Lakhmi Varaha Temple
Encyclopedia
Sri Sri Lakshmi Varaha Temple or Lakshmi Varahajew Mandira is an 500-year-old temple dedicated to the boar incarnation of lord Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....

, otherwise called Varaha
Varaha
Varaha is the third Avatar of the Hindu Godhead Vishnu, in the form of a Boar. He appeared in order to defeat Hiranyaksha, a demon who had taken the Earth and carried it to the bottom of what is described as the cosmic ocean in the story. The battle between Varaha and Hiranyaksha is believed to...

along with his consort Lakshmi
Lakshmi
Lakshmi or Lakumi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity , light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage; and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm. Representations of Lakshmi are also found in Jain monuments...

 instead of Bhudevi.

Location

It is located in a small Panchayat of Aul(Oriya
Oriya language
Oriya , officially Odia from November, 2011, is an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is mainly spoken in the Indian states of Orissa and West Bengal...

:ଆଳି), in Kendrapara District
Kendrapara District
Kendrapara District is an administrative district of Orissa state in eastern India. The town of Kendrapara is the district headquarters. Kendrapara District is situated in the eastern portion of the state, and is bounded on the north by Bhadrak District, on the east by the Bay of Bengal, on the...

. The geographical coordinates are 20° 41' 0" north, 86° 39' 0" east. The nearest rivers are Brahmani River
Brahmani River
The Brahmani is a major seasonal river in the Orissa state of Eastern India. The Brahmani is formed by the confluence of the Sankh and South Koel rivers, and flows through the districts of Sundargarh, Kendujhar, Dhenkanal, Cuttack and Jajapur...

 and Baitarani River
Baitarani River
The Baitarani River or River Vaitarani is one of six major rivers of Orissa, India. Venerated in popular epics and legends, the Baitarani River is a source of water for agricultural irrigation. Most of the potentially arable land in the area is not under cultivation. The coastal plain of Orissa...

. Aul is situated at about 146 km from state capital Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar is the capital of the Indian state of Orissa, officially Odisha. The city has a long history of over 2000 years starting with Chedi dynasty who had Sisupalgarh near present-day Bhubaneswar as their capital...

. Regular bus services are available from Kendrapara
Kendrapara
Kendrapara is a city and a municipality in Kendrapara district in the Indian state of Orissa. It is the headquarters of Kendrapara district.-Geography:Kendrapara is located at . It has an average elevation of...

, Cuttack
Cuttack
Cuttack is the former capital of the state of Orissa, India. It is the headquarters of Cuttack district and is located about 20 km to the north east of Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa. The name of the city is an anglicised form of Kataka that literally means The Fort, a reference to the...

, Bhadrak
Bhadrak
Bhadrak is a city and a municipality in Bhadrak district in the state of Orissa, India.-Demographics: India census, Bhadrak had a population of 1,33,4000. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Bhadrak has an average literacy rate of 73.86, higher than the national average of...

 and Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar is the capital of the Indian state of Orissa, officially Odisha. The city has a long history of over 2000 years starting with Chedi dynasty who had Sisupalgarh near present-day Bhubaneswar as their capital...

. The nearest railway station is Bhadrak
Bhadrak
Bhadrak is a city and a municipality in Bhadrak district in the state of Orissa, India.-Demographics: India census, Bhadrak had a population of 1,33,4000. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Bhadrak has an average literacy rate of 73.86, higher than the national average of...

 situated on the Chennai–Howrah railway route.

Legend of Varahajew

King of Aul was a devotee of Lord Shree Shree Lakshmi
Lakshmi
Lakshmi or Lakumi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity , light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage; and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm. Representations of Lakshmi are also found in Jain monuments...

 Varaha
Varaha
Varaha is the third Avatar of the Hindu Godhead Vishnu, in the form of a Boar. He appeared in order to defeat Hiranyaksha, a demon who had taken the Earth and carried it to the bottom of what is described as the cosmic ocean in the story. The battle between Varaha and Hiranyaksha is believed to...

. The Lord was situated in the Maa Biraja
Biraja Temple
Viraja Temple or Viraja Kshetra , or Oddyana Peetha, , is one of the ancient Hindu temples located in the Jajpur district of Orissa, India. This present temple was built in 13th century. It is situated in the Jajpur township which is nearly 125 KM north from Bhubaneswar...

 Pitha at the Jajpur District
Jajpur District
Jajpur is a district of Orissa, India, and an historic place of pilgrimage. As Jajpur was once the capital of the Kalinga kingdom, it is now an area of archeological wealth, including the famous Saktipitha of the Goddess Biraja, as well as the shrines of the Goddess Biraja , Sveta Baraha , Sapta...

 along with Yajna Varaha Temple
Yajna Varaha Temple
Sri Sri Yajna Varahajew Temple is situated in the town named Jajpur,in Orissa and dedicated to lord Varaha.-Mythology:Lord Brahma did ten Ashwamedha Yajna near the Baitarani River.After finishing on a holy moment of Pausha Amavasya Lord Varaha emanated from the holy fire.Lord Brahma first...

. The king used to go there for offering Puja. One day during the month of Shraavana
Shraavana
Shraavana is a month of the Hindu calendar, also known as Sawan. In India's national civil calendar, Shraavan is the fifth month of the Hindu year, beginning in late July and ending in the third week of August. In the Tamil calendar, it is known as Aavani and is the fifth month of the solar year...

 flood came in the Baitarani River
Baitarani River
The Baitarani River or River Vaitarani is one of six major rivers of Orissa, India. Venerated in popular epics and legends, the Baitarani River is a source of water for agricultural irrigation. Most of the potentially arable land in the area is not under cultivation. The coastal plain of Orissa...

, so the darshan was cancelled. But the Lord couldn't tolerate that. The king dreamed a dream that the Lord wants to come with him to his place to Aul (locally called Alli). And one day the Lord came, following the king's path of return, after puja. As the king was returning through his horse, he was listening the sound of Lords following him. And at Aul at this place around one km before the king's palace the sound of Lord's walking stopped. And in this place the then devotee king built the Lord's holy temple. Still the Yajna Varaha Temple
Yajna Varaha Temple
Sri Sri Yajna Varahajew Temple is situated in the town named Jajpur,in Orissa and dedicated to lord Varaha.-Mythology:Lord Brahma did ten Ashwamedha Yajna near the Baitarani River.After finishing on a holy moment of Pausha Amavasya Lord Varaha emanated from the holy fire.Lord Brahma first...

 is there in Jajpur. The present temple was renovated by king of Aul Late Sri Brajasundar Dev during the 20th century which was in a ruined state for the last 500 years.

Festivals

  • Varaha dwadashi, Avatara divas of Varaha
    Varaha
    Varaha is the third Avatar of the Hindu Godhead Vishnu, in the form of a Boar. He appeared in order to defeat Hiranyaksha, a demon who had taken the Earth and carried it to the bottom of what is described as the cosmic ocean in the story. The battle between Varaha and Hiranyaksha is believed to...

     on Maagha
    Maagha
    Maagha is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Maagh is the eleventh month of the year, beginning in January and ending in February....

     shukla dvadashi gathers a lakh of devotees across nearest area.
  • Varaha Dola Yatra, the swing festival during Phalguna
    Phalguna
    Phalguna is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Phaalgun is the twelfth month of the year, beginning on 20 February and ending on 21 March .In lunar religious calendars, Phaalgun may begin on either the new moon or the full moon...

     or Holi
    Holi
    Holi , is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. Holi is also known as festival of Colours. It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, Pakistan, and countries with large Indic diaspora populations following Hinduism, such as Suriname, Malaysia, Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, United...

    .
  • Raja Parva
    Raja Parva
    Raja Parba or Mithuna Sankranti is a four day long festival and the second day signifies beginning of the solar month of Mithuna from, which the season of rains starts...

  • Vijaya Dashami
  • Kumar Purnima
  • Kartik Purnima
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