Khajuraho Group of Monuments
Monuments.
By
cruisingindia.com
on
Mar 26, 2006.
The
Khajuraho temples were built during the reign of the
Chandela dynasty over a period of one-hundred years from 950 to 1050. When the physical beauty of man and woman is carved in stone, sheer poetry is derived in the imagination, and nowhere is this exemplified more than in the Temples of
Khajuraho in the state of
Madhya Pradesh. A small, quiet village located six-hundred-and-twenty kilometers east of
Delhi,
Khajuraho used to be the glorious capital of the
Chandela dynasty between the tenth to the twelfth centuries. Its beautifully carved temples are a big tourist draw today, though only twenty-two temples of the original eighty temples have survived. Since 1986, the Temples of
Khajuraho have been deemed a
World Heritage Site and it has dazzled visitors with its sensuous images of men and women.
Khajuraho Monuments Layout
A wall with eight gates flanked by two golden palm trees each enclosed the whole temple area. The twenty-two
Hindu temples cover an area of eight square miles. The temples are decorated with a mix of sensuous and religious elements. They went into ruin and were rediscovered in the 20th century.The temples of
Khajuraho are divided into three major groups – the western, eastern and southern group of temples.
The Western Group of Temples: The western group lies at the main entrance to
Khajuraho, with the temples lined in two rows. The Laxman, Matangesvara and Varaha temples form one complex while the Nandi and Visvanatha temples are nearby, forming an irregular row running north-south. The Jagadambi, Chitragupta, and Kandariya Mahadeva temples form a regular row to the West. The monuments of this group face east and are arranged in two rows running north to south. The western group of monuments is maintained by Archaeological Survey of India amidst green lawns and colorful flowerbeds.
The Eastern Group of Temples: The eastern group of temples is closest to
Khajuraho village. They consist of three temples named as Vamana, Javari, and Brahma and three
Jain temples, Adinath, Parsvanath, and Ghantai.
The Southern Group of Temples: The southern group of temples comprises of Chaturbhuj and Dhuladeo temples. The Dhuladeo is about one kilometer south of
Khajuraho village and a mile south west of the
Jain temples. The Chaturbhuj temple is a mile south and close to
Khajuraho airport.
Khajuraho Monuments Architecture
The
Khajuraho temples are constructed with spiral superstructures. A few of the temples are dedicated to
Jaina pantheon and the rest to the
Brahmanical trio of
Brahma,
Vishnu, and
Shiva, and various
Devis or goddesses. The layout has four minor shrines at each corner of the main temple and the main shrine on a podium at the center. There is a cluster of secondary shikras that form the base of the main Shikhara over the sanctum. These shikharas cover from porch to sanctum sanctorum rising in a gradiant.This form has been likened to the gradual rise of the great Himalayan mountains.
Khajuraho Temples
The Laxmana temple: Among the prime temples at
Khajuraho, the Laxmana temple is situated to the left of the entrance. It is a grand edifice that stands on a high platform and is dedicated to Lord
Vishnu, The Preserver. Dating from 930-950 AD, it is one of the earliest and best-preserved temples in the complex. It contains an image of
Vaikuntha Vishnu, or a three-headed
Vishnu, from Tibet. The exterior of the temple is exquisitely carved, and the imagination of artist was given full freedom. In front of the temple are two
mandapas or pavilions. One of them houses the figure of a boar and is called a Varaha
mandapa after the boar incarnation of Lord
Vishnu who saved mankind from floods. The entire figure of the divine creature is carved in low relief along with figures of six-hundred gods and goddesses of
Hindu pantheon. The platform of the Laxmana temple has a charming frieze of elephants and horses in procession. On the south side are some more explicit sculptures. A flight of stairs leads to area for circumambulation. It has a boundary railing and sub-shrines in every corner. The most beautiful decorations are the carvings of goddesses and nymphs in exquisite detail all along the walls and the balconies. The temple faces east and a flight of stairs leads to sanctum sanctorum on a platform. There is an entrance porch, a hall of pillars, and sculptures on the walls. The deity is placed in a highly set alcove.
The Varaha Temple: The
Varaha temple built in circa 900-925 AD is small and rectangular, and is built on a foundation of rock. It faces the southeast side of the Laxmana temple. Dedicated to Lord
Vishnu, it has a
phamsada or pyramidal roof of receding tiers supported by twelve pillars. There is a short frontal projection supported by two other pillars, which serves as an entrance. The shrine itself stands on ten foot high plain plinth whose lower half is made of granite and upper half of sandstone. It is approached a flight of stairs also made of part granite and part sandstone. The seat slab of the parapet supports the fourteen pillars. The colossal image of the boar incarnation of
Vishnu is carved out of a single sandstone slab and finished with a glossy luster. The
Varaha is decorated with over six-hundred images of gods and goddesses. On the front of the nostrils of the boar is the image of
Saraswati holding a
veena. The nine planets are also carved into this image. Water divinities are carved near the hoofs to symbolize the emergence of the boar from the ocean. Closer to the mouth is a dwarf figure to whose left are the feet of Bhudevi, or Mother Earth. The left tusk of the boar is chipped off along with the image of Bhudevi.
The Kandariya Mahadeva Temple: To the west of the Laxmana temple is the biggest and most beautiful of the temples. Built between 1025 and 1050 AD, this temple stands at a height of forty meters. The temple is dedicated to Lord
Shiva, with a
lingam at its sanctum. The temple stairs lead to a platform decorated with women in various poses. On the southern and northern sides between the balconies are sensuous images. Friezes of court life, processions, market scenes, elephants and horses are all present on the walls. Near the eastern stairway is an exquisite floral carved
torana or gateway.
The Chounsath Yogini Temple: The Chounsath Yogini Temple lies to the southwest of the western group of temples. The Chounsath Yogini temple is dedicated to the sixty-four manifestations of the Mother Goddess, in the form of miniature shrines, one for manifestation of the divine Mother. This temple dates back to the 9th century and is considered the oldest monument in
Khajuraho.
The Viswanatha Temple: The Viswanatha temple is located towards the northeast side of the western group. It dates back to 1,000 AD and is similar in plan to Kandariya Mahadeva temple. On a small platform is a
mandapa with an elegant pyramidical roof and a large stone figure of
Nandi, the bull vehicle of Lord
Shiva.
Khajuraho Best Time to Visit
Khajuraho welcomes you all through the year but the best time to visit would be October through April.
Mahashivratri is an important festival in
Khajuraho, and marks the marriage of
Shiva with
Parvati. The 2.5 m tall
lingam of the Kandariya Mahadeva temple is decorated as a bridegroom with white and saffron dhotis, and covered by a huge silver paper crown. The ceremonies proceed into the night and the son of the chief priest anoints the
lingam with waters of the sacred rivers of India. The ceremony is complete with throwing of
bel leaves and flower peals on the
lingam.
Khajuraho is also the site of a famous annual song and dance festival in the months of February or March. It attracts the best in dance and music talent from all over India. The floodlight lit temples form a spectacular background to the festival.
Khajuraho is connected to
Delhi by a daily flight and by road to Jhansi, which is around 175 km away.It is open on all days from sunrise to sunset. Entry for those above 15 is Rs 10. There is free entry on Fridays.
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