Sri Sri Dhameswar Koladeva (Varahadeva) & Sri Jagannath

Information – Deities of Sri Sri Dhameswar Koladeva (Varahadeva), the presiding deity of Koladvipa, and Sri Jagannath.

“A young brāhmaṇa named Vasudeva was always engaged in the service of Varāha. As he worshiped the form of Varāha, he always prayed to the Lord in these words: Please be merciful and appear before me. Let my eyes and life be successful.’ Saying this, he cried and rolled on the ground. If my Lord does not show Himself, my life is worthless.’
“Shortly thereafter, the merciful Lord showed Himself to Vasudeva in His form as a boar. His body was decorated with ornaments, and His feet, neck, nostrils, face, and eyes were all-attractive. His body was as tall as a mountain. Seeing him, the brāhmaṇa thought himself very fortunate. He fell on the earth and offered his respects. Crying and confused, he rolled on the ground.
“Seeing the vipra’s devotion, Varaha sweetly said, ‘O Vasudeva, as you are My devotee, I am satisfied by your worship. When Kali-yuga comes I will display My pastimes here. Hear My words. In the three worlds, there is no comparison to Navadvipa. Though it is hidden now, it is My very dear abode. The scriptures confirm that all holy places such as Brahmavarta reside here.
“The place where Brahma performed a sacrifice and I appeared to kill Hiranyākṣa with My tusks, that holy place is present here, where I have appeared now. By serving Navadvīpa, all tirthas are served; and by living in Navadvipa, the fruit of living at all other tirthas is attained. You are fortunate to serve Me in Navadvipa. When Gauranga advents, you will be born here again. You will see the mahā-sankirtana and the astounding form of Gauranga.’
(Sri Navadvipa-Dhama-Mahatmya, Chapter 11)

Appearing as Nṛsiṁhadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Hari, killed Hiraṇyakaśipu. When the Lord delivered the planet earth, which had fallen in the Garbhodaka Ocean, Hiraṇyākṣa tried to hinder Him, and then the Lord, as Varāha, killed Hiraṇyākṣa.
(SB 7.1.41)

In other words, the Lord’s body was as big and hard as the Himālayan Mountains; otherwise how was it possible that He kept the entire earth on the support of His white tusks? The poet Jayadeva, a great devotee of the Lord, has sung of the incident in his prayers for the incarnations: