Varaha in the Early Chalukyan caves, temples
Badami Cave III Discussing the ‘Vishnu Cult in Karnataka’ Shrinivas Padigar gives the first epigraphic record to establish that the Badami Chalukyas could have been Vaishnavas or Bhagavatas – the Mudhol copper plate record of Pulekesi I’s son Pugavarma from Malkhed that records renewal of grant to god Varahidevasvamin. This Varaha temple he infers could have existed much before the 6 th century inscription. Their affinity towards Varaha is evident from the fact that the royal emblem of Chalukyas was the boar. The Mangalesa Kalmane or the Mangalesa Cave in Badami records the direct affiliation wherein he is called a “parama bhagavata”. That cave, Badami Cave III has the all important inscription that helps date (dated 578 CE, reign of Kirtivarma...