Varahi, the boar-headed goddess

India / South Asia Collection

Accession Nr.: 6651
Type: relief
Date of production:
4th-5th c.
Mathura art
Place of production:
Acquisition: donation of Imre Schwaiger
Materials: red sandstone
Techniques: carved
Dimensions: height: 12 cm
width: 9.5 cm
depth: 7 cm
1.23 kg
Fragment of a Gupta-era relief made of the characteristic yellow-spotted red sandstone of Mathura art. Varahi, i.e. boar-headed goddess, is the female counterpart of god Vishnu's boar manifestation (avatara), Varaha. Varahi belongs to the group of seven mother-goddesses, the Saptamatrikas, of which the present architectural fragment was probably a part.