Pushkar Varaha Temple, Rajasthan

Address

Main Market, Pushkar,

Rajasthan 305022

Moolavar

Varaha (Vishnu)

Amman

Pundareegavalli

Introduction

The Varaha Temple in Pushkar, Rajasthan, India, is indeed dedicated to Lord Vishnu in his Varaha incarnation, which is the third avatar in the Dashavatara (ten incarnations) of Lord Vishnu. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Varaha, who is depicted with the body of a man and the head of a boar. The temple also honors the Mother Goddess, known as Pundareegavalli.

Puranic Significance

The original Varaha Temple was constructed during the reign of King Anaji Chauhan (1130-1150 A.D.), who was the grandfather of King Prithviraj Chauhan. However, it was destroyed by the Ghaznavid army under Arnoraja. The temple was subsequently rebuilt by Hada Chatrasal of Bundi but was again destroyed during the rule of Aurangzeb. It was reconstructed in 1727 by Raja Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur. The temple has undergone renovations, with remnants of earlier structures still present in the temple compound.

The temple is associated with the legend of Lord Vishnu’s Varaha incarnation. According to the legend, Lord Vishnu took the form of a wild boar with two tusks to rescue Mother Earth (personified as Bhudevi) from the demon Hiranyaksha. The demon had submerged the Earth in the Cosmic Ocean, and Lord Vishnu battled him for thousands of years, eventually rescuing the Earth by lifting it on his tusks and restoring it to its proper position in the universe.

Special Features

The temple is built in a typical Rajasthani Haveli style, using heavy stone and plaster. The structure features large pilasters, gateways, hanging eaves, and ornate carvings. Devotees ascend a long staircase to reach the temple’s entrance. The interior of the temple contains various sculptures, life-size statues of Dwarapalakas (guardians of the temple), and gold-styled pillars depicting Garuda, the mythical bird associated with Lord Vishnu.

The Varaha Temple is known for its elegant architecture and invaluable ornaments. In ancient records, it was said to be 150 feet in height and adorned with exquisite Vaishnava sculptures. The Varaha Temple is one of the eight Swayambhu Kshetras of Lord Vishnu, where it is believed that the presiding deity manifested on its own. The other seven temples in this category are located in various parts of India and include renowned sites like Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple, Tirumala Venkateshwara Temple, and Badrinath Temple. The Varaha Temple in Pushkar is not only an architectural marvel but also a place of great religious and historical significance for devotees of Lord Vishnu.