Varaha Avtar (Lord Vishnu in His Third Incarnation as a Boar)

Varaha Avtar (Lord Vishnu in His Third Incarnation as a Boar)

Paramar Dynasty,11th Century CE

            There was a time when Mother Earth was coveted by a demon. He dragged her into the cosmic ocean. She pleaded to Lord Vishnu to save her. Lord Vishnu emerged as a wild Boar. He fought with the Demon,  killed him, and brought Mother Earth out of the ocean on his tusk. Here we see Him with the Mother Earth as He emerges from the ocean. 

            This pose of Lord Vishnu was created by the Gupta artists in the 5th Century CE at Udaigiri Caves in Madhya Pradesh.  Ever since then, this pose has been used repeatedly by the Indian artists. 

            The wild Boar is a unique animal. While it lives on the land, it can dive deep into the water. It is thus adjustable to both land and water. Only those who are flexible in their thoughts can emerge from the ocean. 

            Mother Earth is again under threat. On the one hand She is constantly attacked, on the other hand She is ever exploited. Again she awaits to be rescued from the senseless greed and hatred of mankind. She again awaits for flexible thinking persons to rescue her from her pitiable plight. But we are becoming blind to our myopic vision. The totality of Oneness is lost upon us. And Mother Earth seems to further  sink into a quagmire.