Hrinyaksh was a mighty rakshas. His brother, Hrinyakashipu, was the king of the rakshasas. The world dreaded the brothers for their strength and cunning.Yet, Hrinyaksh got mad every time that he saw devatas getting stronger, thanks to the offerings made to them by people on Earth.
To deny devatas the offerings, Harinyaksh stole Earth and plunged with it into the ocean. Hiding in the underworld, he made sure that nobody could perform yagyas and make offerings to devatas.
As a result, the heavenly beings began to lose their power and glory.
Ancients Speak
Suman K Sharma
Indra could bear it no longer. He invoked Vishnu for help. Bending down to his knees, the king of devatas spoke piteously to the Supreme Deity, “O Lord of Universe, You are all-knowing and all-powerful. Hrinyaksh, that wily brother of King Hrinyakashipu, has stolen the land of mortals and hides himself in Patallok. No more are the mortals performing yagyas, neither are the offerings made to us. Devatas are being starved of sustenance. Save us, O Merciful One, from annihilation!”
Vishnu sent away Indra with an assurance that He would do the needful. Taking the form of a huge wild boar, Varaha, the Lord dug into the depths of the ocean and brought back Earth on His tusks.
Thus, devatas got back their portions; and Hrinyaksh, death at the Deity’s hands.
The Lord must have had His reasons to choose Varaha Avatar to rid the world of Hrinyaksh, though to us His choice may seem rather strange. Wild boars and their cousins, pigs, have generally been preyed upon. Rarely, if at all, have they been the beasts of prey. Indra himself killed a greedy boar that was guilty of theft, and presented its remains to Vishnu. These animals wallow in mud and filth. Compulsive eaters, they dig the soil for roots, if food is not available on ground. Greens, grain, raw flesh, rotten meat and even deadly snakes and poisonous weeds – they hog everything. Bhagwan Vishnu might have wanted to give Hrinyaksh the taste of his own medicine!
‘Hrinyaksh’ is a combination of the Sanskrit words, ‘Hrinya’ meaning gold, and ‘Aksha’ meaning eye. Hrinyaksh would therefore be someone who always has an eye for gold, a greedy person who would go to any length to get rich at the expense of others.
We look around and see that each of us has his or her own Harinyaksh to tackle. We have lost our peace of mind. The world falls short of our expectations. The things that sustain us are getting scarcer. Selfishness makes our relations go sour. What to talk of kinship, persons, young and old, fall foul even of themselves and commit suicide at the slightest excuse. Traditions have become outmoded. Values exist, but in name. Words have lost meaning. Religions are followed to divide man from man, not to reach out to the Supreme. Thugs and pretenders stand at the gate-posts, only to lead the believers astray. Rulers rule, but for themselves. It is all because of a demoniac hunger that is never satisfied.
So, become Varaha and dig into yourself to find your own Hrinyaksh. Get rid of him and rescue your happiness.
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