Varaha Cave

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Please do not use the pictures without getting my permission, as these photos are copywritten. If you need one please write to me, email address is given below.

This is one of the well-maintained temples in the village called Mamallapuram.

This temple faces the west, mostly temples are East facing but there are 2 temples in Mamallapuram which are West facing. 

The pillars which you can see in the below image are typical Pallava style adorned with mythical figures.



Below is the image of Goddess Gajalakshmi seated with four maids, 2 on either side, 2 each carrying pot. On top we can see the elephants on either side, one pouring the water and the other one who has finished pouring the water. Regarding the maid you can also pay attention to the ladies who are far either side they are movement position and the other 2 who are closer to the Goddess are in stationed position. 

Gajalakshmi images would have been carved on the entrance of the house which were mostly built before 1960s. 


Below is the image panel of Durga standing with an ornament on her waist and breast. There is an umbrella on the top, which is a sign of respect. One can see a lion on the upper left corner pointing towards something, then there is an antelope on the upper right corner. There are 4 bootha ganas flying in midair with one bootha gana having a sword. 2 men are found kneeling in front of Durga, one facing the onlookers of the panel and the other facing towards Durga. The person who is facing Durga holds the hair and is about to cut his head with a dagger. 



Below is the panel which brings the name to this temple, Varaha Panel as it is called, and the cave is called Varaha Cave. Aadi Varaha cave is different to Varaha Cave, in the panel we can see Vishnu in Varaha Avatar taking the shape of human with boar head holding the Earth God on his right lap, right foot mounted on Nagaraja. Standing next to the Nagaraja with folded arms is his wife, back of the women is a sage. On top of the standing sage is Sun god Surya with a hallow. To the left of Vishnu is Brahma with one face being disfigured due to ages, on top of Brahma is a bootha gana [might be] and another sage with the back facing to the left end corner.




Below image is Tiruvikrama panel portraying Vishnu with eight arms, on the upper right corner of the panel is Brahma. In between Vishnu & Brahma is Jambavan. Beneath Brahma is Namuchi flying the air, below Namuchi is King Bali and his sub-ordinates sitting. On to the left side is Sun God, on top of Sun god is Siva. 








williamsatish25@gmail.com
 



Location: J59R+6WM, Mada Koil St, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu 603104, India

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