Varaha

Varaha is the third avatar of Vishnu — the cosmic boar. When the demon Hiranyaksha stole the earth goddess Bhudevi and carried her to the cosmic ocean, Vishnu incarnated as a giant boar, dove into the waters, slew Hiranyaksha in a battle that lasted a thousand years, and lifted the earth back to her rightful place on his tusks. The Varaha avatar symbolises Vishnu's role as the uplifter of the earth and protector of dharma when the world is in crisis. Varaha temples across India — particularly the one at Srimushnam in Tamil Nadu — celebrate this rescue.

Human body with a boar's head and tusks, four arms holding the conch, chakra, mace, and lotus. The earth goddess Bhudevi is often shown as a small figure resting on his tusks or in his arms, being rescued from the demon Hiranyaksha who is crushed beneath his feet.