| Shri Varun Dev Temple | |
|---|---|
| श्री वरुण देव मंदिर | |
 شْرِي وَرُڻَ ديوَ مَنْدِرَ | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Karachi |
| Deity | Jhulelal (Varuna) |
| Festivals | Cheti Chand, Chaliha Sahib |
| Governing body | Pakistan Hindu Council |
| Location | |
| Location | Manora Beach |
| State | Sindh |
| Country |  Pakistan |
  Shown within Sindh | |
| Geographic coordinates | 24°47′51.3″N 66°58′14.9″E / 24.797583°N 66.970806°E / 24.797583; 66.970806 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Hindu temple |
| Specifications | |
| Temple(s) | 1 |
| Monument(s) | 1 |
| Inscriptions | 2 |
| Website | |
| Pakistan Hindu Council | |
Shri Varun Dev Mandir (Sindhi: شْرِيْ وَرُڻَ ديوَ مَنْدِرَ ,श्री वरुण देव मंदिर, Urdu: شْرِیْ وَرُنَ دیوَ مَنْدِرَ) 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.
He is the chief governing deity of all the Seas-Oceans and the Sindh river. 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.
The exact year of the temple's construction or foundation is not known but it is widely believed that the current structure was renovated in around 1917–18.
Inscription in devnagri script says, Om, Varun Dev temple.
The inscription in Sindhi on front gate says, 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.
See also
- Hinduism in Pakistan
- Evacuee Trust Property Board
- Pakistan Hindu Council
- Hinglaj Mata
- Kalat Kali Temple
- Katasraj temple
- Multan Sun Temple
- Prahladpuri Temple, Multan
- Sadh Belo
- Shiv Mandir, Umerkot
- Darya Lal Mandir
References
- ^ Daily Times article on Varun Dev Temple
- "Varun Dev Temple at Manora Island, Karachi".
- The Express Tribune - Shri Varun Dev Mandir By Maha Malik, Published: March 1, 2012
- Bukhaari on Flickr
- ^ Manora temple
- Daily Times - US consul general celebrates successful completion of Varun Dev Temple project
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