A spectacular temple in the Mysore Palace - Shweta Varaha Temple

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Among the incarnations of Vishnu, Rama and Krishna are comparatively popular, and they have many temples across India. Varaha Avatar (boar) is a significant incarnation. However, there are not many temples for him. There is one such rare temple located inside the complex of Mysore Palace, in Mysore city of South India. It is named Shweta Varaha temple or Varahaswamy temple.


The Mysore King Chikka Deva Raja Wodeyar (1672-1704 A.D.) procured the stone image of Shweta Varahaswamy from Srimushnam in Tamil Nadu and installed the same in a temple in Srirangapatna. However, this temple was demolished. Subsequently, the icon was shifted to Mysore and set up in this temple in 1809 CE. The beautiful temple built per the Hoysala architectural style is situated in the southern gate of the Mysore Palace.






The temple's presiding deity, Varaha, is made of white stone. Hence, he is called 'Shweta Varaha' (Shweta means white). He carries Bhoo Devi (earth). There is a separate shrine for Lakshmi. Also, the temple enshrines Ranganatha, Garuda, and Hanuman. There are some interesting mural paintings in the temple.


This temple is worth watching for its beautiful Hoysala architecture, especially when the palace complex is lit up in the evenings.


Happy travelling.


Visit my site, krishnakumartk.com, to know more about the travel guides and other books that I have written.




Location: Mysuru, Karnataka, India

Comments

  1. S JanardhananWednesday, September 14, 2011

    Shweta Varaha means White Boar. It is said that Lord Vishnu took the form of a White Boar in order to find the origins of the primordial force. This is supposed to have happened much before the Dasavataram. The name of the present Kalpa 'Shweta Varaha Kalpa' is due to this. The third avatar of Vishnu was a Red Boar, a form in which he rescued the earth from the pralaya deluge.

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