Harnaksha

Mythological References in Guru Granth Sahib

HIRANYAKSHA (pronounced Harnakhash) was killed by the boar incarnation of Vishnu (Varaha). He may not be mistaken as the father of Prahlada.

Which ones were not ferried across by the remembrance of the Lord? Those of the flying birds like the hansa avatar, those of the fish form like fish incarnation, those of the deer form like the Shringi sage and those of the boar form like the boar incarnation—all were ferried across in the company of the saint. (Malar M. 5, p. 1269)

O Lord, Thou art the Ishwara supporting the earth, Narayana, the man-lion. Thou art the boar with protruding teeth and supporting the earth. (Maru M. 5, p. 1082)

Hiranyaksha, was the brother of the tyrant demon king Hiranyakashipu. He propitiated Brahma and attained the boon of invincibility. He was exempted from injury by god, man or beast. In great pride, he began to harrass the gods and men. He even dragged the earth to the nether-regions under the waters from where it was saved by Vishnu, who assumed the form of a boar and used his tusks to root land back above the water. (One may note that the chinese character for a house is the symbol of a boar under the one for a roof, boars are always digging.)

References

1. Kohli, Surindar Singh (ed), Dictionary of Mythological References in Guru Granth Sahib, 1993