Varaha Temple

This is a shrine rather than a temple. Inside its oblong pavilion, rising on a high plinth, is a superbly carved monolithic image of the third incarnation of the Preserver of the Hindu trinity: Varaha the boar. 

The sculpture is 2.5 meters long and 1.5 meters high and its sandstone has been polished to a jewel-like luster. On the body of this yellow sandstone image are carved 674 figures of gods and goddesses in relief.

 In fact a folklorist would, quite literally take a lifetime telling all the tales associated with the images carved on this gallery revered incarnation. According to Hindu cosmology, Varaha rescued Mother Earth by lifting her from the abyss that had engulfed her. 

This shrine was probably made during the rule of the first, significant, Chandella prince: Harsha. It is dated to 900-925 AD.