वराहः
English meaning: boar; pig
Definition
A boar or pig. Varāha is the third avatar of Viṣṇu, who lifted the earth out of the cosmic ocean on his tusks.
Example
“वराहः कर्दमे शेते।”
In English: “The boar lies in the mud.”
Another example: “वराहः दंष्ट्रया भूमिम् उद्धरति।”
Usage — When, Where & How
Used from the Vedic age onward, both for the wild boar and, capitalised, for Viṣṇu's third avatar. Belongs to mythological and everyday vocabulary; the avatar sense dominates devotional texts and iconography.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From varā 'choicest, best' + √हन् (han) 'to strike' (or √हृ 'to bear'); traditionally explained as 'the best one' or 'one who strikes with the snout'.
Synonyms
- शूकरः
- पोत्री
- क्रोडः
- किरिः
Related Words
- विष्णुः
- अवतारः
- दंष्ट्रा
- पृथिवी
Common Collocations
- वराहावतारः
- आदिवराहः
- वराहरूपम्
- यज्ञवराहः
Word Forms
m., a-stem; nom. वराहः, acc. वराहम्, instr. वराहेण, gen. वराहस्य
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“मन्दः कवियशः प्रार्थी गमिष्याम्युपहास्यताम्। प्रांशुलभ्ये फले लोभादुद्बाहुरिव वामनः।।”
/Mandah kaviyashah prarthhi gamishyamyupahasytam. Pramshu-labhe phale lobhadud-bahur iva vamanah./
“Feeble-minded yet aspiring to a poet's fame, I go to be ridiculed — like a dwarf reaching for high fruit.”
“रामो विग्रहवान् धर्मः साधुः सत्यपराक्रमः”
/Ramo vigrahavan dharmah sadhuh satya-parakramah/
“Rama is righteousness incarnate — virtuous and true in valour.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- संस्कृतम्
- Sanskrit
- Script
- Devanagari
- Family
- Indo-Aryan
- Speakers
- 5M