed by the living
entities in the material world, the Lord advents and
re-establishes religiosity and kills the miscreants. He is the
maintainer of the entire universe and comes personally to
protect His devotees from great difficulties. The devotees of
the Lord always remain engaged in His devotional service and
thus experience the highest form of spiritual bliss.
Which demon was killed by Varaha?
The pastime of Lord Varaha killing a demon is elaborately
mentioned in the third Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. There were
two demoniac brothers named Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha, the
sons of Kashyap Muni. They bore uncommon bodily features and
thus flaunted their supremacy everywhere. Their bodies grew just
like mountains, touching the sky, and they blocked the view in
all directions. The demon Hiranyaksha once upon a time exploited
enough gold from the earth, causing it to go out of orbit. The
planet then fell into the causal ocean. Seeing this, Lord
Brahma, the creator of the universe, was thinking about how to
lift the earth from the ocean. He prayed to the Supreme Lord,
who then took the form of a small white boar and came out from
his nostril. He then grew taller and taller and looked like a
gigantic elephant. The Lord dived into the ocean and took the
earth on His tusk and lifted it. He then looked at the
Hiranyaksha demon with His eyes full of rage and killed him in
the water.
What does Varaha symbolize?
The word Varaha is a Sanskrit term that translates into “Boar”.
The Acharyas in the path of Bhakti explain that the Supreme Lord
took the form of a boar to exhibit His extraordinary potency and
to show that out of love and care towards His devotees, He can
assume any form to carry out the purpose of relieving them from
the danger of demons or non-devotees. The special form of Varaha
Dev symbolizes the victory of righteousness over evil. The Lord
never fails to reciprocate with His devotees who remain always
absorbed in His thoughts.
Although the Supreme Lord Krishna took the form of a boar, it is
not to be mistaken as a material form that eventually perishes.
The Lord is eternally situated in His spiritual form which is
full of bliss and knowledge. When Lord Varaha Dev defeated
Hiranyaksha and killed him, He returned to His own abode in the
spiritual abode. All the demigods, knowing that no one is equal
or greater than the Lord, offered their respectful obeisance to
Him and sang His glories.
How to keep a Brass statue well-maintained?
Brass statues are known and appreciated for their exquisite beauty and luster. The brilliant bright gold appearance of Brass makes it appropriate for casting aesthetic statues and sculptures. Brass is a metal alloy composed mainly of copper and zinc. This chemical composition makes brass a highly durable and corrosion-resistant material. Due to these properties, Brass statues and sculptures can be kept both indoors as well as outdoors. They also last for many decades without losing all their natural shine.
Brass statues can withstand even harsh weather conditions very well due to their corrosion-resistance properties. However, maintaining the luster and natural beauty of brass statues is essential if you want to prolong their life and appearance.
- The best and simplest way to maintain a brass statue is to clean it at least twice a week using a soft cloth or cotton rag. This will prevent dust from accumulating on the surface. Dusting is especially important for outdoor statues since it is prone to dust accumulation much more than indoors.
- To give a natural shine and luster to the statue, you may apply coconut or olive oil using cotton on every portion. You can use a toothbrush to get to the small crevices but do not be too harsh. This will make the brass statue appear fresh and new with a polished look.
In case you have a colored brass statue, you may apply mustard oil using a soft brush or clean cloth on the brass portion while for the colored portion of the statue, you may use coconut oil with a cotton cloth.
Brass idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses are especially known for their intricate and detailed work of art. Nepalese sculptures are famous for small brass idols portraying Buddhist deities. These sculptures are beautified with gold gilding and inlay of precious or semi-precious stones. Religious brass statues can be kept at home altars. You can keep a decorative brass statue in your garden or roof to embellish the area and fill it with divinity.