Hiraṇyāksha Vadha

The Hiraṇyāksha Vadha is told in the 3rd Skanda of the Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, Chapters 17–19. It tells of the birth of Hiraṇyāksha and Hiraṇyakaśipu, the sons of Diti and Kaśyapa. They were the first birth in the mortal world of Jaya and Vijaya, the gatekeepers of Vaikuṇṭha. It tells how Hiraṇyāksha won the three worlds and how Bhagavān Vishṇu, in his avatāra (descent) as Varāha, killed him. The battle between Varāha and Hiraṇyāksha in the cosmic ocean is one of the great scenes of the 3rd Skanda. It shows dharma winning over adharma at the very beginning of creation.

Birth of Hiraṇyāksha and Hiraṇyakaśipu

The birth of the two sons of Diti and Kaśyapa came with fearful signs in all creation. The Bhāgavatam says the mountains shook with earthquakes. Volcanoes burst out without cause. The ocean rose past its shores. Meteors fell, wild storms blew, and clouds glowing with fire rolled across the sky. Animals wept and cried out with ill-omened sounds.

Hiraṇyakaśipu was the elder in age, because the first soul, Vijaya, entered the womb first. Hiraṇyāksha was born first, because he had gone lower in the womb. From their birth they grew with unnatural speed. Their bodies were covered in natural gold. They were very tall and full of the power of the asuras.

Hiraṇyāksha conquers the three worlds

For countless births Hiraṇyāksha had been a guardian of Vaikuṇṭha, and a warrior’s hunger had built up in him. He took up his terrible gadā (mace) and set out to find an opponent worthy of him. He first went up to Svargaloka, the world of the devas. He challenged Indra and all the devas to fight. The devas could not face his terrible power. They fled from svarga (heaven) and hid. Devaloka was left empty.

He found no good fight there. He went down to the realm of Varuṇa, the lord of the ocean and guardian of the cosmic waters. He challenged Varuṇa with pride. The Bhāgavatam speaks of Varuṇa as one who gave up all desire to fight after he realised Bhagavān Vishṇu. Varuṇa answered with gentle wisdom: “I am no match for you, great hero. No being now born in the universe can match your strength. Go and find Bhagavān Vishṇu in the form of Varāha. He alone is worthy to fight you.”

The descent to the cosmic ocean

Hiraṇyāksha had dragged the earth down to the depths of the cosmic ocean, the garbhodaka. He stood there in the dark waters and waited. The earth lay under the water, and all beings that depend on it faced dissolution. At this point in the narrative Maitreya explains how the Varāha avatāra is linked to this episode. Bhagavān Vishṇu had already appeared as Varāha in answer to the prayers of Brahmā and of Manu for the earth to be set right.

The challenge and the battle

Varāha began to rise from the waters with the earth on his tusk. Hiraṇyāksha blocked his way. He mocked Varāha: “Where are you going, beast of the forest? Do you think you can get away with the earth? Come and fight, unless you are afraid.” The Bhāgavatam records sharp taunts from both sides. Both showed fierce dignity as the battle began between the greatest asura and the avatāra of Bhagavān Vishṇu.

They fought in the cosmic ocean with gadās (maces), great strength and clever moves. The fight was so fierce and so long that Brahmā himself came and spoke to Varāha: “O Bhagavān Varāha! Do not delay. The day (a cosmic unit of time, not a day of the sun) is coming to its close. The evening sandhyā is near, and in the sandhyā hour harmful forces grow stronger. Finish this quickly.”

The killing blow

Hiraṇyāksha hurled his great śūla (trident) at Varāha. The Sudarśana Cakra, turning and blazing, met it in the air and destroyed it. The battle went on. At last Bhagavān Varāha struck Hiraṇyāksha a backhand blow on the cheek with great force. Hiraṇyāksha spun round. His eyes rolled back and his mace fell from his hand. He fell down, and his life left him because of the blow.

The ṛshis and devas who had gathered showered flowers and sang hymns of praise. Brahmā spoke to the victorious Varāha with deep respect: “This was no ordinary asura. He was Jaya, your own faithful gatekeeper, who fell because of the śāpa (a curse) of the Sanatkumāras. By your hand, which acted as the means of the Kumāras’ śāpa, he has been made pure. He died with his mind fixed on your form. His liberation is sure.”

The return

Bhagavān Varāha then went back to Vaikuṇṭha. The earth was set back in its place above the cosmic waters. The episode ends with Brahmā and the great ṛshis praising this deed of Bhagavān Varāha. They praise it not only as a victory in battle but as a cosmic act of purification, by which even an enemy, dying with his mind on Bhagavān Varāha, reaches liberation.

Sources

• Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 3rd Skanda, Chapters 17–19 (Chapters 13 and 17 for Maitreya’s explanation of the Varāha avatāra)