VARAHA CAVE, Mamallapuram
12.626400,80.172200
Description
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).
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) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | MAHISHASURAMARDINI CAVE | ||
| 0.0 | TRIMURTI RATHA, Mamallapuram | ||
| 0.0 | LIONS, Mamallapuram (2004.12.26) (Cave of the) | ||
| 0.0 | Olakkanneshwara Temple | ||
| 0.0 | KOTIKAL MANDAPAM | ||
| 0.0 | KRISHNA MANDAPAM | ||
| 0.0 | GANESH CAVE, Mamallapuram | ||
| 0.0 | GOPI's CAVE, Mamallapuram | ||
| 0.0 | KONERI PALLAM CAVE, Mamallapuram |