Varaha - Kerala Mural Archive

Kadavil Thrikkovil, KTK_P004 — Varaha: full panel view

Detail Photos

Kadavil Thrikkovil, KTK_P004 — Varaha: detail view

Deity: Varaha Location: Kadavil Thrikkovil Sreekrishna Swamy Temple Theme: Non-narrative

Half boar, half man form of Vishnu, Varaha, is being depicted in this panel. He is shown with four arms, two in abhaya and varada mudra and two upper left and right hands holding the shankha and chakra, respectively.

Narrative

Textual Source: Non-narrative
Mythological Tale: Asura Hiranyaksha steals Bhoodevi or Earth and hides her inside the ocean. Vishnu, upon hearing the pleas of his devotees, took the form of Varaha, half boar-half human form, and entered the ocean and lifted Bhoodevi on his tusks and restored her to its rightful place. Then a battle ensued between Varaha and Hiranyaksha, which ended with Hiranyaksha's defeat.
Episode: Non-narrative

Iconography

Primary Deity/Figure: Varaha
Iconographic Form: Varaha (Vishnu's incarnation)
Iconographic Attributes: Green-skinned Varaha; half human, half boar figure with four arms, a red upper garment, tusks, the shankha or conch in the upper left hand; the Sudarshana chakra on the upper right hand; The lower left hand and lower right hands are in Abhaya and Varada Mudra; The inside of the palms are red in color; wears ornaments and a yellow lower garment.
Visual & Formal Features: Facial expression detail, Hand gesture (mudra), Ornamentation
Rasa: Shanta

Spatial & Architectural

Zone within Temple: Sanctum
Position in Pradakshina Sequence: 4
Adjacent Panels: Hanuman and Sugriva, and Deva and Sage

Condition & Documentation

Condition: Good
Deterioration Type: Pigment loss
Restoration Status: Unrestored
Documentation Type: DSLR full panel
Permission Basis: Temple priest
Date of Documentation: 10/05/2025
Artist: Unknown
Identifier: KTK_P004
Rights / Notes: These images may not be reproduced, redistributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior permission.