Varaha Avatara

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Pahari Painting has carved a niche for itself in the art world. Among the Pahari states also, the Chamba painters are a class apart. Vishnu and Shiva formed the prominent subject of their paintings. Dasavatara paintings were painted majorly by the Pahari artists, depicting the incarnations of Vishnu, either independently or as a whole. The artist renders Varaha, the third of Vishnu's great incarnations, in a simplified style. Here, as the great primal boar, Vishnu strikes Hiranyakash with his mighty mace as the demon's own mace falls to the ground, heralding his defeat. Compared to the demon's green, ugly body, the smooth blue-bodied golden garmented, jewel crowned figure of Varaha stands put as energetic, full of supreme self-assurance. Even as the boar-incarnation, Vishnu holds his attributes, the mace, the conch, a lotus and the Sudarshan chakra. He is decked in jewelry and a stone studded crown. The demon is not only ugly but ferocious looking. Its tongue hangs out and sharp protecting teeth are visible. The feet are shaped like claws with sharp deciduous nails. The position of the iris of the eye and the horns add to his ugliness.

The waters, in which the action takes place, are essentially curvilinear lines of uneven width giving an impression of whirlpools. The water looks as agitated as the situation itself in which the demon finally dies at the hand of Varaha. Like other paintings from the avatars series, the iconography sets its own bounds to the painter's freedom, but within these, changes are incorporated which makes it unique. The bright colors of the subject's body and attire against a somber background help in making it a remarkable painting complimenting the Pahari school style.

The description by Kiranjyot