A BLACK STONE FIGURE OF VARAHA RESCUING BHUDEVI, RAJASTHAN OR CENTRAL INDIA, 8TH-10TH CENTURY

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A BLACK STONE FIGURE OF VARAHA RESCUING BHUDEVI, RAJASTHAN OR CENTRAL INDIA, 8TH-10TH CENTURY Finely carved, the boar incarnation of Vishnu strides to the left in a heroic posture, his right hand resting against the corresponding thigh and his left raised before his chest, holding the Sudarshana chakra. His proudly erect torso is finely articulated with a subtle sensuous curvature and richly adorned with beaded jewelry, while a dagger is secured at his waist. Above rises the upright head of a boar, its visage defined by two bulging eyes and a prominent snout flanked by a pair of curving tusks. His hair is braided and gathered behind the head, which is framed by a circular nimbus. Poised lightly and gracefully upon his raised left forearm sits the earth goddess Bhudevi, with full breasts and delicately rendered features. Dimensions: Height 48.5 cm (excl. stand), 49.3 cm (incl. stand) Varaha is the third incarnation of Vishnu in the Dashavatara. The transformation of Vishnu into a boar became necessary when the demon, Hiranayaksha, once dragged the earth under the sea. The earth-goddess's cries for help reached Vishnu who took the form of a boar, plunged into the depths of the ocean, gored the demon to death and surfaced with the earth intact. Varaha is depicted here in a heroic pose after rescuing Earth or Bhudevi, who in sculptural representations of Varaha is often depicted as a beautiful goddess seated on his raised elbow. The present sculpture relates closely to a famous rock-cut relief in Cave 5 of the Udayigiri Caves, depicting Varaha rescuing the earth goddess, a masterwork of early Indian stone carving that demonstrates both artistic sophistication and theological symbolism. The Udayagiri Caves, located in Madhya Pradesh, are an important early example of Hindu rock-cut architecture, dating to the early 5th century during the Gupta period. Comprising a series of excavations dedicated primarily to Hindu deities, with a few Jain monuments, the site is celebrated for its monumental reliefs and inscriptions that reflect the political and religious vitality of the Gupta court. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related sandstone figure of Varaha, Central India, probably Madhya Pradesh, dated 8th century, 82 cm high, in the Cleveland Museum of Art, accession number 2011.148. Compare a related schist figure of Vishnu in the form of a boar, probably Northern Rajashtan, dated c. 1000, 83 cm high, in the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, object number B62S15+. Compare a related Pala basalt stele of Varaha, Eastern India, dated 11th century, 134 cm high, in the British Museum, registration number 1947,0512.1. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s Amsterdam, 8 May 2002, lot 513 Price: EUR 9,560 or approx. EUR 16,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the related subject, manner of carving, and modeling, with similar pose and animal features. Note the different stone, larger size (79 cm), and state of preservation.

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