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Varaha Temple, Pushkar
Vishnu • Pushkar, Rajasthan
॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
The Varaha Temple is one of the oldest shrines in Pushkar, dedicated to Vishnu in his Varaha or boar avatar, who lifted the earth from the cosmic ocean. Standing near the sacred lake, it is distinct from the town’s famous Brahma and Savitri temples and comes alive during the Kartik Purnima fair.
Vishnu as the boar
The temple honours Vishnu in his third avatar, Varaha, who took the form of a great boar to rescue the earth goddess Bhudevi from the depths of the cosmic ocean. Lifting her on his tusks, he restored the world, and the image is one of the most striking of Vishnu’s saving acts.
At Pushkar this avatar is given its own shrine, a reminder that the town’s devotion reaches beyond its better-known temples. Worshippers come to honour the lord who, in this form, set the earth back in its place.
Among the oldest in Pushkar
The Varaha Temple is counted among the most ancient in Pushkar, a town whose religious life stretches back many centuries. Like several shrines here it was rebuilt after earlier destruction, so the present structure carries on an older line of worship at the same spot.
Its long history gives it a quiet standing among the temples of Pushkar, even as the larger Brahma temple draws the greater crowds. For pilgrims tracing the town’s sacred map, the Varaha shrine is an important stop.
By the sacred lake
The temple stands close to the Pushkar lake, the sacred body of water around which the whole town is arranged. The lake’s ghats draw pilgrims for ritual bathing, and the nearby shrines share in its sanctity.
This setting ties the Varaha Temple into the wider pilgrimage of Pushkar, where a circuit of the lake and its temples forms the heart of a visit. The water and the shrine together make the spot a natural point of pause and prayer.
Distinct from Brahma and Savitri
Pushkar is best known for its rare temple to Brahma and the Savitri temple on the hill above, and the Varaha Temple is sometimes confused with them. It is a separate shrine with its own dedication to Vishnu, not part of the Brahma complex.
The temple is busiest during the Kartik Purnima fair and the great Pushkar mela, when the town fills with pilgrims, traders and visitors. At those times the Varaha shrine shares fully in the energy that draws people to Pushkar each year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which deity is worshipped at the Varaha Temple in Pushkar?
The temple is dedicated to Vishnu in his Varaha or boar avatar. In this form Vishnu lifted the earth goddess from the cosmic ocean, and the shrine honours that saving act.
Is the Varaha Temple the same as the Brahma Temple in Pushkar?
No. The Varaha Temple is a separate shrine dedicated to Vishnu and is distinct from Pushkar’s famous Brahma temple and the Savitri temple on the hill. The three are sometimes confused but are different temples.
How old is the Varaha Temple in Pushkar?
The Varaha Temple is one of the oldest temples in Pushkar. The present structure was rebuilt after earlier destruction, continuing a much older line of worship at the same site.
What is the Varaha avatar of Vishnu?
Varaha is Vishnu’s avatar as a great boar, who lifted the earth from the depths of the cosmic ocean on his tusks. It is one of the ten principal avatars and the form honoured at this Pushkar temple.
When is the Varaha Temple busiest?
The temple is busiest during the Kartik Purnima fair and the Pushkar mela. At those times the town fills with pilgrims, traders and visitors, and the shrine shares in the wider celebration.
Where is the Varaha Temple located in Pushkar?
The Varaha Temple stands near the sacred Pushkar lake in Pushkar, Ajmer district, Rajasthan. Its position by the lake ties it into the town’s wider pilgrimage circuit.
॥ जय श्रीमन्नारायण ॥ • Bhaktiras.net Temple Guide
| Deity | Vishnu as Varaha (boar avatar) |
| Significance | One of Pushkar’s oldest temples |
| Legend | Varaha lifting the earth from the ocean |
| History | Rebuilt after earlier destruction |
| Setting | Near the sacred Pushkar lake |
| Distinct from | Brahma and Savitri temples |
| Busy during | Kartik Purnima fair and Pushkar mela |
| Location | Pushkar, Ajmer, Rajasthan |