Masterpiece Depicts Lord Vishnu’s Varaha Incarnation as a Symbol of Good Over Evil
In a captivating display of artistry and devotion, Arpitha Reddy’s rendition of Lord Vishnu’s Varaha incarnation has taken center stage at the Bikaner House Main Gallery. The awe-inspiring sculpture portrays the divine narrative where the oceans quake and a great tusked snout rises from the waters, followed by the deity with the head of a boar and the body of a man. One of his arms gently cradles the goddess Prithvi (Earth), bearing her towards the skies, while at the bottom lies the defeated demon.
This magnificent portrayal of Varaha as a king symbolizes an ancient legend where Lord Vishnu, in his Varaha form, rescued the earth goddess from a primordial flood and defeated the demon Hiranyaksha. It is believed that this rescue marked the beginning of a new era.
The connection between rulers and Varaha runs deep in the history of South Asia. The Deccan dynasties, notably the Early Western Chalukyas, commissioned divine boar images as early as the sixth century CE. Varaha was their dynastic emblem, and verses dedicated to Varaha were inscribed on their land grants from the mid-seventh century onwards. The title “Sri-Prithivi-Vallabha,” used by the Chalukya kings, translates to “The Fortunate Lord of the Earth” or “Fortune’s Favorite and Earth’s Beloved.” This title signifies the kings’ husband-like rights over both fortune and land, which they could distribute to their vassals as they saw fit.
Arpitha Reddy’s Varaha is adorned with intricate jewelry and four arms, two of which hold the conch shell and discus, the recognizable emblems of Lord Vishnu’s power. The Chalukya Varaha wears a towering golden crown and necklaces adorned with precious gems, bearing a lotus in his hand upon which Prithvi stands. Examples of this iconic image can be found in cave temples at Vatapi (present-day Badami) and structural temples at Aryapura (present-day Aihole).
The image of Varaha rescuing Prithvi continued to be a symbol of power and divinity, embraced by major imperial dynasties throughout the medieval period.
As time progressed, the portrayal of the divine boar evolved in art. In the early modern period, North Indian courts produced various Varaha images, often as part of Bhagavata Purana manuscripts. Arpitha Reddy’s Varaha not only showcases the triumph of good over evil but also reflects a profound engagement with Vishnu as the preserver of the universe. The imagery of clouds and ocean waves in this artwork carries an oriental flavor reminiscent of thangkas.
Varaha is one of Lord Vishnu’s Dashavtaras, embodying the essence of divine intervention and the eternal battle between good and evil. Arpitha Reddy’s masterpiece serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of this iconic incarnation, reminding us of the timeless significance of Varaha in Hindu mythology and art.
