If you love English literature, and especially the clean stark honest writing of George Orwell, what do you associate a pig, a boar with? Yes, Snowball, an idealist who is not only hounded out, but whose memory is consciously tarnished as well.
Much more than that, in most minds, a boar would be Napoleon, the ambitious, cunning, crafty and hugely jealous competitor who lacks Snowball's intelligence, creativity, and most importantly, his care and concern for the good, both the good people who lack voice, and the common good that must reign supreme, whatever/however the powerful who manage the boot-lickers and yes-(wo)men may pretend!
Well, in the Indian imaginary, the boar has another meaning as well. Here is a look at that allusion. Now that the Hindu Consciousness has risen, what with scholars and youtubers batt(l)ing for it relentlessly, suddenly there is now an open admission of the Varah Jayanti. Varah, the Sanskrit word for a boar, is the third avataar of Vishnu.
Very interesting is the story. Many may not know the myth. Sure the Vedas might tell it a little differently from the Puranas. The Vaidic consciousness looks at it slightly differently, while the Puranas explain it from the avataar perspective.
Whichever perspective you may read up, how can it be explained in today's terms? May be, through the environmental consciousness? The demon Hirnyaksha who takes the earth deep in to the ocean would be the human indulgences that drown the earth-n-environment? May be! Sure I need to develop this perspective, this interpretation better, read up more and critically! In the meanwhile, thanks be to the Indic awareness that opens up the space for such discussions!
Pratima@ I would also like to compare and contrast the Varah avataar with the Persephone myth. Interesting insights should emerge, I suppose.
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