Antique Panjurli (The boar) Bhuta from Kerala Region. Measures 6 1/8 inches high.</p

ITulu Nadu, hordes of boars often invaded and destroyed the cultivated lands so the farmers started worshipping and giving offerings to Panjurli, the spirit in the form of a boar, thinking that this would appease his mood and thus keep the wild animals away from their fields.

This belief was later on absorbed by Hinduism through the following story.

Goddess Parvati was keeping a boar as a pet in her garden on Mount Kailash. Unfortunately this animal was destroying everything around and one day Shiva got so furious that he killed it. Parvati became sad and upset and, in order to make her forgive himShiva brought it back to life and transformed it into a spirit that he sent to earth with the mission of protecting righteousness and truth.

Exceptional example with penetrating gaze. One hand has loss.