Varaha Rescuing Bhu Devi

ca. 14th-15th century

The Hindu god Vishnu is said to have descended from heaven several times in order to save mankind. When he descends he assumes special forms, called avatars. He once became a boar, named Varaha, and plunged to the bottom of the primordial ocean to retrieve the drowning earth.

This image of Varaha shows him with the earth (in the form of a goddess) seated on his shoulder. He has the head of a boar, but the four arms and superhuman body of the god Vishnu, and his raised foot suggests that he is stepping out of the ocean.