Kanavarah and Ranavarah

In a pond in Gurjagaun of Myagdi lived a tyrannical and wicked Varaha. He killed and ate the people who came to fetch water, so that the water of the pond was filled with blood and pus.

Seeing the suffering of the villagers, Ranavarah — none other than Vishnu himself — manifested from the upper lake. A fierce battle took place between Ranavarah and the wicked Varaha.

Ranavarah defeated the wicked Varaha and, making him vow never again to slaughter people, put out both his eyes. That Varaha, whose eyes had been put out, came to be called "Kanavarah".

By the grace of Ranavarah, the desired grain and all the pots and pans needed for feasts would come out of a mysterious cave in the village. But once someone stole a golden coin and carried it away, and from then on pots ceased to come out of that cave.

In winter Ranavarah descends to the lake below in search of warmth, and when the heat comes he climbs back toward the high pastures. Thus, moving between the high pastures and the lowlands at the times of Ubhauli and Udhauli, Ranavarah protects the inhabitants and the nature of that place.