Penance

The earth asked, “which is the way in which man can atone for his sins?”

“By worshipping me in the prescribed way,” replied the boar.

In the prescribed way, one should clean oneself, light a lamp on a stand, recite holy incantations, anoint the ground with cow dung, and bathe Vishnu’s image with clarified butter. Flowers, garlands, incense, cereals and milk should be offered to the image. The most important offering that Vishnu wants is however true devotion.

There are also means by which one can ensure that one is not born as an animal in a subsequent life. Being righteous, observing vratas and revering one’s parents are some of them. In addition, anyone who happens to die in the holy tirtha known as Kokamukha is never born as an animal or a bird in his next life. Here is the story behind it.