Varaha temple at Mathura is a small temple located in the downtown, not easy to find, but it has the greatest of treasures for a Vaishnava. Here one may see the oldest deity of  Lord Varaha in the world.

Lord Varaha, the boar incarnation of Lord Krishna, saved the earth by sinking in the Garbodhaka ocean which is as big as millions of galaxies. He also killed the demon Hiranyaksha who was a terror for the universe.

In this temple is thevaraha deity served by Lord Kapila, Indra, Vibhishana, Lord Rama, and finally Shatrughna who brought the deity to Mathura.

Story of Lord Varaha

Millions of years ago, the gate keepers of Lord Vishnu were cursed by four exalted devotees (for not allowing these devotees to meet Vishnu), to take 3 births as enemies of Lord Vishnu. They will assume their position as the gate keepers of Lord only when they will be killed by Lord Himself thrice.

So the two were born as the demon sons of Sage Kashyapa by his wife Diti. The sage was also the father of the demigods, who are inclined towards devotional service to Lord Vishnu.

These two demons – Hiranyakashipu and his brother Hiranyaksha were inimical towards Lord and His devotees. They became powerful by benedictions got by doing austerities for thousands of years.

Soon they became so powerful that they defeated all the demigods, powerful emperors, and other demons. They became the master of almost all the planets in this universe. They were very cruel and fierce rulers.

Hiranyaksha who was always willing to fight and destroy others, set off on a search for a suitable oponent for him. No one in the universe dared to fight him. All accepted his superior strength.

Then he went to the powerful god of ocean – Varuna. But he said, “O powerful Demon Hiranyasha, no one can fight you, not even me. If you want to fight some one superior than you, then challenge Lord Vishnu.”

Lord Vishnu’s abode was beyond Hiranyaksha’s reach. So he resolved to somehow draw Lord’s attention towards himself.

For that purpose, Hiranyaksha, assuming a gigantic form, lifted the whole earth in his hand and threw it in the Garbodhaka ocean, at the bottom of the universe.

Lord Vishnu, assuming the form of a boar came to rescue the earth frm sinking. Earth was still floating, but the demon wanted it to sink.

But he he saw the divne boar, he forgot about earth and charged towards Him, with his mace. Hiranyaksha was no match for Lord Varaha, the gigantic red boar incarnation.

Lord Varaha encountered the demon by His own mace. The battle continued for a long time. Then Lord hit the demon’s skull with His fist.

The demon could not withstand this attack. His eyas popped out from his face and he began to vomit blood. And in a moment he was dead.

Then Lord Varaha lifted earth with His tusks and placed the planet in its proper location.

The goddess of earth came personally to thank Varaha, who had now assumed a normal sized form, in Mathura, where He was resting after killing the demon. Earth was indeed blessed that Varaha chose a place on her to rest.

Varaha then returned to His bode as Lord Vishnu. Later Lord Vishnu also killed Hiranyakashipu.

Story of The Deity

The varaha deity in this temple at Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, India is extremely old.

Millions of years ago, Sage Kapila who was an incarnation of Lrod Vishnu Himself, carved a deity of Varaha. He worshiped Him daily.

Demigods, including Brahma, Indra, Varuna and other, would come regulary to see the beautiful form of Varaha. Indra was attracte so much to the deity that he prayed to the sage to give the responsibility of the deity to him.

The sage agreed and Indra took the deity to his kingdom – the heaven. There he worshiped the deity for some million years.

Thn the demon king Ravana attacked heaven and after defeating Indra, he took many precious articles of heaven. Although he hated Lord Vishnu but still he took the Varha diety for his younger brother Vibhishna who was a great devotee of Lord.

Vibhishana worshiped the deity for thousands of years.

Lord Rama, who was warrior king incarnation of Lord Vishnu, destroyed Ravana who was terror for the universe. Vibhishna offered the deity to Lord Rama, his mont worshipable Lord.

Lord Rama who is non-different from Varaha worshiped Lord Varaha at His capital at Ayodhya.

After some years Rama gave the responsibility of serving the deity to his younger brother Shatrughna who took Varaha to his capital at Mathura. Indeed this city is very dear to Lord Varaha.

Since then the deity is being worshiped here in Mathura.

Practical Guide

The temple is located in the downtown of Mathura, a city of nearly 450,000 people. Mathura is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India.

It is 160 km from Delhi, 58 km from Agra, 225 km from Jaipur and 11 km from Vrindavana. Nearest ISKCON is Krishna Balarama temple in Vrindavana. From Delhi or Agra go by NH2 or Yamuna expressway.

Mathura is connected to major cities by train also. Taj express is best option to Mathura from Delhi.

How to reach the temple: The temple is not very popular but still people know about it. It can be reached by a small street at the right of main gate of famous Dwarkadheesha temple.

Any auto-rikshaw or simple rikshw will take you easily to Dwarkadheesha temple from any part of Mathura.

There is another Varaha temple near ours, so don’t be confused. The exact name of the discussed Varaha temple is Adi-Varaha temple and it is situated on an elevated point at the end of the street.

Go between 9 am to 12 pm or 4 pm to 7 pm as the temple is open then only.

Other attractions in Mathura: Mathura and Vrindavana are both full of Vaishnava temples. Do visit Krishna’s appearance place (Janmabhoomi temple), Dwarkadheesha temple, Vishram Ghata and Keshava Gaudiya Matha in Mathura.

In Vrindavana, you may see ISKCON temple and Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi and house, Radha Damodara temple, Radha Govinda temple and Madana Mohana temple.

Where to stay: ISKCON guesthouse and MVT guesthouse at Vrindavana are the best options. There are a number of hotels in both Mathura and Vrindavana.

Jaya Varaha Deva!