The visit
to this Varaha Temple, one of the UNESCO, World Heritage Sites, Khajuraho, was a part of
the “Bhopal, Udayagiri Rock Cut Caves, Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, Sanchi,
Bhojpur, and Khajuraho – of Madhya Pradesh Heritage walk” organized by the எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு, between 25th and 28th December 2024.
The
Khajuraho Complex Temples are classified into three groups, namely the Western,
Eastern, and Southern Groups of Temple. The temples Chausath Yogini and the
Lalguan Mahadeva are exempted from the above three groups since they are
farthest away.
Western
Group is the largest and most important. The temples in this group are dedicated to
Shiva, Ma Parvati, Jagathambi, and Maha Vishnu. The Western Group consists of
the following temples.
Varaha
Temple
The Shrine faces Lakshmana Temple, ie. West. The Shrine was constructed on an elevated
level.
ARCHITECTURE
The
Varaha is standing, with about 674 figures of gods and goddesses,
humans, animals, and all other beings carved on the body of Varaha. Between the
feet of Varaha is the image of the serpent Seshnag, the symbol of Eternity. Also
visible are the feet of a broken figure of Bhudevi. Between its nostrils is the
four-armed Saraswati holding the Veena in one pair of hands. The highly
polished monolithic image in yellow sandstone measures 2.5 m in length and 1.5
m in height. The ceiling of this temple is one of the finest, with three rows of
petals forming an elaborately carved inverted lotus.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPRIONS
Since this Varaha Shrine is just opposite the Lakshmana temple, it is believed to have been constructed between 900 and 925 CE, when Lakshavarman of the Chandela Dynasty built it.
LEGENDS
Facing
the Lakshmana Temple, this temple depicts Vishnu in the form of Vishwa varaha,
his third incarnation in which he took the form of a wild boar to rescue Mother
Earth (Bhudevi) from beneath the ocean where she had been hidden by the demon,
Hiranyaksha. According to the Vishnu Purana, when Vishnu assumed this form, the
entire universe manifested itself in this form.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
--- OM
SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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