Shri Varun Dev Mandir Explained

Shri Varun Dev Temple
Map Type:Sindh
Coordinates:24.7976°N 66.9708°W
Native Name:श्री वरुण देव मंदिर
Country: Pakistan
State:Sindh
District:Karachi
Location:Manora Beach
Deity:Jhulelal (Varuna)
Festivals:Cheti Chand, Chaliha Sahib
Architecture:Hindu temple
Temple Quantity:1
Monument Quantity:1
Inscriptions:2
Governing Body:Pakistan Hindu Council

Shri Varun Dev Mandir (Sindhi: شْرِيْ وَرُڻَ ديوَ مَنْدِرَ,'''श्री वरुण देव मंदिर''',) is a Hindu temple located in Manora Island in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. The temple is devoted to Lord Jhulelal (Varuna), the deity that represents water in Hinduism.[1]

He is the chief governing deity of all the Seas-Oceans and the Sindh river.[2] Sindh river is the only river known to be associated with him; as per the hymns dedicated to him in RigVed.

Construction

According to a legend, it was around 16th century when a wealthy sailor by the name of Bhojomal Nenshi Bhatia bought Manora Island from the Khan of Kalat, who owned most of the land along the coastline at that time and then his family commissioned a temple on the lay terrain.[3]

The exact year of the temple's construction or foundation is not known[1] but it is widely believed that the current structure was renovated in around 1917–18.[4]

Inscription in devnagri script says,[5] Om, Varun Dev temple.

The inscription in Sindhi on front gate says,[5] dedication from sons in the sacred memory of Seth Harchand Mal Dayal Das of Bhriya. Bhriya is a town in Naushahro Feroze District, Sindh, Pakistan.

Current status

Currently, this temple belongs to the Pakistan Hindu Council. The Evacuee Trust Property Board has completed restoration activities to protect and preserve this ancient heritage.

Previously, the temple was in a dilapidated state as humid winds were eating into the structure and the rich carvings on the walls of the temple were slowly eroding over time. There were efforts to protect and preserve the structure by the Sindh Exploration and Adventure Society (SEAS) under a US government-funded project, which managed to successfully restore the temple in 2018.[6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C05%5C13%5Cstory_13-5-2008_pg12_10 Daily Times article on Varun Dev Temple
  2. Web site: Varun Dev Temple at Manora Island, Karachi.
  3. http://tribune.com.pk/story/343998/shri-varun-dev-mandir-darshan/ The Express Tribune - Shri Varun Dev Mandir By Maha Malik, Published: March 1, 2012
  4. https://www.flickr.com/photos/bukhaari/4525889623/in/photostream/ Bukhaari on Flickr
  5. http://www.hinduofuniverse.com/hou/pak-hindu-temp.html Manora temple
  6. https://dailytimes.com.pk/188915/us-consul-general-celebrates-successful-completion-varun-dev-temple-project/ Daily Times - US consul general celebrates successful completion of Varun Dev Temple project