Once there were two powerful Asura brothers named Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu. Through severe penance, they had obtained boons from Lord Brahma, which made them invincible to gods and men. With this newfound strength, they managed to chase the Devas away from Svarga (heaven) and unleashed a reign of terror across the universe. The two brothers, drunk with power, spread fear and chaos wherever they went, and nobody—neither gods nor mortals—was safe.
Hiranyaksha, the older of the two, devised a plan to ensure the Devas could never regain their strength. He realized that the Devas drew power from the Havis (offerings) given by mortals during sacrifices. Determined to cut off this divine sustenance, he sank the entire Earth (Bhoomi Devi) into the cosmic ocean, burying it deep beneath the waters. Without a stable world, creation could not continue, and Brahma, the creator, found himself unable to fulfill his divine task.
In desperation, Brahma and the Devas turned to Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the universe, and beseeched him to rescue the Earth. Only Vishnu had the power to stop the two Asuras because of their unique origin. The brothers were not ordinary demons—they were, in fact, the reincarnations of Jaya and Vijaya, two Gandharvas (celestial beings) who had once been the doorkeepers of Vaikunta, Vishnu’s abode.
The Curse of Jaya and Vijaya
The story of Jaya and Vijaya began when they were tasked with guarding the entrance to Vaikunta. One day, as Vishnu was spending time with his consort Lakshmi, the four Sanat Kumaras, ancient sages who embodied eternal youth, came to visit him. Jaya and Vijaya, in their pride, refused to allow the sages entry, believing it improper to disturb Vishnu. Despite the sages’ insistence, the doorkeepers barred their way, provoking the sages’ wrath.
The Sanat Kumaras cursed Jaya and Vijaya for their arrogance, saying, “Since you have grown drunk with power and blocked our entry, may you fall from your position in Vaikunta. You will be born on Earth and will toil as mortals.”
When Vishnu emerged and understood the situation, he tried to appease the sages, but the curse was already cast. Jaya and Vijaya pleaded with Vishnu to save them, but even he could not lift the curse. However, Vishnu offered them a choice: they could either be born as virtuous mortals and remain his devotees for seven lifetimes, or they could be born as Asuras, his enemies, for three lifetimes and be slain by him in each birth.
Jaya and Vijaya chose the latter, preferring a shorter duration of suffering even if it meant being Vishnu’s adversaries.
| Characters | Role in the Story | Mythological Connections |
|---|---|---|
| Jaya and Vijaya | Doorkeepers of Vaikunta cursed to be born as Asuras | Their fall from grace mirrors other divine beings punished for arrogance, such as Indra’s losses due to pride in various myths |
| Sanat Kumaras | Eternal sages who cursed Jaya and Vijaya | Represent knowledge and eternal youth, often teaching humility to gods and beings in different tales |
Thus, Jaya and Vijaya were born as Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu in their first Asura incarnation. Vishnu, aware of their fate, knew he must end their reign of terror. To restore the balance of the universe, Vishnu incarnated as Varaha, a mighty boar.
The Varaha Avatar: Raising the Earth
Taking the form of a colossal boar (Varaha), Vishnu plunged into the cosmic ocean to retrieve the Earth. He found Bhoomi Devi (the Earth goddess) submerged and languishing at the ocean’s depths. Using his massive tusks, Vishnu lifted the Earth onto his snout and began ascending toward the surface, determined to restore her to her rightful place in the cosmos.
However, Hiranyaksha, enraged by Vishnu’s interference, intercepted Varaha and challenged him. What followed was one of the greatest battles of all time, with the Devas and sages watching from above. Varaha, with Bhoomi Devi balanced on his thigh, fought fiercely against the demon. In the end, Vishnu gored Hiranyaksha with his tusks, killing him and restoring the Earth to its position in the universe.
| Avatar | Significance | Mythological Connections |
|---|---|---|
| Varaha (Boar) | Vishnu’s incarnation to rescue the Earth from the ocean | Varaha’s role as the preserver reflects Vishnu’s ongoing mission to restore cosmic order, like in his later avatars, Rama and Krishna |
| Hiranyaksha | Asura who sank the Earth and was slain by Varaha | His story mirrors the arrogance of other demons like Ravana and Mahishasura, who are ultimately defeated by divine avatars |
The Birth of Narakasura
While Vishnu was engaged in the fierce battle with Hiranyaksha, Bhoomi Devi, cradled on his thigh, conceived a son. This child, born from the fierce energies of the battle, was an Asura named Narakasura. Although born from the Earth and Vishnu’s divine presence, Narakasura’s nature leaned towards the Asura side due to the circumstances of his birth during a battle. He would later be known for his own reign of terror and was ultimately slain by Vishnu in his incarnation as Krishna.
Narakasura’s birth story connects to the larger theme of divine justice, as even the children of gods can fall to arrogance and tyranny, similar to the fates of Ravana or Kumbhakarna.
The Story of Hiranyakashipu and the Narasimha Avatar
With Hiranyaksha slain, the focus shifted to Hiranyakashipu, the younger of the two brothers. After his brother’s death, Hiranyakashipu vowed vengeance against Vishnu. He performed severe austerities and received a boon from Brahma that made him virtually indestructible. His boon protected him from death by man or beast, by any weapon, during the day or night, indoors or outdoors, on the ground or in the sky. This boon made Hiranyakashipu invincible, and he too unleashed terror upon the world.
However, Vishnu incarnated once again, this time as Narasimha (the man-lion), to fulfill his cosmic duty. Narasimha killed Hiranyakashipu at twilight (neither day nor night), at the threshold of a palace (neither indoors nor outdoors), by placing him on his thigh (neither on the ground nor in the sky), and using his claws (neither a weapon nor an ordinary object).
| Connection Between Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu | Divine Justice in the Avatars |
|---|---|
| Both Asuras were born from the curse of Jaya and Vijaya | Vishnu’s incarnations as Varaha and Narasimha demonstrate his role in maintaining cosmic order by neutralizing threats to dharma |
Legacy of the Varaha Avatar
The Varaha avatar is one of Vishnu’s earliest incarnations, highlighting his role as the protector and preserver of cosmic balance. The act of saving the Earth from the cosmic ocean reflects a larger pattern seen in many of Vishnu’s later avatars—restoring order by combating chaos. Like in his incarnations as Rama, who defeated Ravana, and Krishna, who destroyed Kamsa, Vishnu’s intervention as Varaha represents the timeless struggle between good (Dharma) and evil (Adharma).
Thus, the Varaha avatar’s story, along with the battle against Hiranyaksha and the subsequent events leading to the birth of Narakasura, weaves into the larger fabric of Hindu mythology, where divine intervention is necessary to correct the balance of power between Devas, Asuras, and the mortal world.