In the Bhagarida- Purdna , another legend is also connected with this avatar, which still more distincfly proves that it was viewed in a purely religious light at the Puranic period. According to this legend, .Jayu and Vijayu, two doorkeepers of Vishnu, once offended some JIunis who claimed admission to the paradise of Vishnu, and in consequence were doomed to lose their position in Vishnu's heaven, and to be reborn on earth.
They thus became the sons of Kasyapa and Diti, under the names of Hiranyakasipu and Hiranyaksha. The latter went straight to heaven to coiKpier the gods, while the former remained and conquered the three worlds. Tlie gods, thus threatened in their existence as well as dominions, implored the assistance of Vishnu, who was at that time the mysterious boar, and he slew Hiranyaksha. A similar contest between Vishnu as boar and numerous dwmons, progeny of Diti, .always ending in tlie defeat of the latter, is also described in one ofthe later portions ofthe Mahahhurata ; an<l it follows from this and similar descriptions that this avatar had lost its original character and assumed that common to the others — of representing the deity as be- come incarnate — for the purpose of remedying moral or religious wrong, or of destroying influences hostile to the Brahminic caste.
Another legend, doubtless a late one, which is chiefly believed by the Siva (q. v.) religionists of Southern In- dia, is by no means so flattering to Vishnu. In that ver- sion of the legend Brahma tries to reach the head of Siva, while Vishnu assumes the form of a boar and digs down into the earth in order to arrive at the feet ofthe god. But Siva is illimitable, and Brahma descends anil tries to make believe that he has accoinplished the feat he attempted, but is exposed and cursed by Siva. Vish- nu ascends from his fruitless effort with his tusks utter- ly worn out.
Varanes was the name of six Persian kings of the dynasty of the Sassanidre. Varanes V, or Bahram (iour (the wild ass), reigned A.D. 420-440. The persecu- tions against the Christians were carried by him to such an extent that thousands of his subjects took ref- uge in the Roman dominions.
Vardeman, jERti;MrAtr, a Baptist minister, was born in Wythe Count}', Va., July 8, 1775. His early education was limited. He was ordained in 1801, and soon found himself called to tlie supply of four churches in Kentucky, where he had removed some years before. In 1810 he became pastor of David's Fork Cluirch, Fay- ette Co., and in 1830 removed to Missouri, where he was the means of establishing several churches. He took an active part in bringing the Baptist denomination in Missouri into harmonious co-operation in benevolent ef- forts, and in August, 1834, he presided in a convention to organize a system of domestic missions in that State. In 1840 his health began to fail, but he still continued to preach, sitting when he could not stand, until his death. May 28, 1842. See Sprague, A muds ofthe A meri- can Pulpit, vi, 417.
Varen, August, a Protestant theologian of Ger- many, was born Sept. 20, 1620, at L'elzen, and died as doctor and professor of theology at Rostock, March 15, 1684. He wrote. Lectio Arailomica de Targumim On- kelosi, Jonathanis, et eo quod Exstat in llagiographis (Rost. 1644): — Dispututio de Targumim (ibid, eod.): — Exegesis Aug. Confess, (ibid, eod.) : — Disputatio de Mes- sia (ibid. 1667) : — Examen Decern Characterum Messim contra Abarbanelem (ibid. eod.). See Fiirsr, BihL.Tud. iii, 468; Winer, Thoidb. der theol. Lit. i, 339. (B. P.)
Vargas, Alfonso, a Spanish Auguslinian eremite, was a doctor of Paris, bishop of Badajos, and archbishop of Seville, where he died, 13.59. He published. Commen- tari/ on the First Book ofthe Sentences (Venice, 1490) : — Qumstiones in A 7-istotelis Libras Tres de A nima (ibid. 1566). See Mosheim, Hist, ofthe Church, bk. iii, cent, xiv, pt. ii, ch. ii.
Vargas, Luis de, a Spanish painter, was born at Seville in 1502. He studied painting in Italy for near- ly thirty years, after which he established hinistdf in his native city and executed nninerous large oil-paint- ings and frescos for the churches, only vestiges of which remain. Among his admired works are, Adam and Ece: — Jesus Bearing his Cross: — and La Genera- cion: — all of which remain at Seville. He hastened his death by his ascetic tortures, being accustomeil,
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among other similar practices, to sleep iu a coffin. He died at Seville in 1508.
Variation, Hkmit of (.his Vurkvidi), in canon law, is the riglit of a lay patron, during an established period, to suggest for conrtrmation by the proper eccle- siastical authtirity the diversion of a benetice already I)resentcd to a different candidate. Clerical patrons do not possess this right. Its exercise is entirely volun- tary with the patron, though where the original pres- t'niatiou was made to a i)erson afterwards found to be ineligible or unwilling or unable to receive it, a 7ie/r pres- entation must take place of necessity. When a patron suggests a second person for presentation for reasons wliich do not affect the original receiver's eligibility, the question arises whether the spiritual superior is obliged to disregard the latter's claim for institution {priralire variathni ), or whether he may select the per- son who seems to himself the more available candidate (cnmulatire vanation). Upon this question diverse views are given by the authorities; but the law of cv- viiilatiee raridfiim would seem to have the greatest sup- port in law. Everything in connection with the dis- pute depends on the interpretation of cap. 24. x, De Jure Patronatus, the rescript of wliicb, by poi>e Lucius III, is as follows: "Quuni autem advocatus clericum itloneum episcopo priBsentaverit, et postulaverit postmodum, co mm refiitatu. alium, seque idoneum, in ecclesiam admitti, ijuis eorum alteri pncferatur. judicio episcopi credimus relinquendum, si laicus fuerit, cni jus cornpetit pn^sen- tandi. Verum si collegium vel ecclesiastica persona prajsentationem haberet, qui prior est tempore jure po- tior esse videtur." Tiie disagreement occurs on the in- terpretation of the italicized words; some understand- ing them as having reference to tlie patron's action, and others applying tliem to the bishop's part in the mat- ter. The right of a patron to recommend a second per- son for the presentation, when the person previously recommended was a ckricus idoneus, is expressly con- ceded by the pope, though he gives the bishop the right to determine between tiiem. The extent to which tiie right of variation may be exercised lias also been dis- cussed, but without result. See Lippert and Weiss, A r- cfiiv d. KirchMircc/ifswissenschajy, i, 4; Kichter, Kirchen- recht (5th ed.), § 193 ; Lippert, Veisuch einei- hisi.-dnr;- mat. Entwicklnmi d. Lehre vom Patmnate (Criessen, 1829) ; Schilling, Der kiixld. Patronat (Leips. 1854), and the literature there referred to; Gerlach, JJax Prdsenfafioiis- recht (III/ P/arrden (Ratisbon, 1855) ; Moy de Sons, .4 r- chivfiir katfiol. Kirchenrecht, 1857, ii, 412 sq. — Herzog, lieal-KnajMop. s. v.