Varahi Deula, Chaurasi

Varahi Deula

Central icon of Varahi Chaurasi temple holding

fish and bowl

Varahi Deula (Oriya: ) is an ancient 9th century built temple situated on the
eastern coast of Orissa in Puri district.The Varahi temple of Caurasi is unique in more than one way.
The image enshrined in this temple is exquisitely beautiful and considered to be one of the
masterpieces among the images of the deity found all over India.

History and Tradition[edit]

This temple was built in honour of Varahi in the first quarter of 10th century A.D. during Somavamsi
rule. The temple is east facing and built with Sand stone. The area dimension (L x B x H) of the
temple is 15.84 m x 8.23 m x 8.40 m.[1] Varahi is believed to be the Sakti of Varaha. In the Tantric
text 'Varahi Tantra' mention has been made of five forms of Varahi i.e., Svapna Varahi, canda
Varahi, Mahi Varahi (Bhairavi), Krcca Varahi and Matsya Varahi. The description of Matsya Varahi
closely corresponds to the image enshrined in he temple. She has two arms and she is shown
seated in Lalitasana on a pedestal. Following the iconographic canons, the image bears the face of
a boar and body of a divine woman. Her right hand holds a fish while the left hand holds a Kapala.
She has kept her right foot on her Vahana (vehicle) buffalo which is seated on the pedestal at the
bottom. Varahi 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." The beauty of this image lies in her big belly to
indicate her as holding the universe in her womb. On the back slab two Vidyadharas are represented
each on either side. In addition to the main deity in the sanctum two more images of Varahi which
are smaller than the main image are placed in the Jagamohana. Both of them are seated in
ardhaparyankasana. Among them the image in the right niche is shown with a fish in her right hand
and a kapala in her left hand. At the bottom a figure of naravahana is placed on the pedestal. The
four-armed Varahi in the left niche holds a kapala in the lower left hand and is shown with Varada
mudra in the corresponding right hand. The upper right hand holds a fish and left hand holds a
rosary.
Architecture[edit]
Viewed from architectural point, the temple of Varahi in Caurasi is the most beautiful monument in
the Prachi Valley. This temple marks a significant deviation from the usual tradition of Rekha and the
Bhadra type and exhibits a novel style which according to Orissan nomenclature is of Khakhra or
Gaurichara variety. The ground plan of it somewhat resembles that of the Vaital temple in
Bhubaneswar, but while the plan of the latter admits of no regular ratha protection, this temple
presents a pancharatha type both in plan and construction.4 The Vimana is rectangular in cross
section and with its elongated vaulted roof and other architectural features it resembles more with
the Gauri temple of Bhubaneswar than with the Vaital temple. The vase of the Vimana measures
18ft by 22 ft and height of it is 27ft. The Jagamohana which is also rectangular in shape like that of
the Parsuramesvara is a Pidha temple with seven distinct tires of Pidhas. The walls of both the
Vimana and Mohana are beautifully decorated with the figural and arabesque motifs and maintain a
high order of balance and rhythm.
The noteworthy reliefs are found on a single board that surrounds the whole Jagamohana just below
the Varanda where scenes from Ramayana such as killing of the illusory deer, the abduction of Sita,
the murder of Jatayu, the uprooting of seven palm trees, the murder of Vali, the construction of the
bridge over the sea are depicted with grace and precision. The majestic moulding, designs and
carvings of the entire temple are found in remarkable varieties and profusion not being overdone and
accentuated the singular beauty and richness of the monuments in a manner that was hitherto
unknown in the Prachi Valley.

The main temple is like the Khakhara style belonging to Kalinga Kingdom architecture. Other such
example is Vaital Deula, in Bhubaneshwar.
Spreading over about 2 acres of land, this shrine is Sakta and the presiding deity of the temple is
Goddess Varahi, locally called as Matsya Varahi. She sits in lalitasana on a cushion placed on a
plain platform with her right foot resting on the buffalo mount carved on the pedestal. She is
presented as the pot-bellied goddess with the face of a boar. She has two arms and holds a fish in
her right hand and a bowl in her left hand. A third eye is tightly engraved into her forehead. Here
Barahi is worshipped in accordance with the tantric rituals. Goddess Varahi is offered fish every
day.[1]
The semicylindrical shape of the temple shows the variation from the medieval temples of Orissa.
Daily the Mahaprasad of Lord Jagannath comes to this temple.
Shore Temple

Shore Temple of Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) (700728 AD)

Gopuram, Mahabalipuram Shiva Parvathi Deities

Miniature shrine Durga on a lion with small carved

shrine

Vishnu in a reclining pose Stone sculpture

The Shore Temple (built in 700728 AD) is so named because it overlooks the shore of the Bay of
Bengal. It is a structural temple, built with blocks of granite, dating from the 8th century AD. It was
built on a promontory sticking out into the Bay of Bengal at Mahabalipuram, a village south
of Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. At the time of its creation, the village was a
busy port during the reign of Narasimhavarman II of the Pallava dynasty.[1] As one of the Group of
Monuments at Mahabalipuram, it has been classified as a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site since
1984.[2] It is one of the oldest structural (versus rock-cut) stone temples of South India.[1]
Main article: Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
Shore temple is a complex of three temples, one large and two small, located right on the shores of
the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal in Mahabalipuram, which was earlier known as
Mamallapuram. During the Pallava Dynasty reign this was a port city of their kingdom which they
ruled from Kanchipuram. It was built by the Pallava Dynasty when it was the trading port of the
dynasty.[3][4]

History[edit]
Sailors gave the name Seven Pagodas to the Shore Temple when they saw this tall structure on the
seashore, as the temple probably acted as a landmark for navigation of their ships. As it appears like
a Pagoda, the name became familiar to the seafarers.[5]
This structural temple complex was the culmination of the architectural creations that were initiated
by the King [[Narasimha varman II (popularly called as Mamallan after whom the Mamallapuram
town is named), in mid 7th century starting with the Cave temples and the monolithic
Rathas.[4][6] Even though the architectural creation of sculpturing cut-in and cut-out structures
continued during subsequent periods, as seen in the Atiranachanda cave, the Pidari rathas and the
Tiger cave, the main credit for the architectural elegance of the Shore Temple complex in the
category of structural temples goes to the King Rajasimha (70028 AD), also known
as Narasimhavarman II, of the Pallava Dynasty. It is now inferred that this temple complex was the
last in a series of temples that seemed to exist in the submerged coastline; this is supported by the
appearance of an outline of its sister temples off the coast during the Tsunami of 2004 which struck
this coastline.[3][7] The architecture of the Shore Temple was continued by the Cholas (in the temples
that they built) who ruled Tamil Nadu after defeating the Pallavas.[8]

Indian Dance Festival-Mamallapuram[edit]

The Mamallapuram Dance Festival is held every year during Dec-Jan in Mamallapuram, Tamil
Nadu. This dance festival is organised by Department of Tourism, Govt. of Tamil Nadu. Exponents
of Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak, Odissi, Mohini Attam and Kathakali perform against this
magnificent backdrop of the Pallava rock sculptures. It is vibrant festival of dance where enormous
audience enjoys this one month long festival.[12]

Legend[edit]
As the Shore Temple was initially identified as part of the Seven Pagodas at Mahabalipuram, an
ancient Hindu legend referred to the origin of these pagodas in mythical terms.
Prince Hiranyakasipu refused to worship the god Vishnu. The princes son, Prahlada, loved and was
devoted to Vishnu greatly and criticized his fathers lack of faith. Hiranyakasipu banished Prahlada
but then relented and allowed him to come home. Father and son quickly began to argue about
Vishnus nature. When Prahlada stated that Vishnu was present everywhere, including in the walls
of their home, his father kicked a pillar. Vishnu emerged from the pillar in the form of a man with a
lions head, and killed Hiranyakasipu. Prahlada eventually became the king, and had a grandson
named Bali. Bali founded Mahabalipuram on this site.
Myths also mention that Gods were jealous of the architectural elegance of the monuments of
Mahablipuram, and as a result they caused floods to occur, which submerged most parts of the city,
except for a few structures that are seen now.[13]

Architecture[edit]
Layout[edit]

Shore temple, Mahabalipuram, India.

All the three Temples of the Shore Temple complex are built on the same platform. Viewed from the
northern end, the temples appear to be a replica of the Dharmaraja Ratha.[5] The main Shore
Temple, which faces east so that the sun rays shine on the main deity of Shiva Lingain the shrine, is
a five-storied structural Hindu temple rather than rock-cut as are the other monuments at the site.
Built with sculpted granite stones hauled from a nearby quarry, it is the earliest important structural
temple in South India. Its pyramidal structure is 60 feet (18 m) high and sits on a 50 feet (15 m)
square platform. There is a small temple in front which was the original porch.[14][15] It is made out of
finely cut local granite.[16] The shore temple is also one of the most popular temples. Recent
excavations have revealed new structures here under the sand.[15][17]
The temple is a combination of three shrines. The main shrine is dedicated to Shiva as is the smaller
second shrine. A small third shrine, between the two, is dedicated to a reclining Vishnu and may
have had water channelled into the temple, entering the Vishnu shrine. The two Shiva shrines
are orthogonal in configuration. The entrance is through a transverse barrel vault gopuram. The
two shikharas have a pyramidal outline, each individual tier is distinct with overhanging eaves that
cast dark shadows.[1] The outer wall of the shrine to Vishnu and the inner side of the boundary wall
are extensively sculptured and topped by large sculptures of Nandi.[14] The temple's outer walls are
divided by pilasters into bays, the lower part being carved into a series of rearing lions.[18] The temple
walls have large sculptures of Nandi.[19]
Features[edit]

Shivaskanda Panel with Shiva, Uma and their son Skanda

The temple has a garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) in which the deity, Sivalinga, is enshrined, and
a small mandapa surrounded by a heavy outer wall with little space between for circumambulation.
At the rear are two shrines facing in opposite directions. The inner shrine dedicated
to Ksatriyasimnesvara is reached through a passage while the other, dedicated to Vishnu, is facing
outwards. The Durga is seated on her lion vahana. A small shrine may have been in the cavity in the
lion's chest.[15]
The Shore Temples configuration of the two Shiva shrines with the small Vishnu shrine in between
illustrates an attempt to balance the different, competing religious requirements.[1]
The roofs of the temples have ornamentation similar to the Pancha Rathas. The roofs have finials on
the top, indicative of its religious functional nature, as it was a completed temple. The octagonal
shape of the shikaras of the two temples dedicated to Shiva are in the Dravidian architectural
style.[5] Beneath the towers, the sanctuary walls are mostly blank with out any decorations but the
columns are carved over lion mounted bases.[20] The decorations on the outer faces of these shrines
are similar to those seen on the Pancha Rathas, though due to their closeness to the sea, are
partially eroded due to salty winds.[19]
The most distinctive feature of the temple are the Dharalinga and the Somaskanda panel, which are
enshrined in the interior walls of the sanctum of the east facing Kshatriyasimhesvara temple. The
Dharalinga is deified in the garbhagriha, which is in square shape of 12 feet (3.7 m) and the height is
11 feet (3.4 m). The Dharalinga or Shivalinga is in Rajasimha style, carved out of black basalt stone.
It has sixteen faces with slight fluting to create a crown at the top. The top portion of the linga is
damaged. Its total height is 6 feet (1.8 m) with one foot embedded in the foundation to provide
stability.[5] A bas-relief, which is a family image of Shiva and his consort Parvati with their
child Kartikeya built over a stone slab is located in a small shrine in the temple. This is also called
the Somaskanada panel, a carved stone panel. Two more similar panels are seen at the entrance
porch of the temple. This type of panel is also depicted in the nearby Dharmaraja Ratha of the
Paramesvarvarmans era.[5][21][22] The ardhamantapa or half chamber which is the first chamber before
entering the sanctum sanctorum, also has sculptures of Brahma on the south wall and Vishnu on its
north wall. Sculptures of Shiva as Tripurantaka and Durga are seen on the back side of the north
wall of the main shrine. There is also a circumambulatory passage to go round the main shrine in a
clockwise direction.[5]
The smaller Shiva temple behind the main temple is a double storied structure with a stepped
pyramidal tower with an octagonal shikhara built over a circular griva. A kalasa and finial are fitted
above the shikhara. Kudus (horseshoe-arch dormer like projections) and small shrines are part of
the cornices at both levels of the structure. A Somaskanda panel decorates the back wall of the
inner shrine. There is no mantapa (hall) in front of this shrine (probably damaged). The external
walls display two panels. One is called Ekapadamurti, a eye-legged form of Shiva with Brahma and
Vishnu emanating from his sides. The second panel is of Nagaraja (king of serpents) standing below
a five-hooded serpent.[5]
Anantashayi Vishnu (reclining posture of Vishnu lying on the serpent Ananta) is enshrined in a small
rectangular shrine between the large Kshatriyasimhesvara temple and the Rajasimha Pallaveshvara
temple. Vishnu is depicted with four arms but his attributes are missing (damaged). The temple
structure's rectangular tower is missing. The typical design of kudus and small square shrines are
part of the cornice arrangement. The external walls have carvings of Krishna slaying the
demon Kesi, Krishna dancing over Kaliya (the seven hooded serpent), and Vishnu seated on his
vehicle Garuda in the act of saving Gajendra (elephant) from the mouth of a crocodile. Inscription
noted in Pallava Grantha script is on the lintel indicating it as the earliest shrine of the complex.[5]