| Of the three primary Hindu deities who embody God, Vishnu is the preserver of the universe. (The two others are Brahma, the creator, and Shiva, the destroyer.) He descends to earth at various intervals during the cycles of existence in the form of one of 10 avatars, such as Varaha, the boar depicted below, to protect humanity and guard the earth from forces of destruction. The 10 avatars of Vishnu are each represented in a traditional dance, the Dashavatara. Because Vishnu maintains the cosmic order of the universe, or dharma, he is characteristically portrayed standing upright and balanced.
Multiple limbs or heads represent the supernatural powers of a deity, and in this bronze statue Vishnu is depicted with four arms. In his upper left and right hands, he holds attributes associated with his battle against evil: a conch shell (upper left), used as a war horn to signal troops, and a razor-edged disc (chakra), a powerful weapon that symbolizes dharma. Its circular shape suggests that the circles of existence are assured by proper behavior. Vishnu's two lower hands form mudras: The lower right makes the gesture of granting protection and reassurance; the lower left once held an object, perhaps a lotus flower, a symbol of spiritual enlightenment. Vishnu is depicted in the garb of a king, adorned with jewelry and an elaborate crown, trappings that symbolize his status as supreme lord of the cosmos.
As are all Hindu gods, Vishnu is believed to live in his sculptural image. Originally, this statue would have been adorned with garlands and carried in religious processions. At other times it would have resided in a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu.
Boar (Varaha) Avatar of Vishnu
India, Rajasthan
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