NARRATOR:
The gigantic boar is one of the ten incarnations, or avatars, of the mighty Hindu god Vishnu. As a boar, Vishnu dived to the depths of the cosmic ocean to rescue the earth, who was in danger of drowning. According to a 9th-century poet:
ACTOR:
“Like a blue mountain that clutches
And lifts up two crescent moons,
My father, you, as a resplendent boar,
Raised your tusks, carrying Earth.
O you who churned the deep blue sea!”
NARRATOR:
In this pristine example from the 3rd century, Vishnu as Varaha assumes a human form—only his head is that of a boar. With broad shoulders, muscular thighs, and one fist clenched with resolve, he lifts his snout heroically to the sky. Surrounding his head is a halo incised with lotus petals.
The earth, personified as a female, is usually shown suspended from his snout, or perched on one of his tusks. But in this possibly unprecedented example, she seems to emerge from his mouth. Her hands are positioned in the gesture of adoration, demonstrating her gratitude. The sculptor added a second figure behind Varaha’s long snout, perhaps perched on his tusk. This is probably Lakshmi, Vishnu’s principal wife. The earth goddess is considered his second wife.
Varaha, the Boar Avatar of Vishnu
3rd century
Asia: India, Uttar Pradesh, Mathura
On View
This image depicts an important cosmogonic myth of the Hindus, in which Vishnu assumes the form of a boar to rescue the earth, which has disappeared under the ocean. The earth is visualized here as a female perched upon his snout.
Details
- Title: Varaha, the Boar Avatar of Vishnu
- Date: 3rd century
- Medium: Sandstone
- Dimensions: 35-1/2 x 16 x 5 in. (90.2 x 40.6 x 12.7 cm)
- Credit Line: The Norton Simon Foundation
- Accession Number: F.1975.16.06.S
- Copyright: © The Norton Simon Foundation
Object Information
To Do Battle: Conflict, Struggle, and Symbol in Art
- Norton Simon Museum, 2002-03-08 to 2002-07-08
- Pal, Pratapaditya, Asian Art at the Norton Simon Museum, Volume 1: Art from the Indian Subcontinent, 2003, no. 55 pp. 92-93
- Campbell, Sara, Collector Without Walls: Norton Simon and His Hunt for the Best, 2010, cat. 1221 p. 384
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