I pulled the Varaha card this week, so we’ve landed on one of the most quietly powerful images in Hindu mythology: the Earth being lifted.

Varaha is the boar avatar of Vishnu, the preserver of the universe, who is said to appear whenever the world is in danger of being dragged down into the depths. In the classic story, the demon Hiranyaksha pulls the Earth beneath the cosmic waters. Vishnu takes the form of Varaha, dives into the darkness, defeats the chaos, and brings the Earth back up, balanced gently on his tusk.

It is a striking image, but it has started to feel like something much more than a myth to me lately. It feels like an image that relates directly to the nervous system.

When life feels heavy, when you’ve been ill for a week and everything is a fog, or when you are emotionally stuck under the surface, Varaha comes to lift you back up. It’s the reminder that you don’t always have to be the one doing the heavy lifting. Sometimes, the support you need is there, ready to dive into the murky depths and carry you back to solid ground.

Having rescued the world, Varaha returned to Vishnu’s abode for eternity. It is a beautiful metaphor for the nature of protection; it isn’t about ego or recognition, but an unwavering, quiet commitment to ensuring that life remains balanced.

A Mantra for Varaha

If you want to sit with this energy of being held and lifted, you might find this simple mantra helpful:

Om Namo Bhagavate Varāhāya
(Salutations to the Blessed Lord Varaha)

A Thought for the Week

If you catch yourself thinking that you should be doing better or coping better, please remember this: “Even the Earth gets lifted sometimes.”

Give yourself permission to be rescued, and allow yourself the space to return to the surface at your own pace.