Varahi Temple, Chaurasi – The Temple

Varahi Temple, Chaurasi – The Temple

The temple is facing towards east and covers an area of about 2 acres. The temple is pancharatha in plan and triangabada in elevation. The temple consists of khakhara vimana and jagamohana. The jagamohana has a terraced roof in two stages separated by a clerestory similar to the Parasurameswara Temple. It is oblong in shape and triratha in plan. The style is unique as it belongs to early Kalingan architecture style. 

The entrance to the jagamohana is flanked with two massive serpent pillars on either side. The vimana is rectangular on plan. The sanctum doorway has three bands decorated with different scrolls. Female dvarapalas can be seen at the lower portion of the doorjambs. Both of them are two armed and have pot belly. Both holds kapala in one hand.

One dvarapala holds a noose and another holds a mace in the other hand. Naga figures holding garlands can be seen next to the female dvarapalas. Gaja Lakshmi is present over the lintel. The sanctum enshrines an image of Varahi. She is locally called as Matsya Varahi. She is about 6 feet tall. She is depicted as a goddess with the face of a boar. She has a big belly representing holding the universe inside her womb.

She is two armed and shown seated in lalitasana on a pedestal. She holds a fish in her right hand and a kapala in her left hand. She has kept her right foot on the buffalo mount carved on the pedestal. She is represented with a third eye on her forehead which is not clearly visible at present. Her hair is decorated in the form of spiral coils. Two Vidyadharas can be seen each on either side on the back slab.

Varahi is worshipped in accordance with the tantric rituals. Goddess Varahi is offered fish every day. There are two more images of Varahi apart from the presiding deity in the sanctum. These two images are smaller in size and kept in the Jagamohana. Both of them are shown seated in ardhaparyanka mudra. The image in the right niche is two-armed holding fish in her right hand and a kapala in her left hand. Nara Vahana is carved on the pedestal.

The image in the left niche is four-armed holding kapala in the lower left hand, rosary in upper left hand, showing varada mudra in her lower right hand and fish in upper right hand. The exterior walls of both the vimana and jagamohana are profusely decorated with the puranic stories, Ramayana, gods & goddesses from Hindu pantheon, maithuna, mithuna, apsaras, social life, floral and geometrical motifs.