Varaha Avatar

VARAHA AVATAR: This is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu associated with creation and stabilization of the Earth (bhumi). The earth was submerged in a deluge of water when Lord Vishnu assumes the form of a boar. He dives into the depths of the water and rescues the earth, settling her firmly on his tusks. He is described as being green in colour and with four arms. He has four hands and carries the mace (gadha) and lotus (padma) in his normal hands and the conch (shank) and discus (chakra) in his other hands.

This print from the Ravi Udaya Vijaya Press derived from a painting by Raja Ravi Varma depicts the earth as a globe with India prominently visible to the viewer. There is an artistic deviation from the iconographic texts which prescribe that the earth be depicted as a woman.