About this piece

Adi Varaha, popularly known as Yajna Varaha, is the encyclopedia of Hindu cosmology. He contains the whole cosmos within himself. This 11th-12th century masterpiece from Sunaari depicts a scene where Vishnu manifests as a colossal boar to retrieve Bhudevi from the depths of the ocean. The Earth Goddess was abducted by the demon Hirayanksha. In this specific iconographic tradition, Varaha’s body serves as a physical map of the universe. Hundreds of miniature celestial figures and sages are meticulously carved into the boar’s torso. Each body part of Varaha is associated with sacrifices. The legs of Varaha represent the Vedas, the tusk represents the sacrificial altar, and the tongue is fire. Vak Devi is on his snout, and Brahma is on his head, presiding over the yajna.