The Supreme Pig of Godhead

Today is the appearance day of Lord Varaha, a boar
incarnation of Lord Vishnu(Krsna).  I feel a special
connection with this avatara because I have spent many
intimate hours caring for and serving my pig friends.
Great friend i was, however, because i also engaged in
slaughtering them.  I have come full circle, twice
around with vegetarianism.  I grew up eating meat then
renounced it when i started becoming environmentally
conscious of the environmental ramifications of the
meat  industry, what to speak of the cruelty,
inhumanity and disease.
When i began travelling and living in remote villages in
Mexico and Central America, I began to eat meat again.  i
felt that only a snot-nosed, privileged American, who has
the great luxury and choice to be a vegetarian, would
refuse to eat the chicken slaughtered for her arrival.  In
my pursuit of sustainable agriculture, I proceeded to
learn the trade of raising and slaughtering animals on the
family farm.  I even raised my very own pigs one season.
We became close friends and i killed them, skinned them 
and ate their hearts and tongues.  Hare Krsna!  While I 
have much respect for those who refuse to support the
exploitation of the animal industry and choose to take the
karma upon themselves, in my pursuit of Krsna 
consciousness, my meat eating days have come to a quick
halt.  Thus, being a so-called lover of pigs, Lord Varaha
has special significance for me.  His pastime goes 
something like this...

The Demon Hiranyaksha, the personification of greed,
plunders the three worlds,defeating all of the demigods
one by one then plunders all the gold from Mother Earth
for his own egotistical purposes.
Thrown off of its axis as a result of the exploitation,
the Earth falls out of orbit and plunges into the depths
of the cosmic ocean. The demigods appeal to Lord Brahma
to do something.  Whenever, the imbalance in the universe
is at such an extreme that man alone has no hope,the Lord
comes and restores the balance.

Brahma pays his respects and prays to Lord Vishnu to
assist Earth in her helpless state.  While Brahma is
praising the Supreme Lord, a small boar, the size of a
thumbnail, comes out from his left nostril.  After some
confusion of this unexpected arrival, the demigods become
aware that this boar, Lord Varaha, is actually an
incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead himself.
After growing into an expansive size, Lord Varaha dives
into the cosmic ocean picks up the Earth by his
massive tusks and restores the Earth to its natural
state of balance and harmony.  However upon confrontation
with Hiranyaksha, a ferocious battle begins that lasts
1,000 years.  At times it appears the demon had the upper
hand.  Because the demoniac hour of twilight was fast
approaching, the hour that infuses the demons with extra
strength, the demigods were fearful.  Yet, Lord Vishu
easily utilizes his Sankarsana chakra(disc-like weapon)
and kills Hiranyaksha.

The modern day demons are just like Hiranyaksha.  Oil has
become modern-day gold.  Petroleum, the blood of Mother
Earth, is exploited due to dissatisfaction caused by
unchecked lust.  Will our mother again fall from her
orbit?  When will we appreciate her bountiful gifts, a
consciousness ultimately reflected by a society's
appreciation for the cow.

Lord Varaha's eternal companion is Bhumidevi, Mother
Earth and the goddess of fertility.  She is the mother
of Sita (wife of Lord Rama, another direct incarnation
of Krsna).  She was born from a furrow!

My friends, the pastimes of Sri Krsna only get better
and are infused with incredible symbolism and lessons,
even for the atheists.  Anywho, today is Lord 
Varaha's Appearance Day and Mother Dhara made cake,
pink frosting.