Category:Vishnu Varah Temple, Karitalai

Vishnu Varaha temple and ruins, Karitalai 

11th to 12th century Varaha and Hindu temple ruins
Upload media
Instance of	Hindu temple
Location	Madhya Pradesh, India
24° 03′ 37.3″ N, 80° 43′ 32.9″ E
Authority file  Q115756209 Reasonator Scholia Wikidocumentaries PetScan statistics WikiMap Locator tool KML file WikiShootMe OpenStreetMap Search depicted

The Vishnu Varaha temple and ruins of Karitalai are found in Karanpur, a village adjacent and to the east of Karitalai. The site is of Kalichuri era, c. 11th to 12th-century. A major regional capital before the 13th-century, Karitalai and Karanpur are now two adjacent villages about 50 kilometers northeast of Katni. They contain numerous sites with ruins of many lost Hindu and Jain temples.

The Vishnu Varaha temple site is the largest of all historic sites near Karitalai. It has a 7 foot high and 8 foot long Varaha statue. It stands on a high platform facing north. To the immediate west of the statue are the ruins of a large 3-sanctum Hindu temple that was completely destroyed after the 12th-century. The few temple artwork in the pile are defaced and mutilated. At least one sanctum of these three was dedicated to Shiva. The other two are unknown. To the northeast of the Varaha statue is a building with sculptures from this site as well as other Karitalai temple ruins (entry needs special permission from ASI Jabalpur). A few damaged and beheaded statues such as of a Jain Tirthankara, Ganesha, a Hindu goddess are found to the north of the Varaha statue.

The Varaha statue is notable for its Kalachuri of Tripuri era artwork. Profusely carved with jewelry like artwork, a closer study shows that miniature Hindu artwork motifs. These include Rishis, yogi, yoginis, Dasavataras, Saptamatrikas, Shiva and other icons.