Shri Varun Dev Mandir
Shri Varun Dev Mandir is a Hindu temple located in Manora Island in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. It is a historic temple and is devoted to Lord Varuna, the deity that represents water in Hinduism. The temple is believed to be the only temple dedicated to the Varuna in Pakistan. The temple is also associated with Jhulelal, an incarnation of Lord Varuna and has great significance to the Sindhi Hindus.
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 estimated to be 1300 years ago 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 under a US government-funded project, which managed to successfully restore the temple in 2018.