Bhu Varaha Swamy temple

Bhu Varaha Swamy Perumal Temple
Bhu Varaha Swamy Perumal Temple
Bhu Varaha Swamy Kovil
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
District	Cuddalore
Deity	Bhu Varaha Swamy (Varaha); Ambujavalli Thayar (Lakshmi);
Location
Location	Srimushnam
State	Tamil Nadu
Country	India
	Location in Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates	11°24′7″N 79°24′19″E / 11.40194°N 79.40528°E
Architecture
Type	South Indian architecture
Creator	Vijayanagara Kings

The Bhu Varaha Swamy temple is a Hindu temple, located at Srimushnam, in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Constructed in the South Indian style of architecture, the temple is dedicated to Varaha (Bhu Varaha Swamy), the boar-avatar of the god Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi as Ambujavalli Thayar. It is Classified one among the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of Vaishnavate tradition. One of the greatest Hindu scholars of Vaishnava Tattvavada (Dvaita) philosophy, Madhvacharya, have come and resided in this temple many times.

The temple was built by the Thanjavur Nayak king Achuthappa Nayak, a vassal of the Vijayanagara Empire. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all the shrines and the temple tanks. There is a seven-tiered rajagopuram, the temple's gateway tower. This is one of important temples of Madhva section. Jagadguru Madhvacharya visited this temple many times. He took even Chaturmasya deeksha here during this time he created Dhanda Teertha with his stick to quelch the thirst of a pregnant woman. Other prominent saints of Madhva Sampradaya such as Vyasatirtha, Vadiraja Tirtha, Raghuttama Tirtha, Raghavendra Tirtha etc., have visited and stayed here for long time.

Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the Chariot festival, celebrated during the Tamil month of Vaikasi (April–May), being the most prominent. The festival also symbolises Hindu-Muslim unity in the region - the flag of the chariot is provided by Muslims; they take offerings from the temple and present to Allah in the mosques. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu. The temple is one of the few temples where Muslims are allowed to worship till the Ardha Mandapam.