Varaha Temple, Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

Varaha Temple, Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

Varaha Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located at Khajuraho town in Chhatarpur district in Madhya Pradesh, India. The Temple enshrines a colossal monolithic image of Varaha, the boar incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This temple depicts Varaha as a purely animal form. This temple is considered as part of the western group at Khajuraho. This temple is part of UNESCO World Heritage Site along with other temples in Khajuraho Group of Monuments. This Temple is located next to Lakshmi Temple and opposite to Lakshmana Temple.

History

The Varaha Temple is believed to have been constructed around 900 – 925 A.D. by Chandela King Yashovarman as a celebration for his victory over his Pratihara overlord.

The Temple

This Temple is facing towards west and built on a lofty plinth. The shrine is built entirely of sandstone. It has an oblong pavilion with a pyramidal roof of receding tiers, resting on fourteen plain pillars. It measures 6 m in length and 5 m in width.  The shrine houses a colossal monolithic image of Varaha, the boar incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This temple depicts Varaha as a purely animal form. The idol of Varaha is 2.6 m long and 1.7 high. 

The sculpture is carved with numerous figures of Hindu mythology on its entire body. There are more than 675 miniature figures in twelve neatly carved rows on its body. These figures depict the gods and goddesses of Hindu pantheon including different manifestations of Lord Shiva, different forms of Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma, Surya, Saraswathi, Ganesha, Saptamatrikas, Nagadevas, Ashta Dikpalakas, Saptha Rishis, Navagrahas, river goddesses, the seas, the Rudras and Gandharvas.

There was also an image of earth goddess, however it is missing now but traces of her can be seen in the pedestal. A crawling serpent can be seen on the pedestal beneath the Varaha. The sculpture carved between nose and mouth, depicts goddess (of Saraswathi) carrying Veena in her arms. The flat ceiling of the shrine is carved with a lotus flower of exquisite design in relief.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 1.5 Kms from Khajuraho Bus Stand, 7 Kms from Khajuraho Airport, 7 Kms from Rajnagar, 9 Kms from Khajuraho Railway Station, 12 Kms from Bamitha, 41 Kms from Chhatarpur, 47 Kms from Panna and 379 Kms from Bhopal. Khajuraho is situated on Bamitha to Rajnagar route. Khajuraho railway station connects the town by a daily train to Delhi via Mahoba, Jhansi and Gwalior. It provides a daily train connecting to Agra, Jaipur, Bhopal and Udaipur. A local daily train also connects to Kanpur, whilst Varanasi is connected three times a week. Khajuraho Airport has flights to Delhi, Agra, Varanasi and Mumbai.

Location