The
Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a group of Hindu and Jain temples in
Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, India, about 175 kilometres (109 mi) southeast of
Jhansi. They are one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India. The temples
are famous for their nagara-style architectural symbolism and their erotic
sculptures. Most Khajuraho temples were built between 950 and 1050 by the
Chandela dynasty. Historical records note that the Khajuraho temple site had 85
temples by the 12th century, spread over 20 square kilometers Of these, only
about 25 temples have survived, spread over 6 square kilometers. Of the various
surviving temples, the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple is decorated with a profusion
of sculptures with intricate details, symbolism and expressiveness of ancient
Indian art. The Khajuraho group of temples were built together but were
dedicated to two religions, Hinduism and Jainism, suggesting a tradition of
acceptance and respect for diverse religious views among Hindus and Jains in
the region
The
Hindu and Jain temple complex at Khajuraho in central India has become a major
tourist site for Indians and International tourist. Built nearly a thousand
years ago, but abandoned two centuries later, Khajuraho remained a minor
pilgrimage site into the present century. The Khajuraho temples include
thousands of sexual relief carvings, much publicized throughout India.
Khajuraho temples were built during the Chandela period, a dynasty which
survived for five centuries before falling to the onslaught of Islam. The
history tells us that in the ancient India, the kings did not sponsor directly
the making of rock-cut caves, stupas or temples. None of the stupas have
sculptures of the Kings and rulers of those times. But with the arrival of the
medieval period, rulers began to patronize personally the making of temples.
The
personal attention of the ruler led to the making of the larger temples, especially
from the 10th or 11th century onwards, under the Cholas in south India.
Similarly changes were seen under the rule of the Chandela in the central
India. Chandela dynasty was well established and there was peace and prosperity
in 10th and 11th century. Art and culture flourished there as the kings were
great patrons of poetry and theatre. The symbol of their cultural achievements
was at their capital city of Khajuraho, where between the 10th and 12th
centuries, one of the most splendid temple cities in the history of the world
was created. There were originally 85 temples were created out of which only 22
are remain today. The first king who started construction in Khajuraho was
Harsh who built the 64 Yogini Temples.
Kandariya Mahadev
Temple- Kandariya
Mahadev Temple This is without any doubt the largest and most magnificent
temple in Khajuraho. The elegant proportions of this building and its
sculptural detailing are the most refined examples of this artistice heritage
of central India. Kandariya Mahadev shares its high platform with the small
Mahadev shrine and the medium - sized Devi jagdambi Temple, thereby
accentuating its height and grandeur. As far as we know, after the Kandariya
Mahaddev temple, the artist of khajuraho never again attempted to build a
strcuture so high or ornate. The temple measures about 30 metres in lenght and
20 m width. The temple shikhara rises 35.3 metres in length.
The temple shikhara rises 35.3 Detres above the ground. from the east side it looks like a huge mountain of stone with a dark cave-like opening set high above the ground. The temple measures about 30 metres in length and cave-like opening Set high above the ground. The name Kandaya Mahadev refers also to Shiva, the ascetic who dwells in a mountain cave, lost in meditation. In profile the pyramidal porch, mandap roofs and conical shikhara looks like a range of mountain staraining upwards till it meets the sky, or shiva. The shikhara of the kandariya Mahadev Temples is borad at the base and in graceful curve grow narrower as it reaches the pinnacle. It is built up of over righty replica shikharas that appear to be clambering up the central tower, giving it bothe force and momnetum on its skyward journey towards divinity.
The temple shikhara rises 35.3 Detres above the ground. from the east side it looks like a huge mountain of stone with a dark cave-like opening set high above the ground. The temple measures about 30 metres in length and cave-like opening Set high above the ground. The name Kandaya Mahadev refers also to Shiva, the ascetic who dwells in a mountain cave, lost in meditation. In profile the pyramidal porch, mandap roofs and conical shikhara looks like a range of mountain staraining upwards till it meets the sky, or shiva. The shikhara of the kandariya Mahadev Temples is borad at the base and in graceful curve grow narrower as it reaches the pinnacle. It is built up of over righty replica shikharas that appear to be clambering up the central tower, giving it bothe force and momnetum on its skyward journey towards divinity.
Lakshmana Temple - Lakshmana temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, was built
from 930-950 AD during the reign of King Yasovarman of the Chandella kingdom.
It houses a sacred image of Vaikuntha-Vishnu brought from Tibet. Though the
temple is one of the oldest in the Khajuraho fields, it is also one of the most
exquistely decorated, covered almost completely with images of over 600 gods in
the Hindu Pantheon. The main shrine of the temple, which faces east, is flanked
by four freestanding subsidiary shrines at the corners of the temple platform.
The temple is famous for the explicitely sexual carvings on the southern side
of the temple (images 12-13), though these make up only a small fraction of the
total.
The lakshman Temple stands like a gaint mountain of stone at the centre, and is unique in khajuraho for its four subsidiary shrines at the four corners of its rectangular platform. Each Subsidairy shrine has a little porch, band of scultpure along the esterior walls. Once gain you must walk in pradakshina around the Lakshman Temple to see the abundance of sculptural masterpieces on its outer walls. Starting on the south side you will see that the exterior temple wall is divided into several bands, the lowest, the adhishthana, is the base of the temple. The Lakshan Temple is the only one with a row of elephants that peep out of the base as if they are carrying the weight of the stone universe on their stable shoulders. Between the elephants are warriors protecting the temple: on the north side one elephant has forsaken his duty and naughtily gazes at s couple making love. Above the elephants, the moulded adhishthana has flower and leaf motifs, a narrow panel depicting court life and erotic scenes.
The lakshman Temple stands like a gaint mountain of stone at the centre, and is unique in khajuraho for its four subsidiary shrines at the four corners of its rectangular platform. Each Subsidairy shrine has a little porch, band of scultpure along the esterior walls. Once gain you must walk in pradakshina around the Lakshman Temple to see the abundance of sculptural masterpieces on its outer walls. Starting on the south side you will see that the exterior temple wall is divided into several bands, the lowest, the adhishthana, is the base of the temple. The Lakshan Temple is the only one with a row of elephants that peep out of the base as if they are carrying the weight of the stone universe on their stable shoulders. Between the elephants are warriors protecting the temple: on the north side one elephant has forsaken his duty and naughtily gazes at s couple making love. Above the elephants, the moulded adhishthana has flower and leaf motifs, a narrow panel depicting court life and erotic scenes.
Matangeshwar Temple- Matangeshwar Temple is a ninth century temple and a famous
temple in Madhya Pradesh. Chandra Dev of the Chandela dynasty built the temple.
The king was a devotee of lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is considered as the venerated
sage Matang and that’s how the name of the Shiva Lingam was Matangeswarar.
The Matangeshwar Temple is a larger-scale version of the Brahma Temple in terms of plan and design. It has a square plan. Also known as Mrityunjaya Mahadeo Temple, the exterior and interior of this temple is not decorated with sculptures like other Khajuraho Temples but the ceiling is overlapped with sculptures. There is an open air archaeological museum to the south of the temple that has a vast collection of statues and friezes.
Adinath Temple – The Adinatha
Temple, standing immediately to the north of the Parsvanath, is an important
constituent of the Jain group of Khajuraho temples. It is a temple without
ambulatory, of which only the sanctum and vestibule have survived with their
roofs. Its ‘mandapa’ and entrance porch are lost and replaced by a modern
entrance chamber, made of lime-plastered masonry, showing arched doorways,
which is quite incongruous with the original structure
The
temple is 'sapta-ratha' on plan as well as in elevation with mono-spired
'sikhara' of graceful outline. In the elegance of sculptural style as well as
in general plan and design, this temple , dedicated to first Jain Tirthankara,
Adinath, bears the closest kinship to the Vamana Temple.The smartness of her
body and te restlessness of her feet, the vigorous, dynamic movement all have
been so aptly carved out.
Ajaigarh Fort – Jaigarh and
Kalinjar are two forts located at 80 kms and 100 kms respectively from
Khajuraho. Ajaigarh is located in the Panna district and Kalinjar fort in the
border between Uttar Pradesh and M.P. Ajaigarh Fort originally had five gates,
but now has two gates, two temples and two rock-cut tanks inside it. Three
ruined Jain temples built in Khajuraho style also have been traced in Ajaigarh
fort.
There
is plenty to explore in the fort, which makes it a treat for history lovers.
Ajaigarh Fort originally had five gates, but now only two gates are survived.
There are two temples and two rock-cut tanks present inside the fort. These
tanks have been named as Ganga and Yamuna. Close to it is a ruined Chandela
temple, dedicated to Raja Parmardi deva. Three ruined Jain temples built in
Khajuraho style have been traced here. The fort walls have been constructed
with large, dressed, stones and no visible mortar.
Jain Museum - Jain
Museum is a complex dedicated to the preservation and display of Jain
sculptures. It was opened for display in the year 1987. It is located within
the premises of the Jain Temple. The circular building of the museum is also
known as Sahu Shantiprasad Jain Kala Sangrahalaya among the locals.
Khajuraho
has three museums in the vicinity of the temples in Khajuraho. A.S.I maintains
the arcaeological museum near the Matangeshwar temple in the western group of
temples, Adivart Tribal and Folk Art Museum is in the Chandela Cultural Complex
and Sahu Shantiprasad Jain Kala Sangrahalaya is near the eastern group of
temples. Dhubela Museum is on the Jhansi - Khajuraho road and houses artefacts
related to Bundela Dynasty.
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