VI. BHUR AND VARAHA

*SKANDHA III., CHAP. 13.* Said Manu to Brahma -- "I shall do thy behests, O Lord. But tell me where my Praja (progeny) and myself are to be located. The Bhur of the previous Kalpa where all beings found shelter is lost in the great ocean of Pralaya. Bestir thyself and raise it up, O Deva." Brahma thought within Himself what was to be done, when lo! out from His nostril came a Boar, no bigger than a thumb. In a moment the Boar assumed gigantic proportions and all space resounded with his roar. The dwellers of the Jana, Tapas and Satya Lokas worshipped Him by chanting the Mantras of the three Vedas. He roared once more for the good of the Devas and instantly plunged into the waters. Though an incarnation of Yajna, He tried to discover the Bhur by smelling like an ordinary animal. He dived down as far as Rasatala and there found the Bhur Loka. He then raised it up on His tusks. The Daitya King Hiranyaksha resisted and in rage the Boar killed him. The Rishis then worshipped Him knowing His true form to be Yajna. THOUGHTS ON THE ABOVE. [Bhur is the main system of Triloki. The Varaha Avatara restored the system after the Kalpa Pralaya. Bhur being the lowest of the Seven Lokas corresponds to Prithvi Tatva and hence to the sense of smell. The boar is pre-eminently the animal of smell. The materialisation of the Prithvi principle for the purpose of globe formation was an effort of the energy of the Logos and the _smelling_ out of Bhur by the Varaha is suggestive. The Globe evolution is preparatory to Monadic evolution. The pent up Karma of the previous Kalpa develops itself on the Globes. All beings are mutually interdependent for their evolution. They help one another in the work of evolution, and one makes sacrifices that the others may grow. Some have to wait, till others come forward. Then they become united in the further race for progress. This great cosmic process, this mutual sacrifice is Yajna itself, which is typified in the Boar Incarnation. The Vedic Yajna gives prominence to the Communion of men with Devas, as at the early stages this is an all important fact of evolution. The Varaha is called the first Yajna Avatara and all the parts of His body are named with reference to Vedic Yajna, as He by raising Bhur prepared the field for Karma.]