This finely carved stele would originally have been found in a niche on the outside of a brick temple dedicated to the god Vishnu, one of the major gods of the Hindu trinity. It depicts an episode from Hindu mythology where the Earth was dragged down and submerged by a titan named Hiranyaksha. Varaha, the boar avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu, descended to rescue the Earth from the bottom of the ocean where she had become imprisoned. In this image Varaha is shown in his moment of victory, emerging from the ocean bearing the Earth, represented as the goddess Bhu, in the crook of his elbow. Beneath him, holding a long-stemmed lotus which shelters the deity, is Ananta, the serpent of endless time, entwined with his consort. Above are two vidyadharas or bearers of wisdom who bring garlands. This scene is essentially an image of cosmic creation. At the pedestal of this stele is the figure of a devotee, perhaps the donor of this image to the temple.

Asian Art Department, AGNSW, March 2005