Khajuraho Group of Monuments

Ancient Indian temples and its architecture are very famous worldwide. We are going to see one of the best groups of temples at Khajuraho in India. Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a group of Hindu temples and Jain temples. It is one of the many

UNESCO World Heritage sites in India.

Kandariya-Mahadev Side View

The Celebration of Life is Creatively Played Out On It’s Walls

Khajuraho is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Central India. Khajuraho is located in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh. In modern times, Khajuraho is mainly hyped for its Erotic Sculptures, that are carved out on the outer walls of the temples. However, Khajuraho temples are beyond just erotics and love temples but the knowledge base of everyday life in medieval times. Whereas Erotic sculptures are just a part of that, merely around 8% – 10% of all sculptures. The celebration of life is creatively played out on the exteriors of the temples.

Temples of Khajuraho are consists of different figures like Devtas, Apsara, Sur-Sundaries, Animals, Musicians, Dancers and Erotic Couples or Groups. According to the local credence, Khajuraho had 85 temples spread over the city. However, only 25 temples have survived with some restoration work. Based on Khajuraho temples geographical location,

they are categorized into three groups:

• Eastern Temples
• Western Temples
• Southern Temples

We are going to glance over some of the temples from Western Group in this post. Western Group of Temples are the most visited by tourists from across the globe.

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Passing the entrance gate, you will be amazed to see the well-maintained garden and temples structures distributed over that area. Moving further, on your left front, you will see a small group of temples, Lakshman Temple, Lakshmi Temple, Varah Temple & Matangeshwar Temple.

Small group of temples

Khajuraho: Lakshman Temple

Lakshman temple is dedicated to God Vishnu. It is built by King Yasovarman also known as Lakshavarman and hence the temple derives it’s named from him. Lakshmana temple was said to be the most ornate and evolved temple of its age in central India. It is best preserved in the evolved temples. This Vaishnava temple is a Sandhara Temple (संधार पद्धती) of the Panchaayatan (पंचायतन)(Five Shrined) layout. Sandhara temples are those which does have a Pradakshina Path. Pradakshina path is a track around the temple shrine, which is used for walking in the right direction–that is circling the shrine–as a mark of respect.

Laxman Temple Front View

The prime shrine is surrounded by four subsidiary shrines in four corners at Lakshman Temple. According to Panchaayatan (पंचायतन), the prime shrine is accompanied by 4 small shrines on its 4 corners. Those 4 shrines are dedicated to five different deities i.e. Vishnu, Shiv, Surya, Ganesh & the Goddess. All these shrines are worshiped simultaneously.

Lord Vishnu in Laxmana temple

As you enter into the prime shrine and proceed towards Garbh Gruh (Sanctum), there is an idol of the deity i.e. God Vishnu. The idol has three faces, where the left face is of Narsinh or Narasimha Avtaar (Human Body With Lion Face), Central is a Human Face and the Right face is a Varah Avtaar (Boar). The Surya (Sun) is carved out behind these faces. The idol is with broken hands, hence the daily worship does not take place in this temple.

Inner Wall Carving Laxmana temple

Temple is constructed facing east direction as per the principles of Vastu Shastra (Science of Architecture). Therefore, when the sun rises, the light falls directly on the idol. During the progress towards the west(Sunset), the sunlight is reflected from the temples–that are facing towards the prime shrine–on the platform and then reflected directly towards the main idol. This way the temple is always brightened by the natural light. There is a stone inscription at the entrance. The inscription uses Sanskrit language and the script of this language is Devnagari. The inscription conveys the information regarding the temple, like the king who built it and when it was built, etc.

Stone Incription

One of temple from panchayatan at Laxman temple

Vishnu in Varah Avatar

Figure of Authority with acolytes

God Vishnu with Goddess Lakshmi in Niche

Elephant Carved on temple’s base representing Bharvahak

Amazing sculptures on temple Wall

Khajuraho: Mahalaxmi Temple

Next to lakshaman Temple, there was a Garud Temple. A temple dedicated to Garud (Eagle) which is God Vishnu’s Vahan. However, when the restoration work began for this temple, the idol of Mahalakshmi was installed in this temple. Mahalakshmi is a consort of God Vishnu.

Mahalakshmi temple on Left and Varah temple on Right

Khajuraho: Varah Temple

This temple dedicated to the 3rd avatar of God Vishnu, Varah Avtaar. A temple erected on 14 pillars and a spire on the top. The temple idol Carved in a single stone and is of approx 2.5 meters long and over 1.5 meters high. The material used in building this giant idol looks like a metal(Bronze like) due to its finishing, but it’s carved out from a sandstone.

Varah Temple

There’s an interesting reason behind this bronze-like finishing on a sandstone. Local’s during medieval times (and still today) used to believe that when they perform Pradakshinaa (Circumambulation) around the idol, touching the idol with their hands, the positive energy possessed by the idol will be transformed into them. Hence it became customary for devotees to touch the idols during Pradakshina. So this energy receiving belief for over the centuries caused the glossy shining on a sandstone.

Carving on Varah Shrine

This Varah idol is festooned with figures of gods, goddesses and apsaras counting nearly 674 as told by our guide. There is also Sheshnaag(Snake God) depicted in a devotional posture under the Varah Idol(boar) on the pedestal. And a figure of Saraswati Goddess(Goddess of Knowledge) is carved on the nose on the front side.

Varah temple inner top Design

Khajuraho: Matangeshwar Temple

Adjacent and on the right side of the Lakshman Temple, stands Matangeshwar Temple separated from Lakshman Temple and other adjacent temples. The reason for separation is, this is the only temple in the Western Group of Temples, which is worshiped every day by locals and tourists. All the other temples are in dilapidated state and worship is no longer conducted. This temple–compared to other temples in this group–is less decorated with figures of gods and goddesses.

Matangeshvara temple

Laxmana temple from back side

Erotic Sculptures of Khajuraho

Khajuraho Temples clearly depict the cultural life of the society on the exteriors of the temples. Society during medieval times is considered to be the most liberal and tolerant society. According to some references in the books, Khajuraho temples also considered as Non-Family destinations, due to the presence of Erotic Sculptures. If you look at these sculptures as an ART, then you’ll be amazed by the finest skills of sculptors. Even though these sculptures cover 8% – 10% of all sculptures in Khajuraho, they still hold the viewers’ attention and this is what makes Khajuraho Temples so special.

These sculptures have lent themselves to various interpretations. Some interpretations express the possibility of building these temples due to the fall in moral values in contemporary society. Some regard them to Tantrism and believe that Trantrics used to live on these lands. Whereas, some of the interpretations who has a philosophical base, says this is one of the ways to attain Moksh (Salvation) and then some other interpretations consider them as the illustrations of erotic postures mentioned in the ancient texts of Kamashastra.

The place which turns a tourist into a Photographer 😉 with its Grandeur and Magnificence.

It has also been suggested that these scenes represent the erotic practices of certain medieval Indian sects. These practices invested the sexual act with a ritual symbolism and considered Yog (Spiritual Exercise) and Bhog (Physical Pleasure) to be alternate paths leading to the attainment of final deliverance. According to these sects, the controlled enjoyment of senses was an easier way of salvation.

Erotic Sculptures on walls of Khajuraho temples

Erotic Sculptures on walls of Khajuraho temples

Erotic Sculptures on walls of Khajuraho temples

Khajuraho: Kandariya Mahadev Temple

Moving further from Lakshman temple, on back side you will see Kandariya Mahadev temple. The Chandella kingdom reached its apex under the rule of King Vidyadhar (c.1017-29 -The successor of King Gandha). King Vidyadhar also continued the tradition of building temples just like his forefathers. The authorship of the Kandariya-Mahadev temple is attribued to King Vidyadhar.

Kandariya-Mahadev temple is the largest and grandest temple of Khajuraho.

This temple is dedicated to God Shiv and a shivling (made of marble) is installed in later times. At the entrance, you will see beautiful Makar toran and above it God Shiv with Goddess Parvati.

Kandariya-Mahadev and Jagdambi temple

Kandariya-Mahadev from left side

Entrance Toran – Kandariya-Mahadev

Shardula at Kandariya-Mahadev temple

There are numerous sculptures of Apsaras & Sur-Sundaris in Khajuraho temples. Sur-Sundaris are represented invariably in the finest jewellery and in superior garments. They also show different moods and emotions. Some moods shows disrobing, yawning, touching their breasts and removing thorns from their feet. Whereas, Apsaras are shown in various dancing poses.

Amazing sculptures on temple Wall

Amazing sculptures on temple Wall

Amazing sculptures on temple Wall

Amazing sculptures on temple Wall

Amazing sculptures on temple Wall

Elephant Carving

Jagdambi temple side view

Ganesh Sculpture

Amazing sculptures on temple Wall

Kandariya-Mahadev side view closeup

Jagadambi temple

Chitragupta temple

Other temples in Western group of temples

Vishwanath temple

Vishwanath temple closeup

Nandi temple in front of Vishvanatha temple

Khajuraho: Nagara or Northern Style Architecture

Nagar or Northern Style Architecture is used to construct these Khajuraho Temples. The aspects of this particular style are focussed on a square-shaped sanctum with a curvilinear Spire on top of the building. All temples in Khajuraho–except a few temples–are made of fine-grained sandstone and mostly in pale yellow color which resembles the skin color tone of an Indian.

Sculptures

According to ASI (Archeological Survey of India) book, Khajuraho sculptures can be divided in to five broad categories:

• First category consist of formal cult-images.
• Second category consist of Parivara, Parsva and Avarana-devtas (family, attendant and enclosing divinities) which mostly seen in niches.
• Third category consist of Apsaras and Sura-Sundaris.
• Fourth category consist of domestic scenes, teachers and disciples, dancers and musicians and erotic couples or groups.
• Fifth category consist of sculptures of animals including mythical Vyal or Shardul, the beast often represented as a rampant horned lion with an armed human rider on its back.

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