Hiranyaksha was an asura of Hindu mythology. He was the son of Diti and brother of Hiranyakashipu. He dragged the Earth, in the guise of a cow, into the cosmic ocean. In order to defeat him and save Prithvi, Vishnu took the form of Varaha, a boar. He battled Hiranyaksha for one thousand years until he killed the demon and lifted the Earth on his tusks. His brother was also killed by Vishnu.