Varaha Stotram
श्री आदिवराह स्तोत्रम्
What is the Varaha Stotram?
Varaha Stotram The Varaha Stotram is an eight verse Sanskrit hymn from the Skanda Purana in which Bhu Devi, the earth herself, praises Lord Varaha after he lifts her out of the cosmic ocean and frees her from the demon Hiranyaksha.
When the demon Hiranyaksha dragged the earth into the depths of the primeval ocean, Vishnu took the form of Varaha, a boar strong enough to reach into those waters, and raised her back into place. This stotram is Bhu Devi’s own reply to that rescue. Found in the Venkatachala Mahatmya section of the Skanda Purana, the section that also tells the sacred history of the Tirumala hill, it is a short, direct prayer of gratitude spoken by the earth goddess to the one who lifted her.
Varaha Stotram Lyrics
Eight verses in Sanskrit, given in Devanagari and plain transliteration, from the Venkatachala Mahatmya section of the Skanda Purana.
namaste deva devesha varahavadanachyuta
ksheerasagarasankasha vajrashringa mahabhuja
नमस्ते देवदेवेश वराहवदनाऽच्युत ।
क्षीरसागरसङ्काश वज्रशृङ्ग महाभुज ॥ १ ॥
Meaning
Bhu Devi bows first. She calls Varaha the unfailing lord of lords, boar-faced, glowing like the ocean of milk, mighty-armed, with a tusk hard as diamond.
uddhritaasmi tvaya deva kalpadau sagarambhasah
sahasrabahuna vishno dharayami jagantyaham
उद्धृतास्मि त्वया देव कल्पादौ सागरराम्भसः ।
सहस्रबाहुना विष्णो धारयामि जगन्त्यहम् ॥ २ ॥
Meaning
She recalls the rescue directly: you lifted me from the ocean's waters at the start of this cosmic age. Held up on your thousand arms, she says, I in turn hold up all the worlds.
anekadivyabharana yajnasutraviraajita
arunarunaambaradhara divyaratnavibhushita
अनेकदिव्याभरणयज्ञसूत्रविराजित । अरुणारुणाम्बरधर दिव्यरत्नविभूषित ॥ ३ ॥
Meaning
She describes his form: adorned with countless divine ornaments and the sacred thread of sacrifice, dressed in robes that glow reddish like dawn, set with radiant gems.
udyadbhanupratikasha padapadma namo namah
balachandraabha damshtraagra mahabalaparakrama
उद्यद्भानुप्रतीकाशपादपद्म नमो नमः ।
बालचन्द्राभदंष्ट्राग्र महाबलपराक्रम ॥ ४ ॥
Meaning
She bows again and again to his lotus feet, bright as the rising sun, and to the tusk curved like a crescent moon, the mark of his unmatched strength.
divyachandanaliptaanga taptakaanchanakundala
indraneelamanidyoti hemaangadavibhushita
दिव्यचन्दनलिप्ताङ्ग तप्तकाञ्चनकुण्डल ।
इन्द्रनीलमणिद्योतिहेमाङ्गदविभूषित ॥ ५ ॥
Meaning
His limbs are smeared with fine sandal paste, his ears set with earrings of heated gold, and golden armlets on his arms shine with sapphire.
vajradamshtraagranirbhinna hiranyaksha mahabala
pundareekaabhitaamraksha saamasvanamanohara
वज्रदंष्ट्राग्रनिर्भिन्न हिरण्याक्ष महाबल ।
पुण्डरीकाभिताम्राक्ष सामस्वनमनोहर ॥ ६ ॥
Meaning
This is the verse that names the demon directly: with the tip of your diamond tusk you tore through Hiranyaksha, mighty one. His eyes are lotus-red, and the chant of the Sama hymns pleases him.
shrutiseemantabhushatman sarvatman charuvikrama
chaturananashambhubhyam vanditaayatalochana
श्रुतिसीमन्तभूषात्मन् सर्वात्मन् चारुविक्रम ।
चतुराननशम्भुभ्यां वन्दिताऽऽयतलोचन ॥ ७ ॥
Meaning
The Vedas themselves rest on him like an ornament, for he is the self within all beings. Even four-faced Brahma and Shiva bow to this wide-eyed lord of graceful strength.
sarvavidyamayakara shabdateeta namo namah
aanandavigrahaananta kalakala namo namah
सर्वविद्यामयाकार शब्दातीत नमो नमः ।
आनन्दविग्रहाऽनन्त कालकाल नमो नमः ॥ ८ ॥
Meaning
The closing verse reaches beyond the physical rescue: he is the very form of all knowledge, beyond words, boundless bliss itself, death to death. Bhu Devi bows to him twice more before falling silent.
Meaning of the Varaha Stotram
Bhu Devi speaks every line of this stotram in her own voice. She tells Varaha that he lifted her from the ocean at the start of the kalpa, after Hiranyaksha had dragged her into its depths, and that she now rests on his thousand arms while he, through her, holds up all the worlds.
The middle verses turn to description: the tusk that tore through Hiranyaksha, the sandal paste and gold ornaments on Varaha’s limbs, the reddish glow of his robes. The final verses widen the frame, calling him the self within every being, beyond words, and the very form of bliss. The stotram ends the way it began, with obeisance, namo namah, repeated once more.
When to Chant the Varaha Stotram
- – Sit facing east or north in a clean, quiet space, ideally soon after sunrise.
- – Light a lamp and place a picture or idol of Lord Varaha before you if you have one.
- – Offer a brief prayer of intent, asking for protection and stability, especially over your home or land.
- – Chant the eight verses slowly, keeping the Sanskrit as close to the written text as you can.
- – Fold your hands and bow after the final verse, then sit quietly for a moment before you rise.
- – Chant it daily if you can, and without fail on Varaha Jayanti.
Benefits of Chanting the Varaha Stotram
Devotees turn to this stotram mainly around questions of land, home and steadiness, drawing on the story it tells.
- : It is believed to bring stability and protection to one's home and land, echoing Varaha's own act of holding the earth in place.
- : It is chanted to ease delays or disputes connected with property, construction or a house purchase.
- : Many recite it before a griha pravesh or before breaking ground on new land, seeking a settled and smooth start.
- : It is believed to strengthen courage and resolve, drawing on Varaha's victory over Hiranyaksha.
- : Regular recitation is said to steady the mind, a reminder that even the earth, once sunk into the ocean, was lifted and set right again.
- : It also serves simply as a prayer of gratitude to Vishnu in his role as protector of the world.
Origin of the Varaha Stotram
The Varaha Stotram comes from the Skanda Purana, from the section called the Venkatachala Mahatmya, which tells the sacred history of the Tirumala hill. In its first chapter, the earth goddess Bhu Devi, addressed here as Dharani, recalls how Varaha lifted her out of the cosmic ocean at the start of a kalpa, and she offers him these eight verses in return.
The story behind it reaches back further, to the demon Hiranyaksha, who is said to have dragged the earth down into the primeval waters. Vishnu took the form of Varaha, a boar with the strength to reach into that ocean, tore through Hiranyaksha with his tusk, and raised the earth back to her place. This stotram is Bhu Devi’s answer to that rescue, preserved with matching text across more than one manuscript tradition of the Purana.
The Venkatachala Mahatmya also ties Varaha to Tirumala directly. Local tradition holds that the shrine of Sri Varahaswami, near the temple tank at the foot of the hill, honors the older resident deity of the hill, and pilgrims traditionally visit it before they go on to Lord Venkateswara.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Varaha Stotram?
It is an eight verse Sanskrit hymn spoken by Bhu Devi, the earth, in praise of Lord Varaha after he rescues her from the cosmic ocean and from the demon Hiranyaksha.
Who composed the Varaha Stotram?
The Skanda Purana attributes it to Bhu Devi herself, called Dharani in the text, who speaks it directly to Varaha.
Which scripture is the Varaha Stotram from?
It appears in the Skanda Purana, in the Vaishnava Khanda, within the Venkatachala Mahatmya section that narrates the sacred history of the Tirumala hill.
How many verses does the Varaha Stotram have?
Eight numbered verses of praise, framed by a short opening line naming the speaker and a closing narrative line describing her bow, which are not counted as part of the stuti itself.
What is the story behind Lord Varaha and Hiranyaksha?
The demon Hiranyaksha dragged the earth into the depths of the ocean. Vishnu took the form of Varaha, a boar, tore through Hiranyaksha with his tusk, and lifted the earth back into place.
When should the Varaha Stotram be chanted?
It is chanted especially on Varaha Jayanti, and also before moving into a new home, buying land or starting construction, though daily recitation is also common.
What are the benefits of chanting the Varaha Stotram?
Devotees chant it seeking stability and protection for their home and land, courage, and relief from delays or disputes over property.
Is the Varaha Stotram connected to Tirupati?
Yes. It comes from the Venkatachala Mahatmya, the Puranic history of the Tirumala hill, where the shrine of Sri Varahaswami is traditionally visited before Lord Venkateswara's temple.
॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥