Boar Incarnation of God Vishnu (Varaha)
c. 10th century
Medium
Phyllite
Dimensions
56 × 79.5 × 29.7 cm (22 1/16 × 31 5/16 × 11 11/16 in.)
Classification
stone
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
153539
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
When cosmic order is imperiled, Vishnu descends to earth in different avataras (incarnations) to restore it. Varaha, Vishnu’s boar incarnation, is the third of ten such avataras. After the demon Hiranyaksha hides the earth in the primeval ocean, Varaha bores beneath the waters and rescues her, emerging triumphantly with the earth goddess Bhudevi on his tusk. Varaha’s porcine body is covered with rows of sages, animals, and other beings indebted to his beneficence. Vishnu’s signature attributes—t...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...