• REKHA HG

ABSTRACT An incarnation of Vishnu, Varaha is associated with the creation and stabilization of the earth, in which Varaha is found recovering earth from the depth of waters by thrusting sula in to the body of the demon Hiranyaksha. Various canonical texts such as Hindu iconography, Prathima kosha, Vishnudharmotthara, Parasara Samhitha, Vaikshanasagama, Shilpa shastra, Anushumabedagama and Satapatha Brahmana provide ample information about Varaha. Varaha is shown in human form with a boar’s head; hence he is frequently called Nr Varaha. Body colour of Varaha is given as dark like collyrium; the body is huge like a mountain and has multiple hands, some texts like Parasara Samhitha mentions eight to sixteen hands. According to Hayasira Samhitha the image is to be made in the seven tala. The Iconography of varaha can be broadly classified in two forms • Depicting varaha only in the form an animal, wild Boar--zoomorphic • Depicting varaha having boar head on human body--Anthropomorphic All the canonical texts mention that Varaha must have four hands, upper right hand carrying Chakra or disc, upper left hand carry Sanka or conch, lower right hand carry mace and lower left hand carry lotus or Padma. Varaha is shown in the act of lifting the earth goddesses by one of his arms and embracing her with the other, the snout is held close to her and sniffing her face. The left hand embraces her at the shoulders while the right arm holds her thigh firmly. The earth goddess is always shown in a seated posture on the left side of Varaha. When varaha carries Lakshmi on his arms the earth goddess sit at his feet. The boar depiction dates back to II CE AD and fully boar variety dates back to pre II CE AD Hoysalas who ruled southern Karnataka between 1000 AD to 1345 AD, were great temple builders with their own style of architecture called Hoysala style, with the coming of Ramanujacharya to Hoysala kingdom, Vaishnavism received great imputes, and many temples were dedicated to Vishnu and Varaha iconography were chiselled. Present study focuses on canonical text based, various forms of Varaha such as Bhuvaraha, Swethavaraha, Adivaraha, Nrvaraha, Yagnavaraha, Pralayavaraha varaha and stone wall sculpture of Varaha Iconography found in Hoysala temples at Belur, Halebidu, Nuggehalli, Kikkeri, Govindahalli, and at Basaralu.

Key words: Adi varaha, Bhu varaha, Bhudevi, chakra, gada, Hoysalas, Hiranyaksha. Padma,

"ICONOGRAPHY OF VARAHA IN HOYSALA ART—A CANONICAL STUDY’", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 7, page no.205-213, July-2018, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1807277.pdf

"ICONOGRAPHY OF VARAHA IN HOYSALA ART—A CANONICAL STUDY’", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 7, page no. pp205-213, July-2018, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1807277.pdf