Lakshmi (left) and Varaha (right) Shrines

As viewed from the Lakshmana temple.

Detail from the door of the Lakshmi Shrine

Lakshmi Shrine

This shrine is devoted to Lakshmi, Hindu goddess of wealth, fortune, love and beauty, the lotus flower and fertility.

Inside Varaha Shrine

This is a depiction of Varaha, the third avatar (or manifestation) of Vishnu. Varaha has the form of a boar. Beneath him is the serpent-king god Sheshanagais who is said to hold all the planets of the Universe on his hoods and to constantly sing the glories of Vishnu from all his mouths.

Agatha reads about Varaha

In the myth, Varaha appeared in order to defeat Hiranyaksha, a demon who had taken the Earth goddess Prthivi and carried her to the bottom of the cosmic ocean. The battle between Lord Varaha and Hiranyaksha lasted for a thousand years, which the former finally won. Varaha carried the Earth out of the ocean between his tusks and restored it to its place in the universe. Vishnu then married Prithvi in this avatar.

Varaha and Prthvi's feet

Prthvi, the Earth goddess was originally depicted standing next to Varaha. Unfortunately, only her feet (seen here at the bottom toward the right) and part of a hand remain.

Varaha's rear end

Varaha, lord of earth water, and heaven, is covered with 674 figures of B rahmanical gods and goddesses representing the Hindu pantheon.

Head of Varaha

The depiction of Varaha the boar, as well as the entire shrine, is carved from sandstone, with the boar polished to a high shine. The shrine is thought to have been built 900-925 AD.