Varaha Temple, Khajuraho

Varaha Temple
Varaha temple at Khajuraho
Varaha Temple Location in Madhya Pradesh
Name
Proper name	Varaha Temple
Devanagari	वराह मंदिर
Geography
Coordinates	24°51′7.3″N 79°55′20″E / 24.852028°N 79.92222°E / 24.852028; 79.92222Coordinates: 24°51′7.3″N 79°55′20″E / 24.852028°N 79.92222°E / 24.852028; 79.92222
Country	India
State	Madhya Pradesh
District	Chattarpur, Khajuraho^[1]
Location	Khajuraho^[1]
Culture
Primary deity	Varaha, Incarnation of Vishnu
Architecture
Number of temples	1
History and governance
Date built	CIRCA 900–925 AD^[1]
Creator	Chandela Rulers

The Varaha Temple at Khajuraho (Devanagri: वराह मंदिर) enshrines a colossal monolithic image of Varaha, the boar incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This temple depicts Varaha as a purely animal form. The temple is located in the Western Group of Temple Complex Khajuraho Group of Monuments, a World Heritage Site inscribed by UNESCO in 1986 in Khajuraho.^[1] Khajuraho is a small village in Chattarpur District of Madhya Pradesh, India.^[1]

Varaha (Sanskrit: वराह) is the third Avatar of the Lord Vishnu, in the form of a Varaha (Boar).

Legend

Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of a Boar in order to defeat Hiranyaksha, a demon who had taken the Earth (Prithvi) and carried it to the bottom of what is described as the cosmic ocean in the story. The battle between Varaha and Hiranyaksha is believed to have lasted for a thousand years, which the former finally won. Varaha carried the Earth out of the ocean between his tusks and restored it to its place in the universe. Vishnu married Prithvi (Bhudevi) in this avatar.

The Varaha Purana is a Purana in which the form of narration is a recitation by Varaha.

Depiction

Varaha is depicted in art as either purely animal or as being anthropomorphic, having a boar's head on a man's body. In the latter form he has four arms, two of which hold the wheel and conch-shell while the other two hold a mace, sword or lotus or make a gesture (or "mudra") of blessing. The Earth is held between the boar's tusks.

The Varaha Temple structure is one of the monuments among Khajuraho Group of Monuments, a World Heritage Site in India. It is dated to c. 900–925 AD.^[1] Inside the temple complex, Varaha Temple is located next (South) to Lakshmi Temple and opposite to Lakshman Temple.

Architecture

The Varaha Shrine, built on a lofty plinth,^[1] is simple and modest. It has an oblong pavilion with a pyramidal roof of receding tiers, resting on fourteen plain pillars.^[1] The shrine is built entirely of sandstone.^[1]

The statue of Varaha is 2.6 m long^[1] and 1.7 high.^[1] The sculpture is colossal and monolithic and made of sandstone. The sculpture is carved with numerous figures on its entire body (also seen in image). The sculpture carved between nose and mouth, depicts goddess (of Saraswati) carrying Veena in her arms.

Gallery

Varaha Temple, Khajuraho India.
Varaha Temple, Khajuraho India.
Varaha Temple, Khajuraho India.
Varaha Temple, Khajuraho India.
Varaha Temple, Khajuraho India.
Varaha Temple, Khajuraho India.
Varaha Temple, Khajuraho India.

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) - Varaha Temple". Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Retrieved 21 March 2012. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Varaha Temple Khajuraho.

World Heritage Sites in India

North	Agra Fort Fatehpur Sikri Great Himalayan National Park Humayun's Tomb Keoladeo National Park Khajuraho Group of Monuments Kalka-Shimla Railway Nanda Devi National Park and Valley of Flowers National Park Qutub Minar and its Monuments Red Fort Complex Taj Mahal

East	Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Kaziranga National Park Mahabodhi Temple Complex Manas Wildlife Sanctuary Sun Temple at Konark Sundarbans National Park

South	Great Living Chola Temples Group of Monuments at Hampi Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram Group of Monuments at Pattadakal Nilgiri Mountain Railway Western Ghats

West	Ajanta Caves Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Churches and convents of Goa Elephanta Caves Ellora Caves Hill Forts of Rajasthan Jantar Mantar of Jaipur Rani ki vav Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi Western Ghats

Khajuraho Group of Monuments

Western Group	Lakshmi Temple Varaha Temple Lakshmana Temple Kandariya Mahadeva Temple Devi Jagadambi Temple Chitragupta Temple Vishvanath Temple Nandi Temple Parvati Temple Chausath Yogini Temple Matangeshwara Mahadeva Temple

Eastern Group (Hindu)	Vamana Temple Javari Temple Brahma Temple

Eastern Group (Jain)	Parsvanath Temple Adinath Temple Shantinath Temple

Southern Group	Duladeo Temple Chaturbhuj Temple Beejamandal

Museums	Jain Museum Archeological Museum

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