Varaha Temple, Eran, Madhya Pradesh

Varaha Temple, Eran, Madhya Pradesh

Varaha Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located at Eran Village in Bina Taluk in Sagar District in Madhya Pradesh, India. The Temple is situated inside the Eran Group of Monuments Complex. Varaha in its zoomorphic form is known as Yajna Varaha representing the yajna (sacrifice) with its aahutis (offerings) in an animated form. This Idol is considered as one of the largest Varaha Idol in India. The Temple is situated on the southern bank of the river Bina, a tributary of river Betwa. The temple has been classified as a Monument of National Importance by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

History

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2021/06/eran-group-of-monuments-history.html

The Temple

The Varaha idol might have been enshrined inside a small temple in the distant past. The idol is currently open to sky. The Varaha idol is facing towards west. The Varaha idol measures about 14 feet in length, 5 feet in width and 11 feet in height. This Idol is considered as one of the largest Varaha Idol in India. The idol is decorated with 1185 figures of sages, arranged in twelve rows, carved all over his body including legs, neck, forehead and throat.

A figure of Bhudevi is shown hanging with the right tusk of Varaha. Saraswathi is standing in samabhanga posture with her hands on her waist at the snout of the Varaha. Vidyadharas are found in the ears. A garland of twenty-eight circles is shown around the neck of the Varaha. A male and a female figure is present inside the twenty-seven circles, while one circle has a figure of a scorpion. Four rows of male figures are shown across the throat and chest area.

There are total of ninety-six figures, except the one, all are two-armed sages holding a water pot in one hand. There is an image of Vishnu standing on a lotus can be seen in the middle from top between the first and second row. He is shown with two hands, but both hands are broken. The third row on the chest shows seven male figures representing seven planets, the leftmost holding two lotus in his hand and wearing a tunic while the rest holding a water vessel.

There is a stump like protrusion on the shoulders of the Varaha. It has four niches on its four sides enshrining Vasudeva on the west, Shiva on the south, Brahma on the north and Vishnu on the east. Twelve rows of figures, in shape of a U, are carved along the body of the Varaha. All the twelve rows have figures of two armed sages, holding water vessel in one hand and the other hand either in abhaya mudra or in vismaya mudra.

Legs and tail of the Varaha is also decorated with rows of sages, six rows in forelegs and three rows in hind legs. The famous Toramana inscription can be found on the front chest of the image. The boar along with the site is damaged, and cracks run across the Varaha, one of the cracks passes through the inscription. There is a depiction of the ocean, with serpents and sea life carved on the floor between the legs of the Varaha.

Inscriptions

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2021/06/eran-group-of-monuments-inscriptions.html

Connectivity

The Temple Complex is located at about 12 Kms from Mandi Bamora Railway Station, 20 Kms from Bina Junction Railway Station, 21 Kms from Bina, 21 Kms from Bina Bus Stand, 23 Kms from Khurai, 75 Kms from Sagar, 91 Kms from Vidisha, 101 Kms from Sanchi, 156 Kms from Bhopal and 161 Kms from Bhopal Airport. Mandi Bamora Railway Station is situated on the Bhopal – Bina railway line. There are no direct bus facilities to Eran. One need to hire car or auto from Bina, Khurai and Mandi Bamora to reach Eran.

Location | Photos