Varaha Lifts Mother Earth

This happened when the world was still being made. Brahma ji was creating everything. He first made the first humans, Swayambhuv Manu and Shatarupa. Manu folded his hands and asked, "Father, where shall we live? The earth is sunk deep under the water."

Brahma ji became worried. Who could bring the earth out of the water? In his heart, he remembered Bhagwan Vishnu.

Just then, something amazing happened. Out of Brahma ji's nose came a tiny varaha, a boar. It was as small as the tip of a thumb! Everyone stared. In a moment it grew as big as an elephant, then as big as a mountain, and then so big that it seemed to touch the sky.

Brahma ji and the rishis said in wonder, "This is no ordinary creature. This is Bhagwan Vishnu himself!" Varaha Bhagwan gave a mighty roar. Hearing it, all the rishis felt happy and began to sing Vedic hymns.

Varaha Bhagwan looked all around. He could not see the earth, so he sniffed with his nose to find its smell. Then he leapt into the deep ocean, and the waves parted in two.

He went down, very far down, to the bottom of the ocean. There he found Mother Earth, Bhudevi. Varaha Bhagwan lifted her onto his tusks with great love and care, just as an elephant lifts a lotus flower out of a pond.

As he was coming up with the earth, a proud asura named Hiranyaksha came to stop him. But Varaha Bhagwan defeated him easily.

Varaha Bhagwan brought the earth up above the water and set her down gently and steadily. The rishis cheered for him and showered flowers. Now mountains, rivers, trees, animals, birds and people could all live on the earth.

That is why we call the earth "Dharti Maa", Mother Earth. In many homes even today, before stepping out of bed in the morning, people touch the ground and bow, saying in their hearts, "Mother, I am going to step on you. Please forgive me."

Just as Varaha Bhagwan lifted Mother Earth with love, we too can take care of her by planting trees, saving water and not throwing litter around.