VARAHA CAVE, Mamallapuram

(Tirukalukundram - IN)
12.626400,80.172200
Grottocenter / carte

Description

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 03/07/2016

The "Cave of the Boar" (an incarnation of Vishnu) is a man-made rock-cut chamber (Pallava period), which was used for religious purposes at Mamallapuram / Mahabalipuram. SITUATION: The relative location is indicated on the location maps in LONELY PLANET, India (1997: 1062; 1999: 1129; 2001: 959; 2003: 978; 2005: 952). CULTURAL HISTORY: Archaeological Survey of India (undated): SI no. 51 »Rock-cut Varaha Temple containing Varaha and Vamana Incarnation of Vishnu« at the locality »Mamallapuram« (note 1).»Varaha Cave Temple consists of a sanctuary accessed through a verandah. The columns' bases are shaped as lions and the shrine here is sided by guardian figures and the Goddesses Lakshmi [note 2] and Durga. The varaha (boar) form of Lord Vishnu is depicted on the side walls, with Bhudevi (Lord Vishnu's consort) and Trivikrama (a form of Lord Vishnu)« (indiaheritage.com/travel/south/tamil.htm accessed 2004.10.31).

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 03/07/2016

NOTE 1: Archaeological Survey of India, Chennai (ex Madras) circle (undated): Alphabetical List of Monuments - Tamil Nadu.- ( asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_tamilnadu.asp accessed 2008.05.31). NOTE 2: Lakshmi (Laxmi), the Hindu goddess of bountyful harvest, buisness, coin rains, corruption, lottery luck, material wealth, money, profit, riches, wellfare, and the like: »Vishnu's consort, Hindu goddess of wealth; she sprang forth from the ocean holding a lotus« (LONELY PLANET, India 2005 glossary: 1109).

Documents

Bibliography 03/07/2016
  • Guide to Mamallapuram a.i.; India's World Heritage Sites 1999; Lonely Planet, India 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003.

Caves nearby

Distance (km)NameLength (m)Depth (m)
0.0MAHISHASURAMARDINI CAVE
0.0TRIMURTI RATHA, Mamallapuram
0.0LIONS, Mamallapuram (2004.12.26) (Cave of the)
0.0Olakkanneshwara Temple
0.0KOTIKAL MANDAPAM
0.0KRISHNA MANDAPAM
0.0GANESH CAVE, Mamallapuram
0.0GOPI's CAVE, Mamallapuram
0.0KONERI PALLAM CAVE, Mamallapuram