Cycles of destruction and re-creation thus follow each other in succession. The present cycle is known as the Varaha kalpa. This is because, in the present kalpa, Vishnu adopted the form of a boar to raise the earth up from the depths of the ocean.

(It is necessary to point out that two separate acts of creation are being talked about in the same breath and this leads to some confusion. The first is the original creation of the universe (sarga). This is when there was a void everywhere. At the end of Brahma’s day, everything except for Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva is destroyed. Then, when a new day dawns for Brahma, creation begins afresh. This minor act of creation is associated with Brahma and is known as pratisarga. The original act of creation is associated with the paramatman or the brahman. In the Varaha Purana, Vishnu is completely identified with the brahman. Many other Puranas suggest that the brahman was divided into the three aspects of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.)
When there was a void, the universe was encompassed by the darkness of night and there was no sign of life. Vishnu slept in those primeval waters. When he awoke, he created the universe in nine sargas (stages).

As he thought of creation, a dark insentient creation appeared and from this emerged five entities known as tama (darkness), moha (illusion), mahamoha (great illusion), tamisra (darkness) and andhatamisra (blind darkness). These were entities of ignorance, delusion and gloom. This sarga is also known as the prakrita (natural) sarga.