The varaha puran
Chapter 1
Earth's enquiry about creation
Benedictory prayer
Bowing to Narayana, Nara, the greatest man, and goddess Saraswati, may Jaya be narrated. Adoration to the varaha(incarnation of God Vishnu) who lifts up the earth with ease and under whose hoofs the mount Meru(the golden mountain) tinkles. May the foremost God, varaha, dispel my foes; who is Krishna, Vishnu and the lord of gods; who is the enemy of the demon, Kamsa; who killed (the demons) Mura, Naraka and Ravana (in his different incarnations); who in his huge and extensive form, raised like a clod of clay, by the tip of his tusk, the Earth encircled by oceans and full of mountains and rivers. Suta(the purana narator) said: The Earth asked the supreme god(Vishnu) as to when in yore was she lifted up by the mighty god in the form of a boar. Earth said: In each Kalpa(cosmic age) O Lord, it is you that raise me up. And I do not know, O Keshava(Vishnu), your form in the first creation. Agan, when the Vedas, were stolen (by the demon Hayagriva) you in the form of a fish, entering Rasatala(the nether region) took them out and gave them to Brahma. Again, O Destroyer of the demon Madhu, on the occasion of churning the milky ocean jointly by gods and demons(for obtaining the divine nectar), you in the form of a tortoise, raised up the mountain Mandara(which formed the central churning rod) O illustratious lord of the worlds, you, again with one of your tusks lifted me, the Earth, from the deep ocean, when I was sinking down to the neather regions. Still again, by you(in your incarnation as Nrishmia(man lion)was destroyed the demon Hiranyakashapu who was haughty on account of the boon(bestowed by him by God Brahmha) who was tormenting the world.