Varaha, boar incarnation of Vishnu
Figure
mid 19th century (made)
mid 19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Cast copper alloy image of Varaha, the boar incarnation (avatara) of Vishnu. The image is of a boar-headed, four-armed male figure. He is holding Vishnu's attributes of the discus (chakra) and the conch-shell (shanka) in his upper arms; the lower right hand is in the abhaya ('fear not') mudra and the lower left in varada (charity) mudra. He stands on a lotus pedestal on a tiered base decorated with latticework, circles, beading and lotus petals.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Varaha, boar incarnation of Vishnu (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Copper alloy, cast |
| Brief description | Copper alloy figure; Varaha, boar incarnation of Vishnu, South India, mid 19th century. |
| Physical description | Cast copper alloy image of Varaha, the boar incarnation (avatara) of Vishnu. The image is of a boar-headed, four-armed male figure. He is holding Vishnu's attributes of the discus (chakra) and the conch-shell (shanka) in his upper arms; the lower right hand is in the abhaya ('fear not') mudra and the lower left in varada (charity) mudra. He stands on a lotus pedestal on a tiered base decorated with latticework, circles, beading and lotus petals. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Transferred from the India Museum in London to the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A) in 1879. The India Museum Slips, No. 302 describe this image as coming from North Arcot, Madras and having been exhibited at the 1862 Exhibition. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Bibliographic reference | Mitchell, A.G. 'Hindu Gods and Goddesses.' London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982. Plate 13. ISBN 011290372X |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 556(IS) |
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| Record created | January 2, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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