Divine Boar Rescues Submerged Earth

Witness Narayana's cosmic creation as Brahma awakens and takes boar form. Earth praises the divine, yogis extol his sacrifice, and the world rises anew in this Vishnu Purana epic. 

Introduction

Maitreya asked the sage Parāśara, "Tell me, mighty sage, how Nārāyaņa, also known as Brahmā, created all existing things at the beginning of this Kalpa (cosmic cycle)."

Parāśara replied, "I will explain how the divine Brahmā, who is one with Nārāyaņa, created his offspring and earned the title 'lord of progeny' (Prajāpati)."

The Awakening of Brahmā

At the end of the previous Kalpa (the Pādma Kalpa), the divine Brahmā awoke from his cosmic sleep. He saw that the universe was empty. Brahmā, who is the supreme Nārāyana, is beyond comprehension. He is the sovereign of all creatures, the god without beginning, and the creator of all things.

An ancient verse describes Nārāyaņa's name:

"The waters are called Nara, as they come from Nara (the supreme spirit). Since Nārāyaņa's first movement was on these waters, he is named Nārāyaņa (one who moves on the waters)."

The Earth's Rescue

Brahmā realized the earth was submerged in the cosmic waters. Wishing to raise it, he took on a new form. In previous Kalpas, he had become a fish or a tortoise. This time, he took the shape of a boar.

This form embodied the essence of Vedic sacrifices. It was meant to preserve the whole earth. The eternal, supreme soul – the great creator of all beings – was praised by saints like Sanaka who live in Janaloka (the realm of holy beings). Then, Brahmā, who supports both spiritual and material existence, plunged into the ocean.

The Earth Goddess Praises Nārāyaņa

Seeing Nārāyaņa descend to the lower realms, the Earth goddess bowed in devotion and praised him:

"Hail to you, who are all creatures! You who hold the mace and shell, please lift me up as you have done before. I come from you, I am made of you, as are the skies and all things. Hail to you, spirit of the supreme spirit, soul of all souls! You are both visible and invisible matter, one with the elements and time itself.

You create, preserve, and destroy all things as Brahmā, Vișņu, and Rudra. After consuming everything, you rest on the cosmic ocean, contemplated by the wise. No one truly knows your nature. The gods worship you in the forms you choose to take. Those seeking final liberation worship you as the supreme Brahmā. Who can attain freedom without worshipping Vāsudeva? Everything that can be thought, sensed, or understood is a form of you.

I am yours, supported by you. You created me, and I seek refuge in you. That's why in this universe, I am called Madhavi (the bride of Madhava or Visnu). Glory to the essence of all wisdom, the unchanging and imperishable! Glory to the eternal, to that which is both formed and formless, cause and effect! Glory to the sinless lord of sacrifice! You are the sacrifice, the offering, the sacred syllable Om, the sacrificial fires, the Vedas, and their related sciences. You, Hari, are the object of all worship."

"You are the sun, the stars, the planets, and the entire world. You are everything formless and formed, visible and invisible. You are all that I have mentioned and all that I haven't, Supreme One. Hail to you, again and again! All hail!"

The Boar's Response

Parāśara continued the narrative:

After being praised by the Earth, the world's auspicious supporter made a low murmuring sound, reminiscent of Sama Veda chants. This mighty boar had lotus-like eyes and a vast body as dark as lotus leaves, resembling the Nila mountain. He lifted the Earth from the lowest regions upon his great tusks.

As he raised his head, water droplets from his brow purified the great sages like Sanandana, who reside in the realm of saints. Water rushed into the lower worlds through the marks made by his hoofs, creating a thunderous noise. His breath scattered the pious inhabitants of Janaloka. The sages sought shelter among the bristles on the boar's body, which was inscribed with sacred texts. They trembled as he rose, supporting the Earth and dripping with moisture.

The Yogis' Praise

The great sages, including Sanandana, who continually dwell in the realm of saints, were filled with joy. Bowing low, they praised the stern-eyed upholder of the Earth:

"Triumph, lord of lords supreme! Oh Kesava, sovereign of the Earth, wielder of the mace, shell, discus, and sword! You are the cause of creation, destruction, and existence. Oh god, there is no supreme state other than you.

Lord, you embody sacrifice itself:

• Your feet are the Vedas

• Your tusks are the stake binding the sacrificial victim

• Your teeth hold the offerings

• Your mouth is the altar

• Your tongue is the sacred fire

• The hairs of your body are the sacrificial grass

Oh omnipotent one:

• Your eyes are day and night

• Your head is the seat of all, Brahma's dwelling place

• Your mane contains all Vedic hymns

• Your nostrils are all oblations

• Your snout is the ladle of oblation

• Your deep voice is the chanting of the Sama Veda

• Your body is the hall of sacrifice

• Your joints are the various ceremonies

• Your ears represent both voluntary and obligatory rites

Eternal one, as vast as a mountain, be merciful to us. We recognize you, who has traversed the world, as the universal form – the beginning, continuation, and end of all things. You are the supreme god. Have pity on us, oh lord of conscious and unconscious beings.

We see the Earth balanced on the tip of your tusk, as if you had been playing in a lotus-filled lake and carried away soil-covered leaves. Your body fills the space between heaven and earth. Oh unparalleled glorious one, you shine with the power to pervade the universe, benefiting all.

You are everyone's goal; there is no other sovereign of the world but you. This is your might, which pervades all things, fixed or movable. This form we now see is your form, one with wisdom itself. Those who haven't practiced devotion misunderstand the world's nature. The ignorant, who don't realize this universe is made of wisdom and see it only as an object of perception, are lost in the ocean of spiritual ignorance. But those who know true wisdom and have pure minds see this whole world as one with divine knowledge, as one with you, oh god.

Be favorable, oh universal spirit: raise up this Earth as a home for created beings. Inscrutable deity with lotus-like eyes, grant us happiness. Oh lord imbued with goodness, Govinda, lift this Earth for the common good. Bless us with joy, oh lotus-eyed one. May your creative activity benefit the Earth. We salute you. Grant us happiness, oh lotus-eyed one."

The Earth Raised

Parāśara continued:

After being thus praised, the supreme being, still holding the Earth, quickly raised it and placed it on top of the ocean. There it floats like a mighty vessel, its vast surface preventing it from sinking beneath the waters.

Having leveled the Earth, the great eternal deity divided it using mountains. With his irresistible power, he who never acts in vain recreated those mountains on Earth that had been consumed during the world's destruction.

He then divided the Earth into seven great continents, as it was before. In the same manner, he constructed the four lower spheres: Earth, sky, heaven, and the sphere of the sages (Maharloka).

Thus, Hari, the four-faced god imbued with the quality of activity, took the form of Brahmā and completed the creation. However, Brahmā is only the instrumental cause of things to be created. The things capable of being created arise from nature as a common material cause. Except for one instrumental cause, no other cause is needed, for imperceptible substance becomes perceptible substance according to its inherent powers.

Thus concludes the fourth chapter of the first part of the Vishnu Purana.