A bronze figure of Varaha

KHMER, ANGKOR PERIOD, BAPHUON STYLE, 10TH/11TH CENTURY

Details
A bronze figure of Varaha
Khmer, Angkor period, Baphuon style, 10th/11th century
The four-armed boar avatar of Vishnu, holding a large club and globe in his principle hands and a conch and chakra in his upper hands, clad in a short dhoti and secured with a belt, with a pendant fishtail sash at front and a separate butterfly sash at the back, adorned in a necklace and earrings, his face surmounted by a tiered conical headdress
7¾ in. (19.5 cm.) high
Provenance
Private collection, America, 1993/1994

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Anita Mehta
Anita Mehta

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Lot Essay

After waging war on Heaven, Hiranyaksha the demon challenged Vishnu to a duel by abducting his consort Prithvi, the Earth Goddess, and hiding her at the bottom of the ocean. Vishnu, in his third incarnate as Varaha the Boar, immediately shot out of Brahma's nose and dove into the ocean to rescue her. He lifted her up by his tusks and ascended to the surface. Once safely above water, Varaha used his chakra to disarm and destroy the demon. In this representation, Varaha is depicted ready for the challenge with his four accoutrements.

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