Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.3832

c9.3832

VAPUṢMATĪ. Daughter of the King of Sindhu. She became the wife of Mārutta. (Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa, 133). VAPUṢTAMĀ. The prominent queen of King Janamejaya. She was the daughter of Suvarṇavarmā, the King of Kāśī. (Devī Bhāgavata, Skandha 2). Vapuṣtamā had two sons, Śatānīka and Śaṅkukarṇa. (M.B. Ādi Parva, Chapter 95, Stanza 86). VARADA. A warrior of Subrahmaṇya. (Mahābhārata, Śalya Parva, Chapter 45, Stanza 64). VARADĀNA. A holy place near Dvārakā. It was here that Durvāsas gave Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa boons (Vara). From that day this became a holy place. It is mentioned in Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 82, that those who take bath in this holy place would obtain the fruits of giving a thousand cows as alms. VARADĀSAṄGAMA. A holy place. Those who take bath in this holy place would obtain the fruits of giving a thousand cows as alms. (M.B. Vana Parva, Chapter 85, Stanza 35). VARĀHA. An ancient hermit. It is mentioned in Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva, Chapter 4, Stanza 17, that this hermit stayed in the palace of Yudhiṣṭhira. VĀRĀHA II. 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. VARĀHA III. (Boar). One of the ten incarnations of Mahāviṣṇu.
1) 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. Even their birth itself was inauspicious. Once, while Kaśyapa was carrying on evening worship, his wife was filled with libid. She embraced Kaśyapa. Because she got pregnancy in an inauspicious moment, two asura sons were born. At the time of their birth darkness spread over the whole of the world, and some ill omens were seen. The Devas (gods) trembled. The elder son was called Hiraṇyākṣa and the second son was called Hiraṇyakaśipu. As Hiraṇyākṣa grew up he began to quarrel with the Devas. When the fight grew fierce, he picked up the earth in his hands as a ball and went under water. There was left only water. The Devas went to Mahāviṣṇu and prayed to him in order to get the earth back. At this time Manu Svāyambhuva, the son of Brahmā, was living with his father looking after his welfare. The father, who was pleased with the services of his son said. "My dear son, you should worship Devī, who will be pleased with your devotion and will bless you. If she is pleased with you, you will become a famous Prajāpati." Hearing the words of Brahmā, Svāyambhuva worshipped Devī with ardent devotion, deep meditation and severe vows and penance, at which Jagadambā was pleased. She appeared before him and asked him what boon he wanted. Manu requested that he should be permitted to carry on creation without any obstruction. Devī gave him permission. Manu returned to his father Brahmā and said. "Father, point out to me a solitary place. I will sit there and create subjects by the blessings of Devi." Only when he heard the request of his son, did Brahmā begin to think about the exigency of providing his son with such a place. For, the earth was completely under water. For a long time even Brahmā was being subjected to much inconvenience to carry on creation. Only Bhagavān Ādi Nārāyaṇa (Viṣṇu) could do anything in this matter. So Brahmā with the Manus, hermits and others began to meditate on Mahāviṣṇu.