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In the heart of India, Madhya Pradesh, there exists a beautiful and exquisite landscape, the Khajuraho Temple. The magnificent architecture of the temple is well known. In this blog, we will unveil the facts and mysteries of the Khajuraho Temple. The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a collection of Hindu and Jain temples in the Indian town of Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh. The temples are well-known for their Nagara-style architectural symbolism as well as a few erotic sculptures. The Chandela Dynasty constructed the majority of the temples prior to 1000 CE. By the 12th century, the Khajuraho temple site had approximately 85 temples, of which only 20 remained. The Temple of Kandariya houses numerous sculptures considered to be among the greatest works of Indian art.
Khajurao Temple Sculptures
Khajuraho also spelled Khajuraho, is ancient Kharjuravahaka, a historic town in northern Madhya Pradesh, India. It is a famous tourist and archaeological site known for its sculptured temples dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu, and Jaina patriarchs. The temples are entered through an ornate entrance porch (ardhamandapa), which leads to the main hall (mandapa), from which one can access the vestibule (antarala) before reaching the sanctum (garbhagriha). The temples’ main halls were frequently accompanied by lateral transepts with projecting windows and a circumambulatory path around the sanctum. Larger temples had an extra pair of transepts as well as subsidiary shrines on the four corners of their jati. The Khajuraho complex is a one-of-a-kind artistic creation, both for its highly original architecture and for its high-quality sculpted décor, which includes a mythological repertory of numerous scenes of amusement, including scenes susceptible to various interpretations, sacred or profane. The temples of Khajuraho bear exceptional testimony to the Chandella culture, which flourished in central India before the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate at the beginning of the 13th century CE.
Khajuraho Temple History
The majority of Khajuraho’s temples were built between 950 and 1050 CE and are either Hindu (Saiva or Vaisnava) or Jain. The most famous is the Kandariya Mahadeo, which was dedicated to Shiva and built in the early 11th century CE. The more or less modern Laksmana temple was built in 954 CE to celebrate independence from the Gurjara-Pratihara rulers by King Dhanga (year 950-999 CE) and has a similar layout and exterior to the Kandariya Mahadeo. Sutradhara Chhichchha also designed the Visvanatha temple (year 1002 CE). Shrines can be found at each corner of both temples’ terrace platforms. The Laksmana was dedicated to Vishnu, and its terrace is notable for its narrative frieze that runs around all four sides: elephants, warriors, hunters, and musicians form a procession that is watched by a ruler and his female attendants. The single-towered Caturbhuja and Vamana temples, the squat Matulunga, and the rectangular, more austere Parshvanatha Jain temple with its unique shrine added to the rear of the building (c. 950-970 CE) are also noteworthy at the site.
Khajuraho Temple Architecture
Khajuraho Temple Architecture is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located in Madhya Pradesh, India. The temples are divided into three major groups: western, eastern, and southern. The Khajuraho Temple architecture is based on the Nagara style. Also, temple construction is based on sandstone. The carvings on the temple reflect various aspects of life, including everyday activities, mythical creatures, gods and goddesses, erotic scenes, etc. The temples in Khajuraho are divided into Eastern, Southern, and Western groups. The construction of the temples in Khajuraho is very complex.
The Western group of Khajuraho temple consists of temples like
- Chausath Jogini Temple
- Kandariya Mahadeva Temple
- Devi Jagdamba Temple
- Chitragupta or Bharatji’s Temple
- Vishwanath Temple
- Laxmana Temple
The Eastern group of Khajuraho temple consists of
- Brahma Temple
- Vamana Temple
- Ghatai Temple
- Parsawanatha Temple
The Southern Group of Khajuraho temple consists of
- Duladeo Temple
- Jatkari or Chaturbhuja Temple
Khajuraho Temple Location
The Khajuraho Temple is located in Madhya Pradesh, in the center of India. The temple is located in the Bundelkhand region of India. The temple is located 109 miles southeast of Jhansi, 6.2 miles from Khawja, 5.6 miles from Rajnagar, and 30 miles from Chhatarpur.The temple is well-known for its Nagaria-style architecture and a few erotic symbols.
Khajuraho Temple Construction
The Khajuraho temples are constructed of sandstone with a granite foundation that is almost hidden from view. The stones were joined together with mortise and tenon joints and held in place by gravity rather than mortar. This type of construction necessitates extremely accurate joints. Megaliths weighing up to 20 tons were used to construct the columns and architraves. Some 19th-century repair work was done with brick and mortar, but these have aged faster than the original materials and darkened with time, making them appear out of place. The Khajuraho and Kalinjar regions have high-quality sandstone that can be precisely carved. The surviving sculpture features fine details such as strands of hair, manicured nails, and intricate jewelry.
Khajuraho Temple Famous Attraction
The temples are famous for their Nagara-style architectural symbolism and a few erotic sculptures. Between 885 CE and 1000 CE, the Chandela dynasty built the majority of the Khajuraho temples. The Kandariya Mahadeva and Vishwanath Temples are filled with sculptures of celestial nymphs with broad hips, heavy breasts, and languishing eyes. These sculptures are thought to represent the idea of female beauty and fertility. Other scenes depicted on the temple walls are from the Narathara (the human life cycle), demonstrating how sexual procreation and kama are important aspects of human life. The temples are famous for their Nagara-style architectural symbolism and a few erotic sculptures. Between 885 CE and 1000 CE, the Chandela dynasty built the majority of the Khajuraho temples. The Kandariya Mahadeva and Vishwanath Temples are filled with sculptures of celestial nymphs with broad hips, heavy breasts, and languishing eyes. These sculptures are thought to represent the idea of female beauty and fertility. Other scenes depicted on the temple walls are from the Narathara (the human life cycle), demonstrating how sexual procreation and kama are important aspects of human life.
Khajuraho Temple Chronology
Nearly a third of Khajuraho’s temples belong to the Hindu schools of Vaishnavism, Saivism, and Jainism. Archaeological studies indicate that all three types of temples were built and used simultaneously in the late 10th century. According to Will Durant, this aspect of the Khajuraho temples exemplifies the Hindu and Jain traditions’ tolerance and respect for different religious viewpoints. There were major temples surrounded by smaller temples in each group of Khajuraho temples, a grid style that can be seen to varying degrees in Hindu temples in Angkor Wat, Parambaran, and South India.
FAQs on Khajuraho Temple
Where is Khajuraho Temple?
Khajuraho is a city in the Chhatarpur district of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh—one of the most popular tourist destinations in India.
Which is the largest temple in Khajuraho?
The Kandariya Mahadeo Temple is the most visually eye-catching and certainly the largest structure in Khajuraho. The temple was constructed around 1025 CE, during Vidyadhara's reign.
