A Management lesson for problem solving!

Varaha is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu in Hindu Puranas depicted his as a boar who lifts the earth out of the ocean with his tusks. While the story of Varaha does not have a direct connection to a specific management concept, we can draw some analogies and lessons that can be applied to problem-solving and management.

One lesson we can draw from the story of Varaha is the importance of perseverance and determination in problem-solving. In the story, Varaha undertakes the seemingly impossible task of lifting the Earth out of the ocean, but he is unwavering in his determination and ultimately succeeds in his mission. This can serve as a reminder that, when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges or obstacles, it is important to remain persistent and focused on finding solutions.

How do we solve the problem? To solve a problem, we must first know the problem. Even before getting into solving the problem, understanding the problem can facilitate solutions. How did Varaha Avatar accomplish it? As the story goes, an Ashura named Hiranyaksha is believed to have stolen the earth from its orbit and submerged it in a sea. This is exactly the problem where the Lord Vishnu is supposed to restore the earth to its orbit as a solution. How efficient was the solution? How did he achieve it?  

When you’re trying to find a solution to a problem, there could be multiple ways to solve it. But choose the best one to solve the problem permanently.  When Lord Vishnu decides to solve the problem, what could be permanently fixed was to secure the earth first, defeat Hiranyaksha once in for all, just to ensure that similar situations don’t recur in the future. Therefore, the kind of solution that the Lord wanted against a Hiranyaksha was to adopt a proper dynamic to resolve it permanently.

The dynamics that Lord wanted for this solution were delivered in the form of Varaha. The first thing the Lord Vishnu understood was that that task was going to be a forced recovery, and it could turn into a ferocious battle. On this first anticipation, the Lord ensured his hands must be free to hold arms for defending, attacking, or anything of that kind that pops up. Lord was aware that, after the rescue, holding the earth in one hand and conquering the enemy requires double attention, which may probably dilute his focus.  One must remember that this is an important mindset in problem solving. 

Secondly, rescuing the earth and setting it back on its own path was the only solution to which the Lord was determined, and therefore he did not want to leave the grip of the earth or lose it again after a prolonged fight. Hence, the Lord wanted to keep the earth safe and stable with him during the rescue operation. Thus, the purpose of the Varaha entered into universal existence. The best part of the solution was the aerodynamic face of the Varaha (wild boar), the width of the upper jaw, the length, and the curvature of the tusks are perfectly placed for the earth size, weight, and diameter.

At the time of rescue under the sea, the Lord ensured that the earth was safe on His nose and placed it perfectly between the two tusks until he defeated Hiranyaksha. This safe sitting of the earth and the solution to which the Lord entered were accomplished flawlessly.

Not that all the problems we face in a personal or official capacity must always be fought for a solution. We can draw valuable lessons and insights from the Varaha story that can be applied to various aspects of problem-solving and management. What we must do is simply give considerable thought to the understanding of the problem rather than trying to resolve it quickly as soon as we know it.