Varaha Dvadasi: Appearance of Lord Varahadeva
Festival
All day
What is Varaha Dvadasi?
On Varaha Dvadasi devotees celebrate the appearance of Lord Varahadeva, the Lord in His form as a gigantic boar. At Kurukshetra the festival falls on Thursday, 18 February 2027, immediately after Bhaimi Ekadashi.
Significance
The Srimad-Bhagavatam describes how the earth sank into the Garbhodaka Ocean while Lord Brahma was occupied with creation. As Brahma considered what to do, a tiny boar, no bigger than the top of a thumb, came out of his nostril and grew before his eyes to the size of a great elephant. Lord Varahadeva lifted the earth on His tusks and killed the demon Hiranyaksa, who stood against Him.
Srila Prabhupada explains that the boar form was never material, and that His devotees found nothing fearful in it:
His body is always transcendental in all circumstances; therefore, the assumption of the form of a boar is only His pastime.
Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.13.28, purport
How to observe it
Devotees keep a half-day fast for Lord Varahadeva on the Ekadashi before, and hold the festival itself, with worship and a feast, on Dvadasi. Anyone who fasted on Bhaimi Ekadashi breaks the fast this morning at Kurukshetra, between 7:00 AM and 10:44 AM, and then takes the Lord's prasadam. It is also a fitting day to read the account of His appearance in Canto 3, chapter 13 of the Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Questions
When is Varaha Dvadasi in 2027?
Varaha Dvadasi is on Thursday, 18 February 2027, the day after Bhaimi Ekadashi on 17 February.
Who is Lord Varahadeva?
Lord Varahadeva is the boar incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He came out of Lord Brahma's nostril, lifted the earth out of the Garbhodaka Ocean and killed the demon Hiranyaksa.
How do devotees celebrate Varaha Dvadasi?
Devotees keep a half-day fast on the Ekadashi before, hold the festival on Dvadasi with worship and a feast, and read the Srimad-Bhagavatam's account of the Lord's appearance.
Why did the Lord appear as a boar?
The Lord took the form of a boar to lift the earth out of the Garbhodaka Ocean, into which it had sunk. Srila Prabhupada writes that this form is transcendental and is only His pastime.
Reviewed by ISKCON Kurukshetra · Updated
Key facts
- Date
- Thursday, 18 February 2027
- Appeared from
- The nostril of Lord Brahma
- Demon killed
- Hiranyaksa
- Told in
- Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 3, chapter 13
Seva for this day
Feed devotees and visitors on this holy day, or begin the Bhagavad-gita course with us.